BURLINGTON – Francis McAllister had a harrowing 18-day stretch during his tour of duty in Vietnam.
From March 20 through April 7, 1970, he was injured with varying degrees of severity on three separate occasions. All three earned him the Department of Defense’s Purple Heart – the oldest military award and first of its kind of which an enlisted man was eligible.
McAllister, of Burlington, attempted to have the street he lives on, Sunrise Lane, designated as a route on the Military Order of the Purple Heart Purple Heart Trail. He and three of his neighbors, one now deceased, are all Purple Heart recipients.
A specific street cannot be named as part of the trail, but a whole community can. Last fall, McAllister approached the cities of Burlington and West Burlington to go after the designation and both communities were enthusiastic about the cause and the possibility.
Street signs that bear the name Purple Heart City with a Purple Heart have popped up at 11 different locations along roadways throughout Burlington and West Burlington recently.
The Military Order of the Purple Heart is made up of combat wounded veterans from all wars. The organization helps veterans and their dependents, regardless of their military service or records. This veteran’s support organization is responsible for the designation of the Purple Heart Trail. McAllister is the commander of the Iowa chapter of the order.
McAllister’s tour of duty in Vietnam lasted 19 months, cut short of the two-year requirement by injuries, the third of which was severe.
Purple Heart #1
It was 2:30 a.m. in a rice paddy and McAllister said he took a shot to the hip/buttocks area. With zero visibility he doesn’t know if it was shot or shrapnel. His company, a combat unit, were in search of Charlie – American military slang for Viet Cong and North Vietnamese soldiers.
His wounds landed him in the 25th Division Evac Hospital where he was stitched up and rested for two days.
Between the attack and his injury and getting to the hospital, McAllister helped another soldier. He crawled over to the wounded soldier and dragged him out of the fray. McAllister said the man was showing signs of shock and he gave him his shirt to keep warm.
This act earned McAllister the Silver Star. The Silver Star is the third highest military decoration for valor in combat and is awarded to a soldier for gallantry in action.
Purple Heart #2
After two days of recuperation in the hospital, McAllister said he was released and sent to a fire support base for his next assignment. While there, he was struck in the hand by incoming mortar fire. Positioned in a bunker, McAllister said this injury drew blood.
Purple Heart #3
This injury was tour ending for McAllister. He was back with his assigned combat company and again looking for Charlie. The company walked into booby traps around 4 p.m. that day. McAllister said 12, including himself, were injured and one lost his life. McAllister took a grenade to his left side.
What followed for McAllister was a series of operations to repair all the damage, with the first one taking place at the 25th Evacuation Hospital.
From there he was transported to Saigon and then to Japan for more surgery at the 249th General Hospital.
Mrs. Mac
Mary McAllister met Francis McAllister while they were both students at Iowa Wesleyan College. They were married five months after he returned to Fort Riley in Kansas for continued recuperation. She was waiting for his return. “We were just happy to have him back,” Mary said.
Francis never returned to Vietnam after that. He instead finished out his days with the Army as the company clerk for 50 dentists.
A degree in chemistry from IWC took him throughout the Midwest, being employed by Pabst Brewing in Peoria Heights, Ill., Muscatine and finally at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant in Middletown. He retired from there after 21 years of service in the laboratory in 2012.
A prized award was a challenge coin that Francis received upon his IAAAP retirement in 2012 from the Commander at the time, Lieutenant Colonel Bruins.
Challenge coins were awarded at the sole discretion of a commander and without one, McAllister said walking into the officer’s club on base put you in the position of paying for drinks.
McAllister’s surprise at the award upon his retirement is still deeply felt today.
Now McAllister said he spends his time ensuring all veterans are aware of and receiving all the benefits they are entitled to. He has also served as the treasurer of the Disabled American Veterans Association, American Legion and the Vietnam Veterans of America.
Francis and Mary have two children: John, who lives in Iowa City, and Christy, who lives in Burlington.
“I want to help any veteran and make sure they receive their benefits. Some don’t think they deserve it. I don’t care what the job was. It was important or they (the military) wouldn’t have had it there,” McAllister said.
