How a Broken Gate Established a Local Hero

By Daniel L. Bamberg

Daniel@Centrevillepress.com

It was 1968, the year, which would be remembered for the murders of Reverend Martin Luther King and Senator Robert Kennedy. The civil rights movement had been breaking ground, but continued an uphill fight. Meanwhile the Vietnam War was becoming more political than ever and citizens of the United States had become increasingly frustrated with President Lyndon Johnson. 1968, was one of the most eventful years in American History, it was also the year one of West Blocton's sons would lose his life heroically on the other side of the world. Thomas Dewitt Poole died all too young, but his short life impacted many.

Thomas was born on July 02, 1946. He was one of 6 sons and 12 children born to Reverend Mose Poole and the minister's wife, Willie. Friends and family remember him as strong willed, courteous, loving and respectful. "He was one of those boys who would help a woman carry her groceries. If he saw a woman mowing the lawn, he'd stop her and do it himself. That was just the kind of person he was. I always knew Thomas was that way, but I am still hearing more and more of those stories about him now," said his mother, Mrs. Willie Poole.

Thomas loved to fish and hunt. He listened to soul music and would eat pretty much anything. Those who knew him describe him as very spiritual and family oriented. He was also an outgoing young man. When asked if Thomas had a girlfriend when he went to Vietnam his younger brother Kennis smiled and said, "He had a steady girl, but he loved women." Speaking with the Poole family one of the characteristics that Thomas seemed to maintain largely was a strict self-determination. "We went fishing one day and he got a twenty-pound blue cat on his line. He struggled with the fish for a little bit and it snapped his pole. Thomas grabbed the line and pulled it in with a broken pole and the line. It was a sight to see, but Thomas caught his fish," recalls Kennis. Mrs. Poole also remembers his son's strong determination and suggested Thomas did a lot of things as an adult without telling anyone. "He was the kind of boy who knew what he wanted to do and did it," she explained.

It is that portion of Thomas' personality, which makes his story so unique. It isn't just what he did in Vietnam, which is striking. How Thomas got to Vietnam in the first place is a charming story that only makes his short life more heart felt. After accidentally running into a woman's gate while driving, there was no way for Thomas to afford the repairs. Though the woman did not press Thomas to fix it, the young West Blocton man felt it was his responsibility. His solution was joining the U.S. Army. "We didn't know he had signed up. He just told us one day that he was joining the Army, and that was it," says Mrs. Poole.

Thomas chose to tell Kennis about joining the Army and going to Vietnam one afternoon while the brothers were swimming in a creek. "I wasn't concerned about him joining because he was doing what he said he wanted to do. When Thomas made up his mind it was made," said Kennis. Mrs. Poole does remember being concerned and she explains that her husband also had a lot of concerns. He entered the U.S. Army on March 23, 1967.

On February 12,1968 Private First Class, Thomas Dewitt Poole of the U.S. Army was killed by enemy fire in the Republic of Vietnam. He was a member of Company a, 5th Battalion (Airmobile), 7th Cavalry, 1st Calvary Division. During a search and destroy operation in Quan Huong Tra Province his company was moving toward a tree line on the far side of a rice paddy. They became subjected to heavy fire from the North Vietnamese Army, entrenched in the woods. Private Poole's platoon was temporarily pinned down behind mounds, but eventually broke through for their own assault on the enemy. Private Poole charged across approximately one hundred meters of open rice paddy, firing on the North Vietnamese at close range. Poole eventually moved directly into the tree line and personally attacked an enemy bunker killing its three occupants. After other enemy bunkers began to attack with greater intensity the Poole's platoon was ordered to withdraw and regroup. As Private Poole drew back he noticed a fallen soldier. Without regard to his own safety he assisted the soldier. At such point, Poole was mortally wounded in his effort to rescue another soldier.

On April 8, 1968 he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. This is the U.S. Armies second highest honor, to only the Medal of Honor. According to the award's description, it is awarded to a person who, while serving in any capacity with the Army, distinguished himself or herself by extraordinary heroism while engaged with a conflict with an enemy of the Unites States, or while serving alongside allies engaged in a conflict with an enemy not aligned with the United States. The act or acts of heroism must have been so notable and have involved risk of life so extraordinary as to set the individual apart from his or her comrades.

"When they told me about Thomas' dying I thought it was a dream. I turned it over to the Lord, because it was more than I could handle. I still cry about it to this day," explained Mrs. Poole as she appeared to fight off tears. She further explained that her husband, who is now deceased, also took it very hard. Kennis also carries a heavy burden with him when he thinks of his brother. "I've held a lot of animosity in my life because of what happened to Thomas and others who served. I feel like there was nothing done in Vietnam which was of any importance to this country. It was a political war, a war of occupation. I not only lost my brother in Vietnam but a lot my friends died there as well. There are people in West Blocton still affected by that war to this day - not just those who lost family members but those who served that have been mentally and physically affected by it. Now today, this generation coming up is seeing something similar to it. Wars are meant to be won, not to make political statements," Kennis expressed.

Roy Collins grew up with Thomas. Mrs. Poole explained that the two were virtually inseparable. "They went fishing together all of the time. If you saw one, the other wasn't far behind." Though Roy and Thomas joined the army around the same time, the two did their tours in Vietnam separately. Collins began his tour of duty approximately 6 months before Thomas entered the country of conflict. His memories of Thomas are warm. "He was one of the nicest people I knew. Like most boys we did our share of mischievous things, but Thomas was always courteous and polite. I was stationed in Fort Bragg, North Carolina when I found out he was killed. That was bad news," explained Collins. As he tells the story about discovering the death of his childhood friend there was something odd, little emotion was displayed. 

Some may dismiss this as the length of time between Thomas' death and the interview. Those who have spoken with Vietnam Veterans before might have a better idea of why the emotion is less. Veterans of that war dealt with death in ways only few before ever had. It was a regular occurrence. It was a normal occurrence. The Vietnam Memorial alone echoes that notion with near clarity. Even later, while looking at some documents this reporter noticed the very cold language used in letters written to the Poole family explaining when and where Thomas' body would be delivered. If one did not know any better, one might think these letters were suggesting where the Poole's could pick up some lost luggage or a crate of some random cargo. The language reflects that of a business transaction. There is no emotion, no regret, no sympathy. There are only instructions. The letter informing the family of Thomas' death was like a face without features. It came off as if the subject were some random event happening to some random person. Reading these things, one might understand how a family can never truly have closure. Not only did Thomas' die in another country, one none of his family members would even dare visit. The death itself is presented somewhat unceremoniously. Medals perhaps make the Government feel justified. Do they help the family's cope any better? Perhaps that depends on the situation.

In the case of Thomas Dewitt Poole there was a shocking revelation. As the interviews for this story were being conducted, something unexpected was explained. Nearly 42 years after the death of Thomas Dewitt Poole, Kennis and Mrs. Willie Poole knew no details of their son's death. They knew he died in battle. They knew he died heroically. Yet less than a week ago, they heard the details of his death for the first time. Even then it didn't come from the mouth of a government official. It came from a reading conducted by a member of the community newspaper. This was not only confirmed in their own words but in the expressions on their faces, the watering of their eyes after I read to them the U.S. Government's detailed explanation. How can this be justified?

Perhaps it is the spirit of Thomas Poole, which expresses the answer. When asked if he believed his brother would have changed his mind about serving had he known the outcome, Kennis offered this: "He do it anyway. I think he believed then and would still suggest that the United States had no business over there to begin with. He would still think his sacrifice was worth it. He would still think serving his country was worth it. He would make the same decision. That is how Thomas was. He wasn't over there because he agreed with what was going on. He was over there because others were serving. I don't think all soldiers serve for a cause. I think they all serve for each other."

In 2008Haysop Creek Bridge in Brent was named after Vietnam Veteran, Willie Gardner Jr, who also died heroically in the line of duty. This moment marked the first time an African-American soldier had been honored with a memorial in Bibb County. Perhaps dedicating something in the name of Thomas Dewitt Poole will never justify his sacrifice, but it is the duty of any community to recognize those citizens who are becoming of its outstanding image. Thomas Dewitt Poole, the son of a local minister, brother of 11, servant of the community, beloved child of his mother, and American hero, deserves such recognition. Black History Month is a time to honor those African-Americans who rose above discrimination and unjust treatment to declare their civil rights. Thomas Dewitt Poole honors his race and his family. His heroism and character however honor his community, his state, his country and his God above all.