29 Sep 2002 LTC Burr Willey and I worked together in 1972 as advisors. He volunteered to be a Regimental Advisor to the 21st ARVN (Army of Vietnam) Division, located in the southern tip of Vietnam. When the North Vietnamese invaded the area west of Saigon (An Loc), the 21st was sent north to block and fight. Burr departed with the regiment he advised, and we said goodbye. The 21st's units did a helluva job, and returned to the Mekong delta city of Bac Lieu in the late months of 1972, as I recall, to celebrate their victories. Unfortunately, LTC Burr Willey was not there, having been killed in action. (LTC Charles L. Butler, another regimental advisor with the 21st whom I also knew, was killed in action in the battle for An Loc.) Burr Willey was a decent, dedicated, true patriot and hero. I was honored to have known him. God bless him and his loved ones.

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall Lieutenant Colonel Charles Lewis Butler, mentioned above, was killed in action at An Loc on 21 Jun 1972. He and LTC Willey were among at least 36 American soldiers and airmen who were killed in action during the four-month-long Battle of An Loc. The Virtual Wall has no knowledge of LTC Willey's decorations and can display only the four awards he is known to have recived by virtue of his service in Vietnam.

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