Pfc Bill Tolliver Vietnam Hero

One of my fellow schoolmates, Pfc Billy Tolliver was a 1962 graduate of Oolitic High School, Oolitic, Indiana.

I thought he had lost his life in Vietnam. In 2002 when I went to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., I was disappointed to find that his name was not there.

His name also does not appear on our County List of Vietnam Veterans who were killed in action during the Vietnam Conflict. I had written to his sister in Ohio to find out why, and his family didn't know why either.

His family told me that Billy Tolliver was NOT drafted, he had volunteered for service.  The Army sent him to Thailand, on a mission to set up protective camps bordering Vietnam.

He actually died in Thailand, July 2, 1965.
He was 21 years, 5 months & 7 days old.

Although Bill's engineering company was considered as support for the Vietnam war, since he was technically not "IN Vietnam" at the time of his death, the Army will not allow his name to be added to the Vietnam Memorial Wall, nor does it appear on the Vietnam War Memorial or the Vietnam War Memorial Internet Page for his home county, Lawrence County, Indiana.

I believe that Bill was The First Soldier from Lawrence County, Indiana to die in "the Vietnam war", and I would hope we can honor him with that distinction, even though he was technically just over the Vietnam border when he was killed.

I hope to enlist your help in changing the rule that the U.S. Army claims prevents this man's name from being added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, and hopefully to our local Lawrence County List of Vietnam Veterans who were killed while on Active Duty during the Vietnam conflict.

It is my assumption that when Bill lost his life, Vietnam had probably not yet been classified as a "Current Conflict" and had not yet escalated, so maybe his death was not included in a formal "Body Count", and he just "fell through the cracks"? Doubtless, Bill is probably not the only one who fell through this "crack".

Surely there were other soldiers who lost their lives during that time period, just as the war was beginning to escalate, but due to a mere geographical boundary, they are not honored as casualties of the Vietnam War. This seems like such a gross disservice to these brave men, who willingly went when called to serve their country. Those soldiers had no choice in where they were sent. Why should someone NOT be honored when they die in the service of their country, while engaged "in support" of a particular war, merely due to a technicality?

I asked this question of the U.S. Army Past Conflict Repatriations Branch. They contacted Bill's family and said they were "Sorry, but that is just the rule". Rules can be changed. I would like to know what is needed to get such an unfair and ridiculous rule changed.

Billy's Mother is still living, she is eighty-eight years old, and I would like to see this rule changed as soon as possible, so that she can finally feel that justice was served for the sacrifice of her son. Bill's sister, brothers, other family members, classmates and friends would also like to see this happen.

There are doubtless others whose loved one fell through the same crack as Bill, and because they were not technically within the geographical boundaries of Vietnam, their sacrifice has also been diminished. Doubtless their families and friends would like to see this "rule" changed as well.

Billy Tolliver sacrificed his life in the distinguished service of his country. Should he, and others who died under such circumstances not be honored for doing so, regardless of where they died? If they were considered as "support for the Vietnam war", then why are they not given the respect and acknowledgment for dying in that war?

Here is the relevant information about Bill's service and death:
Pfc William E Tolliver
Pfc 738 Engr Co
Birth: Jan. 24, 1944
Death: Jul. 2, 1965
Burial: Beech Grove Cemetery, Bedford, Lawrence County Indiana, USA

There is a Memorial Page for him 
PFC William Earl Tolliver, 1944-1965 Memorial Page

‎Wednesday, ‎January ‎07, ‎ 2015  
UPDATE:  
Sadly, Billy's Mother, Ruth died Jan. 2, 2011 and his Brother Darrell died Jan. 17, 2012. I had hoped we could get the proper recognition for Billy while they were still alive and disappointed that I was not able to do so, especially on behalf of his dear Mother.  Billy's Brothers Jerry and Chuck and his Sister Karen are still living and I would still love to get something done to afford Billy the recognition he deserves for sacrificing his own life for the sake of his country.