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VIETNAM WAR
Marshall J. Angell
Roger D. Atkinson
Oct. 22, 1946 - Oct. 14, 1967
From Salem. A student at Emmanuel College before the war. Joined the Army, knowing he would have to go to Vietnam. Killed in the Vinh Loc-Tan Binh District. A series of ambushes encircled the village. Survived by his parents, Clarence and Janice Atkinson; sister, Sandra Atkinson; brother, Mark. Buried at Piedmont Cemetery in Shawsville. Left for Fort Bragg on Valentine's Day 1967; left for Vietnam on his father's birthday in July; killed on his girlfriend's birthday; buried on what would have been his 21st birthday.
-- Submitted by his sister, Sandra A. Anderson of Salem
Lester C. Blevins
Joseph B. Bowman
Donnie J. Bragg
Barry W. Brickey
July 2, 1945 - unknown
From Roanoke. A student at Virginia Western Community College and a shoe salesman before the war. Served in the Marines. Killed when he was shot behind enemy lines in Quang Tri. Survived by his parents, Hubert and Ada Brickey; sister and brother-in-law, Carolyn and Edward Boley. Buried at Sherwood Memorial Park in Salem. Brickley believed in the war and volunteered for service; he felt that both he and the United States needed to be there. Three of Brickey's Marine friends who were with him at the time of his death came to Roanoke to talk with his parents about how he died.
-- Submitted by his sister, Carolyn Boley of Roanoke
Ira C. Brown
Dec. 17, 1949 - May 31, 1968
From Roanoke. Joined the Marines at age 18. Killed when he was hit by a rocket grenade. Survived by his parents, Rachel and Enoch Brown; brothers, Enoch and Marcus; sisters, Harriet, Carliss, Robin and Terra. Buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
-- Submitted by his sister Terra Brown of Roanoke
John A. Brown
June 22, 1932 - June 1966
From Roanoke. Quit school to join the military. Served in the Army. Killed when his helicopter was shot down. Received the Bronze Star. Survived by his wife, Leva J. Brown, and children, Tracey, Allison, Troy, Carla, Jeffrey, Dorcas and John Jr. Buried at Williams Memorial Park.
-- Submitted by his nephew Joseph Banks of Vinton
Joseph W. Brown III
April 30, 1944 - April 13, 1966
From Roanoke. Joined the Marines right after high school. Killed at Da Nang. Two squads were searching a village while Brown's squad acted as a blocking force. He stepped on a booby-trapped artillery shell. Survived by his parents, Joseph and Emma Brown; brothers, James, Theodore, Douglas, Kevin, Edwin, Carroll and Roderick Calloway; sisters, Enid, Emily, Stephanie and Karen Eggleston. Buried at Williams Memorial Park.
-- Submitted by his mother, Emma C. Brown of Roanoke
Joseph W. Burkett
1939 - 1964
From Roanoke. Worked as a laborer on the Pentagon before the war. Served in the Army. Killed when his Jeep hit a land mine. Buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
-- Submitted by a friend, Stanley Brockway of Annandale
Luther W. Burton
Bill D. Callahan
Robert J. Carter
April 11, 1950 - April 19, 1969
From Roanoke. Served in the Marines. Killed when artillery fell short of the enemy and hit his unit. Buried at Williams Memorial Park. Says a friend: "Carter always talked about being a Marine since he was little. He also had a dream of owning a Corvette. [In his] last letter, dated April 2, 1969, he was excited because his aunt had talked to a dealer about him purchasing one. But he died 17 days later."
-- Submitted by a friend, Reginald Shareef of Roanoke
Ronald H. Chittum
Paul F. Cobb
John P. Craig
Nov. 11, 1946 - June 6, 1969
Spent his first four years in Buchanan, then the family moved to Roanoke. Attended Virginia Western Community College and worked construction jobs before the war. Served in the Army. Sent to Vietnam on May 5, 1969. Barely a month later, he and five other men were on night patrol -- all were killed. Survived at the time by his parents, John and Rosa; brother, David; sisters, Jean Elmore and Joan Grammer. Buried at Sherwood Memorial Park in Salem.
-- Submitted by his mother, Rosa Craig of Roanoke
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Warren K. Davis
Nov. 30, 1933 - July 19, 1969
From Botetourt County. Attended Roanoke College and worked part time at a Mick-or-Mack grocery before the war. Joined the Air Force and trained as a helicopter pilot "because that would be more interesting." Killed in Thailand. Survived by his wife, Mary Lou; children, Suanne and Warren Jr.; parents, Kent and Blanche Davis. Buried in Tacoma, Wash., and has a memorial stone in Trinity Cemetery near Troutville. Says his father: "Warren was flying rescue missions. He was hovering over a downed bomber, spraying foam so the crew could escape the burning place. Warren's helicopter was waiting for the last man to exit when the bomber exploded and destroyed the two-man rescue team. The bomber normally carried a seven-man crew; this one was one man short, but Warren and his co-pilot had not been notified." Davis was within weeks of completing his tour of duty when he died. His father adds: "Warren was an adventurous young man who had enjoyed the outdoors, exploring caves, collecting arrowheads."
-- Submitted by his father, Kent Davis of Rocky Mount
Lloyd D. Doering
Charles R. Emory
Billy K. Evans Jr.
Thomas Alfred Garman
John F. Goodlett
From Roanoke. Co-pilot in a helicopter that crashed Sept. 16, 1969.
-- Submitted by Dan Daley, nephew of the other pilot killed
Henry B. Grammer
Lawrence E. Hackley
From Roanoke. Served in the Army's Green Berets.
-- Submitted by his brother, Bill Hackley of Roanoke
Robert B. Hamblett
March 13, 1950 - Nov. 12, 1969
From Roanoke. Joined the Marines after getting out of high school. Killed in the Que Son Mountain area of Quang Nam province when his platoon went to assist another platoon that was pinned down by enemy fire; Hamblett's platoon also was pinned down by fire. A letter from the Secretary of the Navy to the family said that Hamblett pinpointed the enemy machine gun. "Aware that one person would attract less attention than a group, he deployed his team back to friendly lines and commenced a lone assault up a steep slope toward the hostile bunker. Undaunted by the enemy rounds impacting all around him, he determinedly pressed forward, but was mortally wounded by sniper fire as he darted across an open area." Awarded the Silver Star. Survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hamblett; brothers, James, Lawrence and Mark; sisters, Terri and Marsha. Buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
-- Submitted by his mother, Helen H. Moran of Murrells Inlet, S.C.
Douglas L. Harrison
Dec. 31,1947 - April 2, 1968
From Roanoke. A cook for Lendy's before the war. Served in the Army. Killed by a land mine. Survived by his mother, brothers and sisters. Buried at Williams Memorial Park.
-- Submitted by his mother, Elsie C. Harrison of Roanoke
Roger M. Hartman
Aug. 31, 1950 - Aug. 18, 1971
From Roanoke County. A farmer before the war. Served in the Army. Killed in Pegniz, Germany, when his helicopter crashed. In all, 37 were killed. Survived by his wife, Beth Hartman; parents, Fannie and C.F. Hartman; brother, Clovis Jr.; sisters, Betty, Deliah and Pam. Buried at Bandy Cemetery in Roanoke County. Hartman died on what would have been his 21st birthday -- and his anniversary. The people of Pegniz erected a monument to the soldiers who died in the accident.
-- Submitted by his father, C.F. Hartman of Roanoke
Clyde R. Herman
From Roanoke. A student before the war. Served in the Army. Killed by enemy fire during a helicopter assault in Pleiku, South Vietnam. He was 22.
-- Submitted by a friend, J.J. Hansbrough
James E. Hughes
1933 - 1966
From Roanoke. Was a career Army man and a Green Beret. The first Roanoker to die in Vietnam. Survived by his parents, Goodson and Alice Hughes, and brothers, Russell and Samuel. Buried at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens. Awarded the Silver and Gold stars.
-- Submitted by his sister-in-law, Elizabeth Thomas
Vassar W. Hurt III
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Calvin Johnson
David C. Johnson
April 15, 1948 - Sept. 19, 1968
From Tazewell County. Worked at the Vinton Weaving Mill before the war. Served in the Army. Died of wounds suffered when he was fired upon mistakenly by American forces. Survived by his parents, James and Frances Johnson; brother, James; wife, Kathy. Buried at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens.
-- Submitted by his mother, Frances Johnson of Goodview
Donald R. Johnston
March 25, 1947 - Nov. 4, 1966
From Roanoke. Worked in a Navy yard before the war. Served in the Navy. Killed in an explosion aboard the USS Roosevelt. Survived by his parents, Donald and Marie Johnston; sister, Beth Johnston. Buried at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens.
-- Submitted by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Johnston of Roanoke
Fowler P. Johnston Jr.
July 10, 1941 - Dec. 16, 1968
From Roanoke. A college student before the war. Served in the Air Force. Killed in Taiwan when mechanical failure caused his airplane to crash. Survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fowler P. Johnston Sr.; sister, Lowlie; grandmother, Laura C. Johnston; wife, Bobbie; two uncles and two aunts. Buried at Evergreen Burial Park.
-- Submitted by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fowler P. Johnston Sr. of Roanoke
Robert M. Journell III
Oct. 13, 1949 - July 22, 1970
From Salem. Graduated from high school before he went to war. Served in the Army. Journell's platoon came under heavy-arms fire, and he was struck in the back by an enemy rocket grenade. Died instantly. Awarded the Silver and Bronze stars. Survived by his wife, Amelia; daughter, Amelia; parents, Robert and Christine Journell; brother, Howard; sister, Catherine J. Thompson. Buried at Sherwood Memorial Park.
-- Submitted by his mother, Christine Journell of Roanoke
Timothy J. Keesee
From Vinton. Served in the Army. Survived by his father, William Keesee; stepmother, Evelyn Keesee; sister, Ruth Hatcher; brother, John. Buried at Fairview Cemetery in Buchanan.
-- Submitted by his former sister-in-law, Norma Jernell of Roanoke
Randall C. Knisely
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James G. Lawson
John T. Logan
Norman L. Long Jr.
Phillip M. Long
Douglas O. Looney
Gary A. Martin
Aug. 6, 1947 - March 1, 1968
From Roanoke County. Served in the Marines. Killed in Quang Tri province of wounds suffered in mortar fire. Survived by his father and stepmother, Arthur Ellis and Irene Scott Martin; sister, Pamela; grandparents, Adrian and Cora Martin; grandmother, Lima Ferris; stepgrandmother, Flora Scott. Buried next to his mother, Virginia Ferris Martin, who died in 1952.
-- Submitted by his sister, Pamela Martin Hart
Dewey M. Mason Jr.
Dennis M. Mattox
Feb. 9, 1948 - Aug. 23, 1969
From Roanoke. Was a college student and played guitar in a band before the war. Served in the 101st Airborne as a reconnaissance team leader in Quang Tri. Survived by his parents, Wallace M. and Elfriede Mattox; and brother, Larry. Buried at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens in Roanoke.
- Submitted by his father, Wallace M. Mattox of Roanoke
Robert T. McDaniel
Charles D. McGinnes
James R. McIlwee
Berkeley McLendon
1945 - Feb. 17, 1969
From Roanoke. Attended the U.S. Naval Academy before going to war. Served in the Navy. Died three miles north of York, Ala., when his plane crashed during training. Survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James McLendon; wife, Andera McLendon; sister, Anne McLendon. A friend says McLendon was "active in dramatics and forensics at William Fleming High School and at the U.S. Naval Academy. Won state championships in American Legion and Voice of Democracy oratorical competitions."
-- Submitted by a friend, John Regnier of Salem
Daniel R. Meador
Nov. 10, 1946-Oct. 3, 1967
From Vinton. Served in Army. Killed in Phu Yen province, possibly from friendly fire. Survived by his mother, Nellie Meador; two sisters, Ada Mae Flowers and Linda Faye Flowers; three brothers, Noah Glen Meador, David Meador, and Melvin Meador; and two children, Danny Ray Meador and Pam Meador.
Angelo F. Michelli
Charles H. Millner
Ward W. Mills Jr.
John S. Myers Sr.
Nov. 8, 1948 - July 10, 1970
From Chamblissburg. Served in the Army. He and others set up camp for the night. The company commander must have thought there was going to be trouble; he told the soldiers to set up some nearby rice bags as if they were sandbags. Some of the soldiers, including Myers, were sent out on a check outside the camp. They were ambushed, and Myers was hit in the leg with a rocket grenade. Myers was evacuated by helicopter to a hospital; his leg was amputated, but he later died. Awarded the Bronze Star. Survived by his wife, Patricia; son, John; parents, Samuel and Ellen Myers; brother, Stephen. Buried at Fair View Cemetery in Roanoke.
-- Submitted by his parents, Samuel and Ellen Myers of Moneta
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William L. Newsome
Francis S. Oberson
Paul M. Reed
July 21, 1945 - Aug. 23, 1966
From Roanoke. Worked at Dandy's restaurant before joining the Marines. Died of a gunshot to the head in Quang Tri province. Survived by his parents, Rodney and Margaret Reed; brother, John; sister, Theresa. Reed had received the Purple Heart just a month before his death for a injury received in battle. Awarded another Purple Heart and a Silver Star after his death.
-- Submitted by his sister, Theresa R. Wright of Roanoke
Aubrey A. Reid Jr.
Donald R. Robertson
John W. Rucker
Nov. 27, 1947 - Dec. 14, 1970
From Roanoke. A college student before the war. Served in the Army. Survived by his parents, Beirne and William Rucker, and sisters, Sue and Joann Rucker. Buried in Roseland, Va.
-- Submitted by his mother, Beirne Rucker of Roseland
Clarence H. St. Clair
May 30, 1949 - Aug. 28, 1969
From Vinton. A college student in Chicago before serving in the Marines. Killed at Da Nang. Already wounded, St. Clair was attempting to rescue others when he was killed by an aerial torpedo. Survived by his parents, Janie and Clarence St. Clair Sr.; son, Jerry; grandmother, Annie M. St. Clair; grandparents, R.E. and Martha Vernon. "Clarence was our only child," his parents said. "We loved him very much. He wanted to serve his country in the Marines. He was a good son."
-- Submitted by his parents Mr. and Mrs. Clarence St. Clair of Pensacola, Fla.
Bruce A. Saunders
From Roanoke. A student before the war. Served in the Marines. Killed when a hill was overrun by the enemy. Survived by his mother and stepfather, Renee and Howard Saunders; brother, Michael; stepsister, Yancey Saunders.
-- Submitted by a neighbor, H.S. Peyton Jr. of Roanoke
Patrick F. Shanley
William F. Silver Jr.
James R. Snyder
July 3, 1940 - June 16, 1967
From Roanoke. A truck driver before entering the military. Served four years in the Marines before going into the Army. Killed by a mine -- two weeks before he was scheduled to return home. Survived by his stepfather and mother, John and Margeret Aikins; sisters, Doris and Cindy Aikins; brother, Johnny Aikins; wife, Phyllis Snyder. Buried in Gettysburg, Pa.
-- Submitted by his sister Doris Sigmon of Bedford
Donn L. Sweet
July 14, 1942 - July 25, 1968
From Roanoke. Served in the Army. Shot by a sniper just one month before his scheduled discharge. Survived by his mother, Marion B. Sweet; sisters, Joan S. Brault and Evelyn Sweet. Buried at Vale Cemetery in New York.
-- Submitted by his mother, Marion Sweet of Lawrenceville, Ga.
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John R. Thornhill III
Kester Ulrey
Jan. 11, 1935 - Feb. 4, 1968
From Salem. Worked for the Norfolk and Western Railway before the war. Served in the Army. Died of heart failure due to stress. Survived by his wife, Virginia Ulrey; sons, Randy, Denny and Larry; daughter, Julie U. Reed; parents, John and Nell Ulrey; brothers, Jerry, Ronnie and Donald; sister, Barbara U. Campbell. Buried at Sherwood Memorial Park.
-- Submitted by his daughter, Julie U. Reed of Salem
Harry E. Underwood
Robert D. Ware
Oct. 22, 1947-Feb. 3, 1967
From Roanoke. Served in the Marines. Died of wounds suffered in Quang Nam province. His cousin remembers him as "extremely handsome."
-- Submitted by his cousin, Carolyn Crenshaw of San Antonio
Thomas L. Waterman
Eddy E. White
Roger D. Williams
Kenneth M. Willis
Thurman Woody Jr.
David I. Wright
Jan. 30, 1935 - Nov. 13, 1970
From Roanoke. Attended the U.S. Naval Academy, but instead went into the Air Force after graduation. Also earned a master's degree in engineering from Georgia Tech. Wright was flying a reconnaissance mission behind enemy lines when he was shot down over North Vietnam. Survived by his wife, Mary Ann; daughters, Sharon, Susan and Michelle; mother, Nora Wright; sister, Natalie W. Haley. Body never recovered. Says his sister: "He was very committed to his career and loved to fly."
-- Submitted by his sister, Natalie Haley of Troutville
Johnny W. Wright
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