City of Chicago Flag Saga
In February 1968 HM3 David M. Steinberg, who was from Chicago, wrote Mayor Richard J. Daley requesting a City of Chicago flag to be flown atop Hill 881S.  Mayor Daley responded by sending the flag and this letter.

 

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

CITY OF CHICAGO

___RICHARD J. DALEY_______March 11, 1968
__________MAYOR
David Steinberg HM3
B513131
India Co., 3rd 26th Mar., 3rd Plt.
3rd Mar. Div. (Rein) F.M.F.
FPO San Francisco, California 96602

Dear David:

          It gives me much pleasure to be able to direct that a Chicago flag be sent to you.  Keep it flying high.

          I want you to know, and the other men of your outfit to know, that you are never out of our thoughts and the prayers of all good Chicagoans are with you.

          We look forward to the day when we will have yourself and all your friends back home again.

Sincerely,

/s/ Richard J. Daley

Mayor


 
Steinberg folded the flag and took it with him when he departed the hill on 18 April.  The photo below shows that flag being displayed outside his new home at Quang Tri. 


Steinberg cared for and displayed that flag the balance of his Vietnam tour and took it home with when he rotated.  The flag remained with him until August 1989.  At this time Steinberg wrote Mayor Richard M. Daley, son of the mayor who had originally given the flag, stating he would like to return the flag to the City of Chicago.  Steinberg received a telephone call from James A. Balcer, the city's Veteran Liaison representative, which prompted the following letter.

 

City of Chicago
Richard M. Daley, Mayor

Commission on
Human Relations

Peter Fitzpatrick
Chairman

B. Herbert Martin, Sr.
Executive Director

Suite 6A
500 North Peshtigo Court
Chicago, Illinois 60611
(312) 744-4111
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

August 23, 1989









Mr. David M. Steinberg
2413 Lori Lane South
Wilmington, Delaware 19810

Dear Mr. Steinberg:

As per our recent telephone conversation, your desire to return your City of Chicago flag, which the late Richard J. Daley, Mayor, sent you in 1968 is certainly moving.

As a former Marine veteran, let me assure you that as the newly appointed City of Chicago's Veteran Liaison, your flag will be displayed proudly as a symbol of your pride in the City of Chicago.

Sincerely,
/s/ James A. Balcer
Veteran Liaison

JAB/yqg


 
The flag hung proudly in City Hall until the Khe Sanh Veterans, Inc. held a "Tet Plus 24" mini-reunion at the Best Western River North Hotel from February 14 - 16, 1992.  At that time  Doc Steinberg's flag, flown so proudly by him atop Hill 881S, was presented to Khe Sanh Veterans President, Earle G. Breeding by former Marine James Balcer, Director of Veterans Affairs, for the city of Chicago without any mention of Doc Steinberg.

Doc Steinberg tells your webmaster the flag is still in the custody of the Khe Sanh Vets.  The last time he saw it was at another reunion in Philadelphia.  It was then hanging on the wall with a sign marking it as a "Viet Cong Flag."  Is it possible that the Khe Sanh Vets never saw a Viet Cong flag?

City of Chicago Flag

Viet Cong Flag


From left, Lt. Todd M. Ferguson, LtCol. Louis A. Gulling, 
Lt. Carl C. Stoehr II, and Capt. Robert W. Wiegand

Narrative of the capture of this flag can be read by clicking below:

Furious Foxes Filch Foe’s Flag

EPILOGUE
Alderman Balcer, was a PFC when, as an 81mm mortarman under attack in visibility limited to yards, he and another Marine made five trips up a steep incline under intense enemy fire carrying wounded Marines to a mountain top position for medical evacuation during Operation DEWEY CANYON in
the Ashau Valley.  For this heroic achievement throughout February 22nd and 23rd, 1969.  Jim Balcer, in ceremonies held September 5, 2001, as Alderman of the 11th Ward was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.  Alderman Balcer also received "three Purple Hearts" during his time in Vietnam.

HM3 David Steinberg's History Index

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