FINALLY — After 43 years, former Marine Jim Wilker of rural New Richland was recognized for herosim in Vietnam, receiving the Silver Star. (Star Eagle photo by Jody Wynnemer)
After 43 years, rural NR man decorated for heroism in Vietnam
By JODY WYNNEMER
Staff Writer
Semper Fidelis.
It’s Latin for always faithful. It’s the motto every member of the United States Marine Corps, past or present, lives by. Rural New Richland resident Jim Wilker and his family recently experienced the true meaning of Semper Fi. Forty-three years removed from then Corporal Wilker’s gallant action in Vietnam, he was awarded the nation’s third highest honor for valor, the Silver Star. Only two other decorations are above the Silver Star, the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross.
Former Marines, family and friends gathered at the Waseca American Legion on Friday evening, September 2 to honor and congratulate Wilker for his achievement.
“I had no idea they were having a reception for me,” said Wilker. “I was totally surprised.”
After growing up and attending school in Waseca, Wilker decided to enlist in the Marines in 1966.
“I signed up for four years instead of just two,” said Wilker. “That way I was guaranteed aviation school instead of being in the infantry.”
Wilker was sent to Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego for basic training. When it came time for marksmanship qualifications, Wilker struggled due to sight loss in his right eye.“I had to learn to shoot left-handed,” said Wilker. “I finally qualified with the rifle by two points.”
As fate would have it, Wilker’s learning to shoot with the opposite hand would later on play a part in saving his life, as well as the lives of his fellow Marines.
Following graduation from basic, Wilker was sent to the east coast to begin his aviation schooling. He was later reassigned to the infantry and sent back to Camp Pendleton in California. He became a member of a Force Recon Company and deployed near Hue City in South Vietnam.
Force recon teams during the war were often comprised of 10 Marines, with a NCO (Sergeant or Corporal) in charge. Their job was to gather intelligence on enemy troop movements, positions, etc. What happened on that fateful day in July 1968 is best said by the citation received by Wilker which was signed by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus.
“The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Corporal James A. Wilker, United States Marine Corps, for service set forth in the following citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as a member of 1st Reconnaissance Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division in the Republic of Vietnam on 15 July 1968. Corporal Wilker’s patrol was ambushed by a superior enemy force and was awaiting extraction in the cover of a bomb crater. Without regard to his own personal safety, he left the cover of the crater to retrieve a fallen Marine in close proximity of the enemy force. After reentering the crater, an enemy grenade landed in the middle of his squad. Corporal Wilker selflessly retrieved the grenade, throwing it back at the enemy force, resulting in enemy casualties. Corporal Wilker then volunteered to be the last Marine extracted and laid down suppressive fire, killing several enemy combatants while the rest of his squad was lifted to safety.
Corporal Wilker’s heroic actions that were selflessly conducted regardless of the risk to his own personal safety saved the lives of his fellow squad members and allowed the valuable intelligence his squad had gathered to be reported to his superiors. By his bold initiative, undaunted courage, and complete dedication to duty, Corporal Wilker reflected great credit upon himself; “and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.”
“Everything happened so fast,” said Wilker. “Since I had my weapon in my left hand, I reached down with my right hand and tossed the grenade back at them. Things might have been different if my weapon had been in my other hand.”
During the firefight, the team lost PFC C. Brown who was killed, and PFC W. Wall who was wounded. The strange thing about the whole ordeal was the patrol spotted and wounded a white man who was with the Viet Cong. After being shot, he yelled, “Help me” in English.
“Myself and three other Marines looked at about 200 photos of guys who were missing in action,” said Wilker. “All of us were positive it was Bob Garwood, who apparently had defected and was helping the VC.”
Garwood was later to receive a dishonorable discharge from the Marines.
The Ace of Spades
The Vietnamese were very superstitious people. The ace of spades held a special meaning. Special cards were printed and given to the Marines which read in Vietnamese, “The dead are waiting for you Viet Cong, Surrender or die!” The American Playing Card Co., which makes Bicycle Playing Cards, printed whole decks of nothing but aces of spades and sent them to the Marines. The cards were placed on the bodies of dead Viet Cong to send them a special message.
“It was a Recon thing,” said Wilker. “One of my best buddies, Terry (“Mike”) Westergaard, and I took an ace of spades and cut it in a zig-zag pattern. Each of us took half of the card. The idea was after the war we could get together and put the two halves of the card together. We never got to do it.”
Just before he was to return to the States, Westergaard was killed on Veteran’s Day by a grenade which was accidentally dropped by a fellow Marine.
“I brought Mike’s body back to his family,” said Wilker. “In the airport, I was spit on because I was in uniform. Others wanted to buy me a drink, but I refused saying, ‘I can’t, I’m on escort duty.’ To this day, I still keep in touch with his family.”
Always faithful
Wilker’s actions that day in 1968 didn’t go unrecognized. At first, he was to be recommended to receive the country’s highest award, the Medal of Honor. Major Edwin Walker wrote an award recommendation for the Navy Cross in 2008. Former team members David Shaffer, Daniel Sweeney and Paul Olenski, who were with Wilker on the patrol, sent sworn affidavits as to what happened that day. Congressman Tim Walz sent a letter to the Secretary of the Navy nominating Wilker for the Navy Cross in 2009. The Navy Department Board of Decorations and Awards finally authorized Wilker to receive his Silver Star. Wilker and his family traveled to Quantico Marine Base in Virginia and he officially received his medal in an award ceremony on August 18.
“Paul [Olenski] really did a lot to help me get this award,” said Wilker. “Anyone who has served in combat knows the special bond you develop with your buddies. If you have never experienced it, it’s hard to explain.”
Wilker and the other Marines now get together every year to reminisce about old times. They have it in different parts of the country to make it easier for everyone to attend.
“One year, Mike’s [Westergaard] sister was there at our reunion,” said Wilker. “It was a special time. We are always faithful. We are Marines!”