In August of 1967 a group of U.S. soldiers hunkers down deep in the steaming jungles of the Central Highlands of Vietnam, 9,000 miles from home. War-weary minds, clouded from months of sleep deprivation and constant enemy fire, search for threads of hope in the dismal situation.
In the darkness, one lone young soldier scrawls a selfless letter, seeking some sort of encouragement, some token of acknowledgement to raise the morale of his comrades.
The letter soon finds its way to DeWitt McKinley, Mayor of Fort Worth. Touched by the simple humility of a hometown soldier in the throes of war, asking for nothing but a glimmer of hope, the Mayor and the people of Fort Worth respond to the heart-felt plea with great compassion.
In September, Fort Worth’s reply to the letter arrives in Vietnam. Duffel bags stuffed with cookies, cakes, and letters of support arrive weekly. Churches, schools, lodges, and Scout troops all confirm their support of the soldiers. Some people offer prayers for the soldiers’ safe return; others just want the troops to know that someone really cares about them. Tucked among the letters and desserts are proclamations declaring that the City of Fort Worth has officially adopted the soldiers, formally known as Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate).
For the soldiers, the flood of reassurance comes at a time when morale is particularly low. One soldier later commented…”You have no idea how that compassion turned us around.”
Thirty-four years later… July 6, 2001. Twenty-nine surviving members of Charlie Company convene at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden to again say “Thank You” to the people of Fort Worth who lifted them up in their time of need. Sadly among the missing is James David “Shorty” Haas, the soldier who, at 18 years of age, wrote the letter that touched so many lives.
This memorial stands as a tribute to all those who unselfishly served their country, and as a reminder to us all of the enduring importance of compassion.
Symbolism of the Memorial:
*The Circle illustrates both the cohesion of the band of soldiers and the perpetual nature of time, with no beginning and no end.
*The Seven Pillars express wholeness and perfection.
*The Broken Pillar laid awkwardly askew pays homage to the soldiers who fell in service to their country.
*The Bur Oak epitomizes strength and endurance.
The 1907 O’Keefe home once stood on Summit Ave. Fort Worth. Demolished in 1950, the limestone columns were salvaged. Some of these columns can be seen standing at the Charlie Company Memorial in the Botanic Gardens.
The stately 1907 Quality Hill home owned by Cattlemen Col. O’Keefe, 520 Summit Ave. served dual purposes first as a home and then ultimately as a tribute. Upon demolition of this house in 1950 some of the limestone columns were rescued from doom, saved by C.L. Richhart (a dedicated Fort Worth Star Telegram reporter to Amon G.Carter) and stand at this memorial of Charlie Company in the Fort Worth Botanic Garden.
Members of Charlie Company never forgot the compassion and goodwill shown to them at a time most needed by the Fort Worth community. In December 1988 they would send Christmas greetings of appreciation to Fort Worth through the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.