This Military Service Page was created/owned by
MAJ Mark E Cooper
to remember
Hackler, Thomas M., Sr., 1SG USA(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Athens
Date of Passing Dec 26, 2011
Location of Interment Fairview Memorial Gardens - Stockbridge, Georgia
Thomas M. Hackler Sr., 66, passed away on Monday, December 26, 2011, at Parkwest Hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee. He was born on April 10, 1945, in Sparta, Tennessee the son of the late Charlie M. and Francis E. (Revell) Hackler. He married the former Cheryl Gardner on June 6, 1966, in Fort Sill, Oklahoma and she survives. Other survivors include one daughter and son in law: Vielka and Jerry Wilcox of Minneapolis, Minnesota, two sons and a daughter in law: Thomas and Tina Hackler Jr. of East Alton, Illinois, David Hackler and his partner: Mike Volkenant of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, six grandchildren: Luke and Katrina Schlusser, Lori Jo, Mary, Tommy, and Ben Hackler, one great granddaughter: Ella, one sister and brother in law: Amy and Ricky Puckett of Jonesboro, Georgia, one brother: Joe Hackler of Athens, Tennessee.
He retired from the United States Army after serving for 20 years. He served three tours in Germany and two tours in Vietnam earning a Silver Star and three Bronze Stars. He taught JROTC at Cretin High School in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was a member of the Bethalto American Legion Post #214 and the Wood River VFW Post #2859. He was the Memorial Team Leader and the Historian specializing in Vietnam era profiles for togetherweserved.com.
He was preceded in death by three sisters: Patsy, Betty Jean, Helen, four brothers: Calvin, Buford, Chuck, and Randy.
In celebration of his life, memorial visitation will be from 12pm until time of memorial services at 2pm on Saturday, January 14, 2012 at Pitchford Funeral Home in Wood River. Full military honors will be conducted by the Ritual Team of VFW Post 1308 of Alton.
Memorials are suggested to the family and will be accepted at the funeral home. All memorials that are accepted will be given to togetherweserved.com in remembrance of him. Memorials in his name may be mailed to Pitchford Funeral Home, P.O. Box 626, Wood River, Illinois 62095.
I was in the Infantry For 17 years and went to the Artillery as a 13F40
and made 1SG. Two tours in Viet Nam.
Mac- V Team 99 '' 25 th ARVN Recon
operations (ones I Know of). Ben Luc, Luong- Hoa, Duc. - Hoa, Chi,Tan My, Tay Ninh, Doc Hoa 3d Corp , Chu Chi, and Dong Ha (DMZ) Quang Tri
Laos Border, Rubber Plantation
Hill 151 (LZ Chloe)
23d Americal E Co. 2d Bn 1st Inf. 196th LIB. / 11th LIB DMZ to Da Nang
EOD School 23d Americal Div. 120 hours
Vietnamese language School Ft Bliss TX.
First Sergeant School Ft Bliss TX. Class 5-83
I have had a very Good Life. (Not done yet). The Best of my Life was being Military
working with good Troopers and having good Leadership that
maded me Strong. People I will never forget.
I Salute you and say ''Thank you. Job well DONE.
Description This campaign was from 1 November 1969 to 30 April 1970. An increase in enemy-initiated attacks, at the highest level since 4-5 September signaled the start of the first phase of the Communist winter campaign. This was highlighted by intensified harassment incidents, and attacks throughout the Republic of Vietnam. In November-December these were heaviest in Corps Tactical Zones III and IV (around Saigon), primarily directed against Vietnamese military installations in order to disrupt the pacification program. The most significant enemy activity occurred in November with heavy attacks upon By Prang and Duc Lap in CTZ II (Central Vietnam).
By February 1970 the focus of enemy activity began to shift to CTZ I and II. Attacks increased steadily, reaching a peak in April 1970. Hostile forces staged their heaviest attacks in the Central Highlands near Civilian Irregular Defense Group camps at Dak Seang, Dak Pek, and Ben Het in I CTZ. The enemy also conducted numerous attacks by fire and several sapper attacks against U.S. fire support bases. This high level of enemy activity began in I CTZ in April and continued through May.
During the period 1 November 1969 through 30 April 1970 U.S. and allied forces concentrated on aggressive operations to find and destroy enemy main and local forces, the penetration of base camps and installations and the seizure of enemy supplies and materiel. These operations sought to deny the enemy the initiative and to inflict heavy losses in men and materiel. Further progress was made in Vietnamization through improving the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces. As a result of these advances three brigades of the 1st U.S. Infantry Division and several major U.S.M.C. units were withdrawn from Vietnam during this period.
The enemy made several efforts to take the offensive at Dak Seang, which was attacked on 1 April 1970 and remained under siege throughout the month, and at Quang Duc in the By Prong-Duc Lap area which ended on 28 December. Only Vietnamese forces were engaged in both of these operations, the Quang Duc campaign involving some 12,000 ARVN troops. South Vietnamese forces again took the offensive on 14 April in a bold 3-day operation in the Angel's Wing area along the Cambodian border. The Vietnamese Army completed this mission in an aggressive professional manner without U.S. support-further evidence of their growing proficiency.