Today our walk was dedicated in honor of:
Honoring Army Staff Sergeant Thomas Jasper Mauldin
6.41 Miles • September 3, 2026
Today, we had the honor of walking 6.41 miles with Army Staff Sergeant Thomas Jasper Mauldin, age 34, of Columbia, South Carolina.
KIA — September 3, 1966
Thomas was serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized)—the famous “Bobcats” of the 25th Infantry Division.
On September 3, 1966, his unit was operating in the Filhol Rubber Plantation near Cu Chi, South Vietnam, an area that had seen considerable fighting.
That day, Company C encountered enemy forces in the Filhol Plantation. Two Americans were killed:
Captain Robert P. Andrews, the company commander
Staff Sergeant Thomas J. Mauldin, a 1st Platoon squad leader
Nine other men were wounded and evacuated by helicopter.
Today, 60 years later, Thomas and I walked together to remember his service, his sacrifice, and the life that was taken far too soon.
We started our walk by Holiday Hills Lake, then made our way by Garrison Park, where we continued on to the fire department. From there, we headed toward Main Street and stopped at Veterans Memorial Park.
While at the park, we were fortunate to meet some veterans and spend some time talking with them. It was great to stop and share a few moments with fellow veterans.
After our visit, Thomas and I continued our tribute by reading out loud the names of all the Vietnam War Heroes listed on the Memorial Wall.
Standing there and speaking those names was a very meaningful part of today’s walk. Every one of those names represents a life, a family, a story, and a sacrifice that should never be forgotten.
We also found a beautiful hand-painted American flag rock along our walk. We brought it home and placed it in our Memorial Rock Garden in honor of SSGT Thomas Mauldin. Now his name will have another place where we can remember him.
We then continued north and met up with a friend at the Train Depot before making our way back toward home.
It was a very hot 6.41-mile walk, but we stayed hydrated, took care of ourselves, and had a wonderful walk honoring this hero.
And once again, the people along the road showed us that they remember.
357 HONKS TODAY!
To everyone who honked, waved, or saluted, I want to say THANK YOU!
Every honk, every wave, and every salute helps us honor these heroes and lets us know that people still care about the sacrifices they made.
I also want to give a special thank-you to SFC Jonathan Langford, a Fallen Hero, for joining us today and helping us honor Thomas.
Today, we walked with Thomas.
We carried his name.
We told his story.
We remembered his sacrifice.
And we made sure his name was spoken once again.
Army Staff Sergeant Thomas J. Mauldin — you will NEVER be forgotten. 🇺🇸
Honor • Respect • Remember
I walk for them. I do it for all of them.
