CHEROKEE-On Saturday, November 17, 2018
beginning at 11 a.m. the Town of
Cherokee will honor one of its sons
of the community, Lt. Frankie Lee
Wallace, recipient of the U.S.
Army Silver Star, the nation’s
second highest award to the
Congressional Medal of Honor.
The town’s recognition of Lt. Wallace’s devotion to duty and ultimate sacrifice resulting in the dedication of 18 miles of Highway 72 beginning at the Alabama and Mississippi borders will officially be dedicated as the “Lt. Frankie Lee Wallace Memorial Highway.” All patriots are invited to attend this ceremony in downtown Cherokee where the program will promptly begin at 11 a.m.
Home for Wallace was Cherokee, where he lived and graduated from Cherokee High School, according
to his first cousin, Curtis Wallace.
Lt. Wallace was awarded The Silver Star for gallantry in action where on 4 February 1966 he led a
squad patrol on a routine search of several villages in the Republic of Vietnam. As his squad
approached a village, they were suddenly engaged by small arms and automatic weapons fire by an
estimated Viet Cong squad. Exposing himself to the deadly insurgent fire, Lt. Wallace led an assault
was so aggressive that the Viet Cong were forced to withdraw. Lt. Wallace then led his patrol across
an open rice paddy, skillfully executing fire and movement in pursuit of the enemy insurgent force.
The Viet Cong squad joined an estimated platoon size force who were well entrenched. Lt. Wallace
directed effective artillery fire and air strikes on the hostile positions.
When the supporting fires lifted. Lt. Wallace led his squad in an assault and was met by intense
automatic weapons and mortar fire which forced him to withdraw. In the withdrawal, one fire team
leader fell wounded. Without hesitation, Lt. Wallace ran in to the open rice paddy to aid his wounded
comrade and was wounded in the leg before he could reach him. Unmindful of his wound, Lt Wallace
got up and continued toward the wounded man.
As he approached the stricken soldier, he killed two Viet Cong who were also attempting to reach the
wounded man. Fully exposed to the intense Viet Cong fire concentrated on him, he aided the wounded
soldier. Lt. Wallace was mortally wounded by hostile automatic weapons fire while assisting his
wounded comrade to safety. Due to his courage, inspiring example, and his leadership, he was
instrumental in saving the life of a fellow soldier and accounted for twenty-seven Viet Cong killed.
Lieutenant Wallace’s unimpeachable valor in close combat against a numerically superior hostile force
was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself,
his unit, the United States Army, the Town of Cherokee and a grateful nation.
If weather prevents the program from taking place at the Cherokee Town Stage as originally scheduled,
the event will be redirected to the following location: First Baptist Church – 305 College St. Cherokee,
AL.
LIEUTENANT FRANKIE LEE WALLACE
For gallantry in action: Lieutenant Wallace distinguished himself on 4 February
1966 while leading a squad size patrol on a routine search of several villages in the
Republic of Vietnam.
At approximately 1430 hours as Lieutenant Wallace’s squad approached a village,
they were suddenly engaged by small arms and automatic weapons fire by an estimated
Viet Cong squad. Exposing himself to the deadly insurgent fire, Lieutenant
Wallace led an assault on the hostile positions.
The assault was so aggressive that the Viet Cong were forced to withdraw. Lieutenant Wallace
then led his patrol across an open rice paddy, skillfully executing fire and movement in
pursuit of the insurgent force.
The Viet Cong squad joined an estimated platoon size force who were well entrenched. Lieutenant
Wallace directed effective artillery fire and air strikes on the hostile positions.
When the supporting fires lifted, Lieutenant Wallace led his squad in an assault and was met
by intense automatic weapons and mortar fire which forced him to withdraw. In the withdrawal,
one fire team leader fell wounded. Without hesitation, Lieutenant Wallace ran in to
the open rice paddy to aid his wounded comrade and was wounded in the leg before he
could reach him.
Unmindful of his wound, Lieutenant Wallace got up and continued toward the wounded
man.
As he approached the stricken soldier, he killed two Viet Cong who were also attempting to
reach the wounded man. Fully exposed to the intense Viet Cong fire concentrated on him, he
aided the wounded soldier.
Lieutenant Wallace was mortally wounded by hostile automatic weapons fire while assisting
his wounded comrade to safety. Due to his courage, inspiring example, and his leadership, he
was instrumental in saving the life of a fellow soldier and accounted for twenty-seven Viet
Cong killed.
Lieutenant Wallace’s unimpeachable valor in close combat against a numerically superior
hostile force was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects
great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
3
Acknowledgme
Media Release/Thomas McKnight
