Thierry Maxim Believed in Cause for Which He Died
By Larry Maxim
Yesterday my son died, Not only was he my son, but also my very dear friend. On the edge of a jungle, in Vietnam, he was blown to bits by a rocket fired by someone he did not know, or did not see. He was there, at the edge of that jungle, because he believed that what he was doing was right. He was the tenth Maxim since World War II to stand up in combat to defend our way of life and the tenth Maxim to believe that words alone are not enough to preserve our liberties, our nation and our lands.
As all men must, he died, but as many men know not he knew why he died, and I know why he died, because he told me. In our letters.... many long, long letters.... we discussed this and I know that he would want those he knew, and all those he did not know, to realize how he felt and why he stood up for his country, its people and this very land we live on here on the Peninsula.
Thierry was shy, could not express himself very well, but his mind was sharp and he had no illusions about what he had to do.
As many young men today, this churning world confused him and he groped for a direction, a way in which he could honestly believe and justify his being, in his own mind
Although he was confused about these things, there was one thing he was not at all confused about. In fact, his sense of value and determination on this was resolute and crystal clear. This was his sense of duty to his country and obligation to defend the Constitution. He was not a "flag waver", his feeling was deep, quiet, and totally committed. He felt, with the depth of his soul and heart, that he had an obligation to defend that which he felt was right and that his nation and its Constitution was right.
He felt, therefore, that since this is one thing about which he was not all confused, he would discharge this obligation first, and in the meantime perhaps, the things that he was confused about would come into focus.
It was just one year ago that he turned 18 and he immediately offered himself to his nation and its people. His determination was not an idle one, nor was this a gesture to slip into some "safe haven" as he made it known that he would accept nothing less than combat. I alone knew this as we discussed these things and I could nothing less than dignify his right to do that which he so sincerely felt he must do.
Raw, young and inexperienced he went through intensive, bone-aching training. Because of his quickness he was selected for Armored Reconnaissance. Two months after he volunteered, he was on an aircraft, headed for combat.
His determination and honesty of feeling were again tested when he arrived there and it was discovered that his older brother was already serving on the combat front. It is ruled that only one brother needs serve and the second is excused from combat. With a firmness in belief that this is what he had to do and a firmer resolve in his obligation he was able to convince his commander and he was allowed to do what he felt he had to do.
His assignment carried with it great responsiblity. He drove an armored personnel carrier with six gunners. His job was to "break jungle", that is, he was ahead of the tanks and the rest of the unit, carving out a path for them through the trackless jungle. In so doing he had to choose which path, had to be on the alert for ambush, and at times, draw fire so that those behind him could advance and fight with greater safety.
He was one of the first in Cambodia and one of the last to leave. His letters were of the heat and the endless drive, the neverending chasing of an enemy that seemed to be able to melt into the jungle growth and reappear again and again.... he spoke of little or no rest because of the "chase".... but in all those many long letters which arrived with rust all over them and as many times arrived red with smears of the red dirt of the land there.... but in all those words.... there was never one single word of complaint, nor one single word of regret in his decision. Only once did he mention the demonstrations and "anti-war" riots. He simply said. "They are sure making it tougher for us"... and he pointed out that he believed in peace, but not at any price. He, and those who struck out into the dark jungle with him believed that what they were doing was the only way to peace, a peace of dignity, the dignity of our nation, which meant the dignity of all those he knew and all those he did not know. He felt they had a right, the demonstrators, to their opinion, but he disagreed with them as was his right and he stood up in the face of the enemy, demonstrating to them just how much he believed and ... in the end he offered his life for this belief and no one, not even God, can say he was wrong.
Through the never shattering swelter of combat and his censeless exposure to danger, he never wavered in his depth of faith in God... and in one letter, he said "Many people back there might wonder why we are here, or why I am here... but God knows why I am here and that's enough for me".
This faith was the basis for his strength of soul and courage of heart and it sustained his inner gentleness and the clear beauty of his mind. Last May he wrote Mrs. Maxim a Mother's Day letter. He had just returned from an extended and particularly dangerous thrust into the jungle. He told of how tired one can get when he pointed out that once during a rest period he had fallen asleep and the board which held up the hatch cover dislodged, fell on his head and cut it badly... but... he slept right on. He told of many a "bad show" and close calls... then he said, "At one time I saw some very beautiful wild flowers deep in the jungle. They were right in my path. I know how much you like flowers and I wanted very much to stop and pick them for you for Mother's Day... but I was a little busy. Anyway I drove around them and in my mind sent them to you... so... now you have these lovely flowers growing there for you on Mother's Day..."
If I grieve, it is for myself, he needs no grief. Because out of the confusion of a young man he quickly grew into a man who had no illusions about his choice of what he must do and proved his courage in a way no one can question... and we... all of us, those who loved him, those who knew him and the countless who never knew him, must know and believe that we enjoy the greatness of this nation, the softness of the sun and the sweet freedom of its air because of the thousands of Thierry Maxims who have bee unafraid to defend it. (Ilwaco Tribune 30 Sep 1970)
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