Tyler, Willie, SGT

Date of Birth October 27, 1939
Baptist
African- American

Married November 21, 1963, Monterey, California
Madye M. Tyler, of Leland Mississippi, Age 22
Two sons

Mother - Carrie Jackson, Leland, Mississippi

Regular Army -Enlisted
Served 8 Years in the U.S. Military
Age at Death 27

SGT. Tyler served with B Company as a Squad Leader for Mike Platoon, 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. 

Vietnam Tour of Duty Started October 15, 1966.

He was wounded in combat and subsequently shot again, killing him.  This was during Operation Junction City according to medic Cliff Roberson.

Killed by Small Arms Fire or Other Gun Shot by Hostile Action in the Tay Ninh Province, Military Region 3 (III Corp Area of Operation).

Message From Battle Buddy August 20, 2012:

I served with Willie Tyler and was with him when he was killed. If there is any way to contact his family please give them my e-mail address.

Dan H Breshears
[email protected]

Message From the Company B Commander October 12, 2012:

His Company Commander at time of death was CPT Walter Dillard.  Dillard retired from the US Army in 1987.  COL Dillard states;

"He was the second and last man I lost to hostel fire. He was trying to direct fire to free a man in his squad who was pinned down. We were able to accomplish that but during the fight, Sergeant Tyler was killed. I have never forgotten him or that day. We carried his body from the battlefield until we reached a dirt road paralleling the Cambodian border on the Vietnamese side where a platoon of the 1st Squadron 4th cavalry picked him up and took to a Landing Zone for the long trip home. I remember how hard it was to write the letter of condolence some weeks later after we came out of the jungle. I have visited his name on the wall several times. He was a good and brave soldier."

COL Walter Dillard, US Army Retired

From The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, The Wall-USA website:
 
Cliff Roberson, HHC, 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division USAVN, Attending Medic
 
Willie, I got to you as soon as I could. I was the medic you called for after you had been shot in the shoulder. After a short discussion with several 'wait a minute' vines, I made it to your side. But by then you had been shot again, this time through a lung. I did the best I could with what little (inadequate) training I had. I am so sorry about what happened! Did you know they renamed a street in Leland, Mississippi after you? Rest easy.

Note: Cliff Roberson is the author of VIETNAM MEDIC: FIELD JOURNAL

Read about Operation Junction City and the death of SGT Willie Tyler on March 1, 1967 in Cliff's book, pages 65-71. Contact Cliff Roberson at [email protected]

Other Fallen VN Soldiers that Cliff mentions in his book are:

• CPT Howard Martin Gerstel (The Doctor)
• SP Donald George Schrenk (medic)
• SGT Willie Tyler (Infantryman - Squad Leader)
• PFC Tony Ribera