[PCO Profile] A Real-Life Hero

For the last 19 years, PermaTreat Pest Control’s Ernie Wallace has served on the frontlines in the battle to protect people’s homes from termite damage. Wallace has become regarded as a loyal, hard-working, dedicated professional.

It’s these traits and others that served Wallace so well when the battle was being fought years ago in a far away land. Wallace is a highly decorated veteran who served his country as a machine gunner in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. As a recipient of the U.S. Navy Cross in 1966, Wallace is among an elite group of soldiers honored for extraordinary heroism.

A TENSE SITUATION. Wallace was given this important honor for his service as a machine gunner with Company H, Second Battalion, Fourth Marines, Third Marine Division (Reinforced) during Operation Starlite against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in Vietnam on August 18, 1965.

"We were to set up security while they were building an airstrip and then word came down that there was a large buildup of Viet Cong just to the south of us," Wallace recalls. "It turned out to be the first major combat offensive in Vietnam — called Operation Starlite"

According to the Navy Cross citation, Wallace personally accounted for 25 dead enemy at the battle’s outset, allowing his squad to maneuver to a more advantageous area. The citation added that Wallace fearlessly provided cover throughout the day for the evacuation of wounded Marines in exposed areas — accounting for the killing of 15 more of the enemy. The Navy Cross citation concludes: "His outstanding performance of duty undoubtedly saved many Marine lives and materially aided the company in turning the tide of battle into a virtual annihilation of a numerically superior force. Corporal Wallace’s extraordinary heroism and inspiring dedication to duty reflected great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

Wallace’s actions during Operation Starlite were observed by a staff sergeant and upon his return from Vietnam in 1966, he was recommended for the Navy Cross, which was presented to him in September 1966. While stateside after his first tour of duty, Wallace decided to make a career out of the military and re-enlisted in the Marines in 1967. Following a second tour of duty in Vietnam, Wallace returned home in 1968 and he served in the military in various capacities before retiring in 1985.

Reflecting back on his tours of duty in Vietnam, Wallace says he is proud of his service. "I feel that everyone should pull a tour of duty whether they choose to make a career out of (the military) or not," he said. "I think it settles you down and gives you a direction to go."

Wallace’s wartime legacy has been kept alive by the media. He is frequently interviewed about his wartime experiences on television programs and he appeared on Oliver North’s War Stories.

A SECOND CAREER. After retiring from the United States Marine Corps in 1985, Wallace was working as a painter. During this time his home became infested with termites.

"The company I used did an inspection and charged $700, which I thought was outrageous," he said. "I said, ‘Shoot, I could do a better job than that.’"

So Wallace decided to do the actual treatment himself, and he paid a visit to PermaTreat Pest Control to inquire about an over-the-counter termiticide. During his visit Wallace struck up a conversation with PermaTreat Owner Joe Wilson.

Fredericksburg is located in proximity to military bases such as Fort AP Hill and Quantico. Thus, the area is home to many military families and throughout the years, retired army, coast guard and marine personnel have later become successful PermaTreat employees. In fact, the U.S. government used to have a program in which it paid (for a period of time) the salaries of ex-military personnel transitioning into civilian jobs and PermaTreat was a participating company in this program.

During their conversation, Wilson recognized Wallace as a good potential employee and offered him a job. Wallace began his tenure at PermaTreat as a termite technician in 1986. He would later spend time as a service manager before settling into his current position of termite sales technician.

"Ernie’s a hard worker who doesn’t mind putting in long hours and working weekends if necessary," Wilson said. "He services an area with a lot of military families and being a former marine he gets along well with all these people."

Wallace likes that pest control gives him the opportunity to solve people’s problems and also to practice one of his hobbies – beekeeping. Wallace is PermaTreat’s stinging insect specialist. "I took a colony out of our house in 1987 and I’ve been keeping bees ever since," he says. "I’ll supervise and participate in the clean out. We try not to kill the bees unless absolutely necessary."

It’s a win-win situation, Wilson jokes. "The homeowner likes it because the bees are out of the home and the bees like it because they don’t get killed."

Wilson said he is glad Wallace is part of the PermaTreat team. "We’re proud of everything he’s accomplished both at PermaTreat and during his military career. The U.S. Navy Cross is second only to the Congressional Medal of Honor. It’s not every day that you meet a U.S. Navy Cross winner."

The author is Internet editor for www.pctonline.com. He can be reached via e-mail at bharbison@giemedia.com.