This Memorial Day weekend, the Field of Heroes in Westerville, Ohio, will once again transform into sacred ground—3,000 flags, each representing a hero. Among them, two remarkable lives rise to the forefront: Randall D. Murdock and Robert “Terry” Ault. Their stories, though different in detail, share the same foundation—courage, duty, and lifelong service to others.
Randall D. Murdock: Quiet Strength in Vietnam’s Chaos
Randall D. Murdock enlisted into the U.S. Army in 1968 and answered his country’s call with unwavering resolve. As a Military Intelligence Interrogator in Vietnam, he was entrusted with one of the war’s most demanding and morally complex missions. His actions, however, spoke not only of courage but of conscience. Whether gathering vital intelligence with the 199th Light Infantry Brigade or standing in quiet solidarity with his Vietnamese interpreter—refusing a warm meal out of principle—Randall exemplified honor in its truest form.
After nearly a year in combat, he returned home not with fanfare, but with steadfast humility. He continued his service in civilian life, building a legacy as a dedicated public servant and devoted patriarch. Years later, in a moment as moving as it was improbable, Randall encountered a fellow veteran on his postal route—a Vietnamese immigrant who had once served in an allied intelligence unit, ARVN. Their chance encounter revealed how deeply service unites people—across continents, across decades, and across the divides of history.
Robert “Terry” Ault: Courage Under Fire and a Lifetime of Rescue
Terry Ault’s first combat mission as a Cobra helicopter pilot in Vietnam nearly ended in tragedy—his helicopter was shot down, and he crouched in a rice paddy for 45 minutes under enemy threat. But it wouldn’t be the last time he faced danger head-on. Just months later, wounded in the chest by enemy fire, he managed to fly his helicopter—and his copilot—safely back to friendly territory. That act of heroism earned him the Purple Heart.
Terry’s service didn’t end with Vietnam. After active duty, he joined the Ohio Army National Guard and later pioneered the news helicopter division at WBNS 10TV in Columbus. From helping lost aircraft land safely to alerting police to missing children or fire teams to hazardous material blazes, Terry turned flight into a public good. His calls were often unrecorded and his help unsolicited—but that’s what made it service in its truest form.
One Field, Two Stories, Shared Purpose
Randall and Terry never met—but this weekend, their legacies will stand side by side. Both men returned from Vietnam and built lives marked by quiet heroism. Both carried the burdens of war without complaint, choosing instead to help others—through postal routes or news choppers, intelligence briefings or air rescues. Both were husbands, fathers, and grandfathers who taught the next generation that service didn’t end with the uniform.
As the flags ripple in the Westerville breeze, visitors to the Field of Heroes will encounter names like Murdock and Ault not simply as tributes—but as reminders. Reminders that heroes walk among us. That service comes in many forms. And that freedom is preserved not only on the battlefield, but in the daily choices good people make to show up, speak out, and give back.
Location: Westerville Sports Complex - 325 N. Cleveland Ave, Westerville, OH 43082
Dates: Memorial Day Weekend, May 23-26, 2025
www.fieldofheroes.org
Join us as we honor Randall, Terry, and thousands of others whose stories ripple through the flags on this sacred field. Let us walk among them. Let us remember.
