THOMASVILLE — A man with a professional baseball career on his mind died a hero’s death almost a half century ago during combat in the Vietnam War.

The late Lynwood Thornton will be awarded the Bronze Star posthumously Saturday.

The event honoring Thornton is at noon at Trinity Baptist Church, 1003 Cassidy Road, with Pastor Ken Burgess presiding. Attending will be members of the Thornton family, former members of the platoon in which Thornton served, church members and invited guests.

A member of Bugles Across America will play “Taps” to close the ceremony.

The Bronze Star should have been awarded to Thornton in 1970, “but fell through the cracks,” said Lyndall Knight, a Thomasville resident and a retired sergeant major in the U.S. Army Military Police Corps.

Information on a certificate to be presented at the Saturday ceremony states that on Jan. 17, 1970, in Long Khanh Province, Republic of South Vietnam, Private First Class Thornton’s courage and sacrifice resulted in the enemy force being driven off, and members of his platoon were saved from an enemy ambush.

“Private First Class Thornton’s actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and bring great credit upon him, the 199th Infantry Brigade and the United States Army,” the certificate states.

Roger Soiset, a Grayson resident, was the lieutenant in charge of the platoon when Thornton was killed, said Knight, who provided Soiset’s details of when Thornton was killed.

According to Soiset, Thornton, also known as The Bear, was a new addition to Soiset’s rifle platoon in late 1969. Soiset remembers Thornton as someone who did not complain and volunteered to do more. Thornton had been in Vietnam 65 days when he was killed.

Knight said Soiset was instrumental in seeing that Thornton received the Bronze Star, which was authorized by President Trump. The recognition is awarded to members of the U.S. armed forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement or meritorious service in a combat zone.

Marcus Thornton, a Thomas County resident, turned 18 on Jan. 1, 1970, 17 days before his brother was killed by the Viet Cong.

“I could write a book, I guess,” Thornton said about his brother, who is buried at Sunset Memorial Garden on U.S. 84 East.

The boys grew up in Newton. They played baseball with each other. They also hoed peanuts and corn and picked cotton together.

“He’d rather play baseball than eat when he was hungry,” Marcus Thornton said.

His older brother planned to pursue a career in professional baseball after serving in the military.

“He went to Vietnam and didn’t come home,” said Thornton, 67, the oldest member of the church where the Saturday ceremony will be held.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820