November 13, 2015 - In the early part of 2014 I was researching material for Vietnam Veteran Sergeant William Henry Eaden of Timpson, Texas. Sergeant Eaden was a career Army Noncommissioned Officer who was killed in action on November 12th, 1965. 
I found an internet site called the Vietnam Veterans Memorial “The Wall-USA” where you can post remembrances, thanks and information about any military member lost in the Vietnam War. On April 27th, 2008 Danny Slaughter of Lavonia, Georgia posted this "Best of friends, Army together, I think of you, every day. God Bless. He was a fine man and was a very good, friend."
I contacted Danny and asked to use his comments in my story to which he readily agreed. I also found out that he and wife Patricia were present with William and wife Oletha when their son C. J. was just days old. C. J. was only nine months old when he lost his father. Sergeant Eaden’s story was published by Shelby County Today on March 8th, 2014 and he and the other eight from Shelby County killed in Vietnam were special honorees at our Memorial Day program that year.
Since that time I have heard from Danny from time to time and he has made a couple of memorial donations to our post in honor of his friend. Now living in Vero Beach, Florida I heard from Danny a couple of months ago in September that he and his wife Patricia were coming to Center to visit his friend’s grave for the first time and that C J would also be here. Danny and Patricia were here for Veteran’s Day and attended our program at Center Elementary School.
Post Commander Gene Hutto, Auxiliary Chaplain Mary Fausett, Auxiliary Member and owner of Shelby County Today JJ Ford and myself gathered at Mt. Gillion Cemetery with Danny, Patricia and C J at 11 am on Thursday, November 12th, 2015 to remember William Henry Eaden on the 50th year of his passing. US Army, Vietnam Veteran Danny Slaughter paid the following tribute to his friend and other comrades he knew that were lost in the war.
“45 years before I gave my life to Jesus Christ, I questioned God, why? Psalms 119: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your on understanding. John 15: The greatest love is shown when a person lays down his life for his friends. C J lost a father that he never knew, Oletha lost the love of her life. Love knows no bounds or number of years. It has been 50 years to the day that I lost my best friend and many other Army buddies. For 50 years not one day has gone by that I haven’t thought about my friends. I remember them every night in my prayers. My wife and I named our second son after Bill, his name is Mark Eaden Slaughter. I said before I got too old that I would find Bill and visit his resting place. Bill the last time I saw C J, he was just a few days old. He is now a handsome man, you would be proud. Someday I will join you in ranks along with Rex, Pepe, McMillion, Sears, Santilli, Castillo, Jenkins, Sharp and Dupree. God Bless, Danny Slaughter”.
Welcome Home William Henry Eaden, U.S. Army Sergeant, husband, father, friend, comrade, patriot and Vietnam Veteran.
Fire of Patriotism - March 8, 2014
by Larry Hume, VFW Post 8904
Shelby County, Texas Roll Call of Honor
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Between the years 1965 to 1968 the Vietnam War claimed the lives of nine men from Shelby County, Texas. Their average age was 24 with the youngest being 21 and the oldest 37. Two were African-American, two are buried in the same cemetery, four of them knew each other as kids, two arrived in Vietnam on the same day and 3 were assigned to the same infantry division. Eight were serving in the US Army and one in the US Navy with one being a commissioned officer and the other eight enlisted ranging from Private First Class to Sergeant. In the next few weeks we will honor each of them for their sacrifice in our series titled “Welcome Home”.
William Henry Eaden
Sergeant, US Army
Vietnam War
William Henry Eaden of Timpson, Texas was the first casualty of the Vietnam War in Shelby County. He was a career soldier having joined the Army on December 13th, 1961 and took his basic training at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. Before Vietnam he had tours in Germany and Fort Riley, Kansas. Shortly after joining the Army he and his wife Oletha were married in 1962 and later a son, Chargois was born.
His tour in Vietnam began on October 7, 1965 with A Troop, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 1st Infantry Division. His military occupation specialty was 11D40, Armor Reconnaissance Specialist. Just over a month into his tour Sergeant Eaden was killed in action on November 12th 1965 in the Binh Duong Province of South Vietnam.
Mr. Danny Slaughter who served in Vietnam with Sergeant Eaden and now lives in Lavonia, Georgia emailed me the following “He was a wonderful man. He was a recon scout with A Troop Ist Sqd 4th Cavalry 1st Inf Div Lia Khe Vietnam. He was track commander for A23. We were together for almost 2 years. He was the most liked Sergeant in our troop. A very brave man and I say a prayer for those men every night. He died in battle AP Bau Bang Nov 12 1965. You can read about Bau Bang on 4th Cav. web site. Thank You Danny Slaughter Philippians 4:5 In all things, give thanks”.
I also found this tribute from December 2004 to Sergeant Eaden from a fellow soldier Fred Spinks “I don't know, if I knew you personally, but I'm sure we fought in the same battle. I lost so many buddies, that day on November 12, 1965. It was called, the battle, of Ba Bang. We lost 150, soldiers. We really didn’t have much, of a chance. There were 1500, Viet Cong against our 450, soldiers. I wouldn't be here, if it weren't for the Air Force dropping napalm, on them. We all did our best and I’m proud of you for fighting for our country” (Vietnam Veterans Memorial – The Wall USA).
Funeral services for Sergeant Eaden were held on Wednesday, November 24th, 1965 at the Mt. Gillion Church with Rev. T. J. Ingram and Rev. S. Lilly officiating. He was buried in the Mt. Gillion cemetery with full military honors. The burial flag was presented to his wife by a 2nd Lieutenant Jackson.
Sergeant Eaden’s parents were McNeal (1909–1986) and Clabie Booth (1910–2002) Eaden. He had four sisters, Pauline Edwards of Center, Texas, Limmie Lister (1931-2010), Learldine Earl of Victoria, Texas, Leacy Brown of Houston, Texas and two brothers, Dewall Eaden of Houston, Texas and the late Mack Ervin Eaden (1942-1986).
He was a member of the Mt. Gillion Baptist Church and graduated from the Timpson Colored School with the class of 1959. He also attended Texas Southern University in Houston for a period of time. His sister Pauline Edwards and wife Oletha both remember him as a loveable, easygoing man.
