Shelby County Today

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January 27, 2023 - VFW Post 8904 and Auxiliary observe the Vietnam Peace Accord of 1973 on its 50th anniversary Friday, January 27, 2023.

VFW Post 8904 Quartermaster Larry Hume welcomed everyone in present for the program at the Veterans Memorial and introduced Kenneth Ramsey, Post Chaplain, to give the opening prayer. The group then recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

"The Paris Peace Accord ending the Vietnam War was signed 50 years ago on January 27, 1973, and that was followed by the withdrawal of the remaining American Troops and the terms of the accord called for a complete ceasefire in South Vietnam. It allowed North Vietnamese forces to retain the territory that they had captured and it provided for the release of U.S. prisoners of war, you remember when all of the POWs came home. It also called for both sides to find a political solution for the conflict as an enticement to South Vietnam, President Nixon at that time offered U.S. air power to enforce the peace terms; however this was stopped in December 1974 when the Congress cut off all military aid to South Vietnam," said Hume.

"More than 58,000 Americans gave their lives in the Vietnam War and there are still 1,581 missing in action. Just FYI, that is three left than last year when we gathered here," said Hume. "Three families now have closure due to our POW/MIA accounting teams that continue to search around the world wherever there are missing Americans," said Hume.

Hume continued by stating the number of those from Shelby County who were killed in action or in training duing that time period.

"Right here in Shelby county, Texas we have 11 veterans buried who were killed in action in Vietnam and one who died while he was preparing to deploy to Vietnam, and we like to remember them 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 placed the 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, "FYI, you can see Taylor Johnson there he was killed in action it will be tomorrow January 28, 1966; and William Henry Eaden was the first from Shelby County to be killed in Action, November 12, 1965."

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

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 Curtis 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.