Birth: 13 May 1934 Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island, USA
Death: 12 Oct 1978 (aged 44) Tam Kỳ, Quang Nam, Vietnam
On 3 May 1971, SSG Lewis C. Walton, SSG James M. Luttrell and SSG Klaus J. Bingham, along with three Montagnards, comprised the 6-man reconnaissance team "ASP." The team was inserted by helicopter into rugged jungle covered mountains approximately 1½ miles south of the primary east/west road and 9 miles east of the South Vietnamese/Lao border, 14 miles south of the southern edge of the A Shau Valley and 43 miles west-southwest of DaNang, Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam. Their mission was to penetrate that enemy veil of secrecy and report on their activities. . In 1993, a JTF-FA team visited the locale and interviewed long-time residents, including several who were involved in the fighting which destroyed Recon Team ASP. In summary, a forty-man local militia (VC) force tracked down the team, killing the three Americans and one ARVN. On 04 May the remaining two ARVNs were sighted trying to signal search aircraft, were attacked, and were killed. The militiamen said the bodies were left where they fell - none were buried. An initial exploration of the battle sites failed to locate anything of material importance.
In 2003 a JTF-FA team returned to the village. Although initial searches and excavations recovered only limited personal effects the site was recommended for continued investigation. In 2004 excavations recovered additional personal effects, including a distinctive Saint Christopher's medal, and very fragmented remains which were repatriated to the United States on 19 October 2004. On 23 Oct 2006 the remains were approved as being those of Lewis C. Walton. SFC Walton's son, SFC Lewis Clark Walton Jr., 115th MP Company, Rhode Island National Guard, traveled to Hawaii bring his father’s remains home.
He was born the son of the late Lewis H. Walton and Catherine Issacson Walton and the husband of Virginia Flynn Walton-Burkhardt. Clark was an Eagle Scout of Troop 7 and a graduate of Cranston High School in 1952. After joining the army he served in Korea with the 187 RCT during the last combat jumps in Korea, and 2 tours of duty in Vietnam with the 10th SF Gp and with the 5th SF Gp before declared "Missing in Action". He was a Master Jumper serving with distinction and the recipient of the Silver Star and two Bronze Stars. He was promoted posthumously to Sergeant First Class.
Burial: Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Exeter, Washington County, Rhode Island,
Plot: Sec E-1 Row 52 Site 1481
