2nd Lt Tom Dostal
U.S. Army
1945-1969, Vietnam
Thomas Jerome Dostal was born Saturday, 04/07/1945 in Iowa City. Tom was commissioned from the Officer Candidate School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
In July 1969 2LT Tom Dostal was assigned as a Forward Observer to B Battery 2nd Battalion 12th Artillery, a 155mm Battery based out of Phu Poi, Vietnam.
A composite unit of three Howitzers from B Battery 2/12 was formed with three 105mm Howitzers from A Battery 2nd Battalion 13th Artillery, to be known as D Battery 2nd Battalions 13th Artillery. The operation was conducted near the Thien Ngon in war zone C. Dostal replaced the commander who was wounded trying to repel an NVA ground attack previously. The area was a hotbed of activity. On August 25th of 1969, the Mobil Strike Force was decimated upon insertion into a hot landing zone. 2LT Tom Dostal was killed immediately by small arms fire on the first day of the mission. The Strike Force was extracted and the mission was canceled. D Battery returned to Phu Loi.
Tom was instilled with a belief in the importance of the phase “Fire Mission.” The “Call for Fire” initiates with the Forward Observer. A firing battery is only as effective as the information the Forward Observer provides.
Tom was a key part of the RED DRAGON CLAN. Rest in peace.
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