Shelby County Today

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January 27, 2022 - VFW Post 8904 and Auxiliary held a Vietnam Peace Accord Observance on Thursday, January 27, 2022, and honored those who served in Vietnam.

Names were read in honor of those that served and those who made the ultimate sacrifice there.

VFW Post 8904 Quartermaster Larry Hume welcomed those who braved the downtown construction to attend the observance at the Veterans Memorial, "Good morning, thank you hearty souls for being here today as we remember those who served in the Vietnam War."

Following Hume's greeting Kenneth Ramsey, Post Chaplain, gave the opening prayer.

Hume gave the history of the ending of the Vietnam War, "The Paris Peace Accord ending the Vietnam War was signed 49 years ago on January 27, 1973, and was followed by the withdrawal of the remaining American Troops. The terms of the accord called for a complete ceasefire in South Vietnam. It allowed North Vietnamese forces to retain the territory they had captured. It provided for the release of U.S. prisoners of war. It called for both sides to find a political solution to the conflict, and as an enticement to South Vietnam, President Nixon offered U.S. air power to enforce the peace terms. Of course, this stopped in December 1974 when the Congress cut off all military aid to South Vietnam."

"More than 58,000 Americans gave their lives in the Vietnam War and there are still 1,584 missing in action. At this very time our POW/MIA accounting teams continue to search around the world wherever there are missing Americans," said Hume. "There are 11 veterans in Shelby County who were killed in action in Vietnam. There was one who was killed in a training accident in preparing to deploy there, and we like to remember this day by reading their names."

The names, which are listed at the bottom of this article, were then read by members of VFW Post 8904, members of the Post Auxiliary and civilians attending the observance.

VFW Post 8904 member Mike Wulf then hung a tribute wreath on the Veteran's memorial in honor of these 12 Veterans and all those lost in the Vietnam War in honor of those who served, survived and have since passed; and in honor of all those who served.

After the reading of names of Shelby County Vietnam Veterans who died in service, everyone attending was offered the opportunity to say the name of someone they know who served in Vietnam.

Hume said, "You know it has been said, and I've said it many times that no one is truly dead until their name is no longer spoken. And this morning, each of our 12 Shelby County Veterans are alive today because of you here in attendance. We spoke their name as we did last year and as we will again next year."

The program was closed with the playing of taps by Post Commander and bugler Gene Hutto.

Following the program, Commander Gene Hutto recognized Post Honor Guard members Mary Fausett and Larry Hume for their volunteer time in this endeavor. Fausett was recognized for 150 hours of service to this effort and she was presented with a 150 hour pin. Hume was also recognized for his contribution and he was recognized for 500 hours of service.

"At the request of Shelby County families we will attend their funeral, do the flag folding for the family and so forth and it's all done on a volunteer basis and we started this in 2003, 19 years ago and each of our members volunteers their time," said Hume.

Shelby County Vietnam Veterans who died in service to our Country

• Ted Wayne Adams, Private First Class - Born in Beaumont, Texas, July 31, 1944. Inducted into the U.S. Army November 14, 1965. Killed in action on November 15, 1966, age 22. Buried in the Tennessee Cemetery, Timpson, Texas. Awarded the Purple Heart. His name on the Vietnam Memorial can be found at Panel 12 East, Line 76.

• William Larry "Shorty" Andrews, Specialist Fourth Class - Born in Shelby County, Texas October 25, 1945. Inducted into the U.S. Army 1965. Killed in action on February 16, 1967, age 21. Buried in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Shelby County, Texas. Awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. His name on the Vietnam Memorial can be found at Panel 15 East, Line 38.

• Jimmy D. Barnett, Private First Class - Born in Joaquin, Texas February 28, 1943. Inducted into the U.S. Army May 1967. Killed in action March 26, 1968, age 25. Buried in the Jackson Cemetery, Joaquin, Texas. Awarded the Purple Heart. His name on the Vietnam Memorial can be found at Panel 46 East, Line 28.

• Mac C. Buckley, Private First Class - Born in Center, Texas November 7, 1945. Inducted into the U.S. Army 1967. Killed in action on July 5, 1968. Buried in the Westview Cemetery, Center, Texas. Awarded the Purple Heart. His name on the Vietnam Memorial wall can be found at Panel 53 West, Line 16.

• Larry Stephen "Possum" Byford, Private First Class - Born in Center, Texas May 1, 1945. Inducted into the U.S. Army October 1965. Killed in action June 23, 1967. Buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Shelby County, Texas. Awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. His name on the Vietnam Memorial can be found at Panel 22 East, Line 52.

• Ray A. Chatelain, Seaman First Class - Born in Louisiana May 6, 1946. Join the U.S. Navy Ocotober 1965. Killed in an explosion aboard the USS Forrestal on July 30, 1967. Buried in the Longstreet Cemetery, Longstreet, Louisiana. Awarded the Purple Heart. His name on the Vietnam Memorial can be found at Panel 24 East, Line 50.

• William Henry Eaden, Sergeant - Born in Timpson, Texas August 12, 1939. Joined the U.S. Army December 13, 1961. Career soldier killed in action on November 12, 1965. Buried in the Mount Gillion Cemetery, Shelby County, Texas. Awarded the Purple Heart. His name on the Vietnam Memorial can be found at Panel 3 East, Line 42.

• Jerry Lynn Hughes, Sergeant - Born in Center, Texas July 17, 1946. Inducted into the U.S. Army May 1966. Killed in action on July 12, 1967. Buried in Oaklawn Memorial Park, Center, Texas. Awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. His name on the Vietnam Memorial can be found at Panel 23 East, Line 59.

• Taylor D. "Sonny" Johnson, Major - Born in Joaquin, Texas December 15, 1952. Joined the U.S. Army 1953. Career soldier. Killed in action January 28, 1966. Buried in the Joaquin Cemetery, Joaquin, Texas. Awarded the Air Medal and Purple Heart. His name on the Vietnam Memorial can be found at Panel 4 East, Line 103.

• John B. Lightfoot, Corporal - Born in Shelby County, Texas July 27, 1952. Joined the U.S. Marine Corps June 14, 1971. Killed in a training accident on October 3, 1974 in Louisiana while preparing to deploy to Vietnam. Buried in the McClelland Cemetery, Shelby County, Texas.
  

• Samuel R. Lynch, Specialist Fourth Class - Born in Nacogdoches, Texas May 26, 1949. Inducted into the U.S. Army 1969. Killed in action December 12, 1970. Buried in the White Rock Cemetery, Shelby County, Texas. Awarded the Purple Heart. His name on the Vietnam Memorial can be found at Panel 6 West, Line 130.

• Calvin R. Patrick, Private First Class - Born in Houston, Texas November 23, 1950. Inducted into the U.S. Army November 30, 1968. Killed in action May 25, 1969. Buried in the Wimberly Cemetery, Shelby County, Texas. Awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. His name on the Vietnam Memorial can be found at Panel 24 West, Line 106.