photo by: Eric Ayres

Family and friends of the late U.S. Army Cpl. James Thonen gathered on Wheeling Island Friday during a banner dedication ceremony in his honor.

WHEELING — Cpl. James Leo Thonen had only two months left on his tour of duty in Vietnam when he was killed in action on Jan. 17, 1970. He was just 20 years old.

On Friday, members of his family and his community gathered on Wheeling Island to celebrate his life, to salute his service to his country, and in a way, to welcome him home. As part of the ongoing Military Banner Program in Wheeling, a banner honoring Thonen was erected not far from his childhood home and was dedicated with a special ceremony on Friday.

“Today, we are very grateful to be able to honor Cpl. James Leo Thonen, whose banner can be proudly seen right behind me,” said John Larch, volunteer coordinator for Wheeling’s Military Banner Program, welcoming Thonen’s family and friends to the ceremony. “We’re grateful that they’re here, and we’re grateful to be here to remember his legacy, his ultimate sacrifice and his service to our country.”

Ever since the banner program was launched in Wheeling after Mayor Denny Magruder took office, more than 230 banners have been put in place and displayed above streets in neighborhoods throughout the city. Banners salute both veterans and active duty military personnel.

Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron said many communities across the country proudly honor their veterans and active duty military men and women with similar programs, but few are able to do so at the level to which Wheeling’s program has truly elevated it.

“Our Operations Department has really undertaken this with a tremendous amount of gusto,” Herron said. “It’s a labor of love for the city government to be able to honor veterans in this way.”

Herron added that it was “particularly heartwarming” when family members can be present to recount stories of relatives who grew up and spent their lives in Wheeling before heading overseas to fight and make the ultimate sacrifice.

“As we get into the Vietnam era, there are family members who are able to attend these ceremonies and share memories of their loved ones,” Herron said. “The fact that his sister was able to speak with us today and the fact that his family and friends were here makes it even more special.”

Thonen was born on March 9, 1949 and lived with his family on Wheeling Island. He attended Wheeling Central Catholic High School.

His sister, Sue Forrester, spoke during Friday’s ceremony.

“I’m the youngest of the family,” Forrester said. “Jim and I grew up on the south end of South Huron Street.”

She said they lived with their parents, their older brother, John, and sister, Helen Jean — all of whom are now deceased.

Forrester shared fond memories of her big brother during his days in Wheeling through the late 1960s.

“One of the things Jim treasured most was his 1956 red and white Chevy convertible,” she said. I was a cheerleader at Blessed Trinity when Jim got this car.”

Since their school colors were red and white, like the convertible, she asked him if she and the other cheerleaders could pose for a picture in the car with its top down. He reluctantly agreed.

“He didn’t want to do this, but being a good older brother, he did it anyway for me,” Forrester said, noting that she still has the treasured photo. “Jim looked so disgusted about the whole ordeal – but he did it for his little sister.”

When Tonen was drafted into the U.S. Army, some others his age were defecting to Canada to avoid the draft.

“We were proud of him,” Forrester said. “Jim answered the call of duty to his country.”

Thonen served in the 199th Light Infantry Brigade, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry, B Company. He began his tour of duty on Sept. 10, 1969.

“I was a freshman at Central at the time that Jim was killed in Vietnam,” an emotional Forrester said. “I remember being so proud to see him in his military uniform at the funeral home across the street from Central.”

This past August, a group of Vietnam veterans who served with Thonen and who were with him when he was killed in action in Vietnam came to Wheeling to pay their respects for him, Forrester noted. A heartfelt ceremony took place at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Wheeling, where he is buried.

Forrester said these men traveled from afar to participate in that ceremony – more than 50 years after Thonen was killed in action.

“It tells me how much they respected and cared for Jim,” she said.

Thonen’s niece, Staci Sengewalt, offered a prayer during Friday’s event. Members of the Moundsville Veterans Honor Guard, who participated in the ceremony, also served in Vietnam like Thonen, as did Chuck Ryan, vice commander of Wheeling VFW 4442.

“I served in the United States Marine Corps,” Ryan said. “Veterans mean a lot to me. It’s always an honor when you can gather and honor a fellow veteran. It’s my honor to be here to honor a fellow Vietnam veteran.”

Ryan not only read Thonen’s biography, he also read comments provided by members of Thonen’s platoon – men who became close with him day in and day out during combat and who fought alongside him on the day he lost his life on Jan. 17, 1970.

Thonen had volunteered to carry the M-60 machine gun earlier that November when it became available. Ryan noted that the only logical reason that such a weapon would “become available” would be because the soldier who carried it before him was killed. Carrying that weapon made you a target for enemy forces, Ryan said.

Those who were with him in battle noted that Thonen was a reliable member of their platoon who wanted the extra work and responsibility.

“I was in the same platoon as Jim and knew him well for the short time that we were in Vietnam together,” wrote David Mathis, who noted that people become very close with one another when they eat, sleep and hike together 24 hours a day in a life-and-death situation. “Jim was a quiet, easygoing guy who would be difficult not to like. I was with Jim when he and ‘Bear’ Thornton were hit on that day in January. ‘Bear’ died instantly, and I tried to comfort Jim while we were pinned down waiting for a chopper. It was my worst day in Vietnam. God bless these guys.”

Fellow platoon member Bob Soiset wrote, “He showed physical stamina and unflinching courage until he and his ammo-bearer were killed trying to outflank an enemy position. He is missed and fondly remembered by all the former members of the 1st platoon, Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry, 199th Infantry Brigade. Rest in peace, Jim.”

On the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., Thonen’s name is displayed on panel 14W, line 42.

“He had two months to go on his tour when his life was taken from us,” Ryan said, reciting a list of military awards Thonen received for his service, including a Bronze Star, Purple Heart and many other medals, badges and citations. “Jim was a very highly decorated individual. They don’t just hand those awards out. Those are earned. It’s my honor to be here today to say ‘welcome home, Cpl. Thonen.'”