I have determined that there lacks a comprehensive document of the military service of SP4 Wells that can be shared with family and friends, many of whom may not have heard or knew of this information. The following is from a number of sources which will be enumerated in the biography that follows.
Name: Wells, John Curtis
Dearborn, Wayne County, Michigan
Born: 30 Jul 1948
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- Date Wounded: 11 March 1968
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- Location: Province Unknown, Military Region II (MR II)
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- Possibly during Operation Pegasus
Date of Death: 22 March 1968
Location: Khe Sanh, Hướng Hoá District, Quảng Trị Province, Vietnam
Cause of Death: Hostile Died of Wounds, Artillery Rocket Mortar, Ground Casualty
Place of Interment: Cadillac Memorial Gardens West – Garden City
Westland, Wayne County, Michigan, USA
Plot: Good Shepard, 810, #4
Military Record
- Branch: United States Army
- Rank: Specialist Four
- Specialty: Light Weapons Infantry
- Last Primary MOS: 11B40-Infantryman
- Group: Special Forces, 5th SFG, Company
- DET B-50 (PROJECT DELTA), CCS, MACV-SOG, 5TH SF GROUP, USARV
- Service number: 16828034
Unit Assignments
- 1966–1968, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
- 1966–1968, Command & Control North (CCN), MACV Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG)
- 1966–1968, Detachment B-50 (Project Omega), Company E (Provisional) Detachment C-5 (Special Operations)
Combat and Non-Combat Operations
- 1966–1967, Vietnam War/Counteroffensive Phase II Campaign (1966-67)
- 1967–1968, Vietnam War/Counteroffensive Phase III Campaign (1967-68)
- 1968–1968, Vietnam War/Tet Counteroffensive Campaign (1968)
COMMENDATIONS
★ Silver Star
★ Bonze Star with Two Oakleaf Clusters
★ Purple Heart
★ Combat Infantryman Badge
★ Marksmanship Badge
★ National Defense Service Medal
★ Vietnam Campaign Medal
★ Vietnam Service Medal
★ Army Presidential Unit Citation
★ Vietnam Gallantry Cross
★ Army Good Conduct Medal
Personal Effects
Burial Fag (United States of America) ~ M Owens
Cigarette Lighter ~ J Antishin
Uniform (Beret) ~ J Antishin
Discharge Papers ~
Service Records ~
Medals and Awards ~
Memorials
Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial
United States National Park Service
Website URL: Vietnam Veterans Memorial (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
The memorial includes the names of over 58,000 servicemen and women who gave their lives in service in the Vietnam Conflict. The memorial includes the Vietnam Veterans Memorial “Wall,” the “Three Servicemen Statue” and the “Vietnam Women’s Memorial.”
The Memorial is free and open 24 hours a day.
Name: John C Wells
Location: Panel 45E, Line 61
United States Army Special Operations Command
In Memory of our Fallen Special Operations Soldiers
Fort Bragg, North Carolina
https://www.soc.mil/Memorial%20Wall/past_campaigns.html#VN
National Infantry Museum, Fort Benning, Georgia
Vietnam Memorial Wall (a 3/4 scale replica of the original)
Photos provided by M Owens (15-Nov-2022)
Sp4 John C Wells, Section 45E, Line 61
Branson Veterans Memorial Museum
Honoring Those Who Served
1250 W Hwy 76 Country Boulevard
Branson, MO 65616
417 336-2300
John’s name appears twice on the Vietnam Wall inside the Museum. The photo above provided by M Owens.
http://veteransmemorialbranson.com/
Cadillac Memorial Gardens West
34224 Ford Road
Westland, MI 48185
https://www.cadillacmemorialgardenswest.com/
The following three (3) photos provided by Daniel Mark Antishin and taken on Sat, 25 May 2024.
Mother Accepts 5 Medals
Honor Vietnam Hero Posthumously
A saga of heroism in the finest tradition of the Green Berets was unfolded this week as Specialist 4 John C Wells was awarded the silver star, America’s third highest medal, three bronze stars and a purple heart posthumously.
Wells, 19, in his third tour of duty in South Vietnam, was fatally wounded in action at Khe Sanh on March 11 and died 10 days after in a Vietnam hospital.
The former Fordson High School student is the fifth Dearborn serviceman to be awarded the Silver Star posthumously for gallantry in the Far East war. He was Dearborn’s 33rd casualty. Nine have died since.
The youth’s mother, Mrs. Frank Haverty of 7017 Middlepoint, accepted the medals in his behalf Tuesday during ceremonies conducted at the US Army Tank-Automotive Command in Warren. Major Gen. Shelton E Lollis, commanding officer officiated.
“Your son certainly is to be commended.” Said Gen. Lollis to the tearful mother. “The fact that he was in his third tour of duty is indicative of his feeling of duty to his country, and the fact that he is being awarded the Silver Star is indicative of the gallantry with which he carried out his duty.”
“But especially significant to me is the fact that your son is being awarded three Bronze Stars. This is the first time that I ever recall a soldier being awarded three of the distinguished medals at one time.”
Wells was awarded the Silver Star for his courage at the time he received his fatal wounds on March 11 in Khe Sanh. In part, the citation reads:
“When the area was brought under siege by numerous North Vietnamese Army units, volunteers were asked to man the outpost, and Specialist Wells courageously requested duty there. After his arrival he repeatedly volunteered for security and reconnaissance patrols, and, each time, was placed in command, he demonstrated fearless and professional leadership.
“Details were extremely hazardous because of continuous incoming enemy rocket and mortar rounds. While performing one of these dangerous assignments, Specialist Wells was struck and mortally wounded by fragments of an exploding rocket.”
Wells earned the Bronze Star for distinguished service at the Khe Sanh combat Base from Feb. 21 to March 11.
He is credited with helping to evacuate over 1,400 refugees through his efforts to construct new fighting positions and bunkers while exposed to heavy mortar and artillery fire.
Heroic Actions during the same period of time won the second and third Bronze Stars (actually oakleaf clusters) for Wells.
“Specialist Wells continuously exposed himself too … hostile fire to rally, position and encourage the indigenous troops against an anticipated enemy ground attack,” the citation reads.
“One of the many notable and heroic achievements performed by Specialist Wells was that he volunteered to pinpoint enemy artillery and recoilless rifle by standing above the trench lines in an effort to listen to the explosives of the enemy round . . . His efforts in this cause was instrumental in the destruction of many of the enemy weapons and personnel.”
In addition to his mother, Wells is survived by his father Claude Wells, of Wayne; a brother, David; two stepbrothers, Gregory M. Haverty at home, and Gary F Haverty of Chicago; and three step-sisters, Karen L. Haverty, at home, Mrs. Judith Antishin, of Westland, and Mrs. Patricia Borlase, of Warren.
Photo Caption:
ACCEPTING MEDAL _ Mrs. Frank Haverty, of 70017 Middlepointe, Dearborn, accepts the Silver Star and four other medals, awarded posthumously to her son, Green Berets Spec. 4 John C. Wells, from Major Gen. Shelton E. Lollis, commanding officer of the U.S. Army Automotive-Tank Command in Warren. At left is William D. Barnwell, city veterans bureau director and one of four city officials attending the ceremony on behalf of Mayor Orville L. Hubbard.
Enumerated from an undated newspaper article. See photo below.
Personal Recollections
Edsel Ford High School – Dearborn’s Vietnam
11 June 2011
John Curtis Wells was born in 1948 to Curtis Wells and Mary Keeney. John had 1 brother, 2 half siblings and 3 step siblings. The family lived in east Dearborn, and John attended Thayer, McDonald, and Lowrey schools before attending Fordson High School.
John enjoyed sports a great deal and was very active in swimming. He often spent time at the Civic Center and at Dearborn’s city pools and parks. The family was very close to their neighbors. After high school, John wanted to be a state police officer.
John enlisted in the Army in 1965. After completing Basic Training at Fort Knox, John went to Fort Benning, Fort Gordon, and Fort Campbell. John was a Green Beret and was a trained parachutist. John was proud to serve his country and swore to do his duty to the best of his ability. John served three tours in Vietnam with the Green Berets. One of his duties as an indigenous team advisor was evacuating Vietnamese civilians.
On March 11, 1968, John was wounded in a mortar attack. He succumbed to his wounds on March 22, 1968. He was 19 years old. He is buried at Cadillac Memorial Gardens in Westland.
For his actions in Vietnam, Spc. John Wells was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart. His Silver Star citation reads in part, “Specialist Wells distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions,” and “he demonstrated fearless and professional leadership.” By all accounts, Spc. John Wells was an extraordinarily brave soldier and proud American.
My First Cousin
Robert Curtis Hughes
7 January 2014
Johnny was the oldest of 13 first cousins on my mother’s side of the family (Wells). He loved what he did with his fellow soldiers in Vietnam, and when he was home on leave, he was still with them in Vietnam. Johnny was an athlete, loyal soldier, and patriot. At his funeral, a General presided stating he could not remember a soldier receiving 3 bronze stars in one protracted battle.
WE ARE HIS SIBLINGS
Judy, Gary and Pat
7 May 2015
We loved Johnny and still miss him to this day. His time on earth was too short, but he was bigger than life and he had the most gentle, loving soul. He was our brother, while not blood related, he was our brother. We’d like to be contacted about this lighter and perhaps see a picture of it.
Johnnys memory will live on in us and the generations in our family that follow. His pictures and medals are all that we have to keep him alive, and the lighter would be very meaningful.
Please contact the email address below, Thank you. Judy, Gary and Pat
FINAL MISSION OF SP4 JOHN C. WELLS
W Killian
7 November 2015
SP4 John C. Wells served with Detachment B-50, Project Delta, Command and Control South (CCS), MACV-SOG. The following is an excerpt from his Silver Star citation describing his final mission at Khe Sanh on March 11, 1968:
“When the area was brought under siege by numerous North Vietnamese Army units, volunteers were asked to man the outpost and SP4 Wells courageously requested duty there. After his arrival, he repeatedly volunteered for security and reconnaissance patrols, and, each time, was placed in command, he demonstrated fearless and professional leadership. Details were extremely hazardous because of continuous incoming enemy rocket and mortar rounds. While performing one of these dangerous assignments, SP4 Wells was struck and mortally wounded by fragments of an exploding rocket.” (He died ten days later.)
NOTE: SP4 Wells was on his third tour of duty when he died at the age of 19. His first tour began July 23, 1966 when he was 17 years-old. [Taken from virtualwall.org]
A LITTLE BOY WITH NO HALLOWEEN COSTUME
Carol Johnson
18 April 2021
Johnny was a friend of my brothers. John came over to the house on Halloween to go trick-or-treating with my brother. He didn’t have a costume, so I made him up best I could, as a hobo. My brother told me years later this Johnny never forgot that.
Sources
Virtual Wall
http://www.virtualwall.org/dw/WellsJC01a.htm
Honor States
https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=321434
Together We Served
USASOC Fallen Heroes
United States Special Operations Command https://www.soc.mil/Memorial%20Wall/past_campaigns.html#VN
Special Operations
https://www.specialoperations.org/soa/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/03-SOG-Losses-March.docx