March 29, 2022 - VFW Post 8904 and Auxiliary recognized National Vietnam Veterans Memorial Day Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at the Shelby County Veterans Memorial.
Larry Hume, Post Quartermaster, stated the Vietnam War Recognition Act was signed into law by 45th President Donald Trump, designating every March 29 as National Vietnam War Veterans Memorial Day.
"49 years ago March 29, 1973 the last U.S. combat troops departed Vietnam and Hanoi released the last of its acknowledged prisoners of war," said Hume. "Two years later April 30, 1975 the last few Americans in South Vietnam were airlifted out of Saigon and it fell into communist forces."
Hume continued, "The Vietnam War has a long history, starting in 1955, the war went on until the official ending date of 1975," said Hume.
2.7 million Americans served in the Vietnam War and five of those who were killed in Vietnam were only 16 years old, while the oldest killed was 62 years old. Eight women, who were nurses, died in Vietnam. One of them died by enemy fire and the other seven were either killed by plane or helicopter crash. 61% of those killed in Vietnam were younger than 21 years old and the average age of those killed was 23.1 years.
"In 2021, last year there were less than 850,000 Vietnam veterans alive of the 2.7 million who served, and the median age is 68." said Hume.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. has over 58,000 names of Americans who died in the Vietnam War. The state of Texas lost over 3,400 and only California and New York had more.
"Shelby County, Texas, as in wars previously and since answered the call to duty and paid the price losing 10 soldiers, one sailor, and another Marine who died in a training accident while preparing to deploy with his unit in Vietnam," said Hume.
In an effort to keep their memory alive, the names of Shelby County Vietnam Veterans who died in service to the United States of America, their names were read aloud by Auxiliary members Jan Ramsey, Theresa Hume, and Mary Fausett, Auxiliary President.
The names that were read are as follows:
- Adams, Ted W. - Private First Class - Born in Beaumont, Texas, July 31, 1944. Inducted into the US Army November 14, 1965. Killed in action November 15, 1966, age 22. Buried in the Tennessee Cemetery, Timpson, Texas. Awarded the Purple Heart. Vietnam Memorial Panel 12 E, Line 76.
- Andrews, William L. "Shorty" - Specialist Fourth Class - Born in Shelby County, Texas, October 25, 1945. Inducted into the US Army in 1965. Killed in action February 16, 1967, age 21. Buried in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Shelby County, Texas. Awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Vietnam Memorial Panel 15 E, Line 38.
- Barnett, Jimmy D. - Private First Class - Born in Joaquin, Texas, February 28, 1943. Inducted into the US Army May 1967. Killed in action March 26, 1968, age 25. Buried in the Jackson Cemetery, Joaquin, Texas. Awarded the Purple Heart. Vietnam Memorial Panel 46 E, Line 28.
- Buckley, Mac C. - Private First Class - Born in Center, Texas, July 11, 1945. Inducted into the US Army 1967. Killed in action July 5, 1968. Buried in the Westview Cemetery, Center, Texas. Awarded the Purple Heart. Vietnam Memorial Panel 53 W, Line 16.
- Byford, Larry S. "Possum" - Private First Class - Born in Center, Texas, May 1, 1945. Inducted into the US Army October 1965. Killed in action June 23, 1967. Buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Shelby County, Texas. Awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Vietnam Memorial Panel 22 E, Line 52.
- Chatelain, Ray A. - Seaman First Class - Born in Louisiana May 6, 1946. Joined the US Navy October 1965. Killed in an explosion aboard the USS Forrestal. Buried in the Longstreet Cemetery, Longstreet, Louisiana. Awarded the Purple Heart. Vietnam Memorial Panel 24 E, Line 50.
- Eaden, William H. - Sergeant - Born in Timpson, Texas, August 12, 1939. Joined the US Army December 13, 1961. Career soldier killed in action November 12, 1965. Buried in the Mount Gillion Cemetery, Shelby County, Texas. Awarded the Purple Heart. Vietnam Memorial Panel 3 E, Line 42.
- Hughes, Jerry L. - Sergeant - Born in Center, Texas, July 17, 1946. Inducted into the US Army May 1966. Killed in action July 12, 1967. Buried in Oaklawn Memorial Park, Center, Texas. Awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. Vietnam Memorial Panel 23 E, Line 59.
- Johnson, Taylor D. "Sonny" - Major - Born in Joaquin, Texas, December 15, 1929. Joined the US Army 1953. Career soldier. Killed in action January 28, 1966. Buried in the Joaquin Cemetery, Joaquin, Texas. Awarded the Air Medal and Purple Heart. Vietnam Memorial Panel 4 E, Line 103.
- Lightfoot, John B. - Corporal - Born in Shelby County, Texas, July 27, 1952. Joined the US Marine Corps June 14, 1971. Killed in a training accident in Louisiana while preparing to deploy to Vietnam. Buried in the McClelland Cemetery, Shelby County, Texas.
- Lynch, Samuel R. - Specialist Fourth Class - Born in Nacogdoches, Texas, May 26, 1949. Inducted into the US Army 1969. Killed in action December 12, 1970. Buried in the White Rock Cemetery, Shelby County, Texas. Awarded the Purple Heart. Vietnam Memorial Panel 6 W, Line 130.
- Patrick, Calvin R. - Private First Class - Born in Houston, Texas, November 23, 1950. Inducted into the US 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. Vietnam Memorial Panel 24 W, Line 106.
Isaac Reeves, US Navy Vietnam Veteran, then placed the memorial wreath.
Hume offered for all present to remember any of the veterans mentioned and any other veterans they may know, and several spoke up.
In honor of two individuals missing in action, Hume was wearing a bracelet with the name of Capt. Carl Jackson who has been missing since June 27, 1965; and Theresa Hume was wearing a bracelet with the name of Col. Charles Levis who has been missing in action since April 2, 1972.
Mary Fausett was wearing a shirt, given to her by her cousin Jon Wallenius, who was in the First Cavalry Division and was in the Ia Drang Valley.
Taps was then played as presented by Gene Hutto, Post Commander.
Hume reminded everyone the next observance scheduled will be held on Thursday, March 31, at 9am, in recognition of those who served in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia.
