LOVE AND APPRECIATION TO VIETNAM VETERANS
A Tribute to the ones I've Known
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I've always loved and had great respect for all our Veterans, but I have a Special soft spot in my heart for Vietnam Veterans. If I had been a boy, I'd have likely been there. I lost friends and family members over there, and those who returned were never the same.
When our troops returned from Vietnam, they were not always treated with the level of respect they deserved, and many, even some who were disabled, were treated very badly.
I am glad that we now have more respect for our military, because that is the very least that they deserve. God Bless every man or woman who has ever served our country in any capacity. We can never really repay them and their families for all the daily sacrifices they have made.
The Vietnam Veterans I've known were scattered among my school mates, neighbors, friends, and relatives. I'm fairly certain there are many others besides the ones listed here, but I've lost touch with some of them over the years. If I have forgotten or overlooked anyone, it is an oversight. I would never intentionally omit anyone's name, as every one of them deserves to be honored.
Whenever the deceased veterans have not had a Memorial Page, I have attempted to create one for them. IF anyone finds errors, or has important information to add to pages I created, I hope you will contact me and let me know.
Vietnam Veterans I have known:
(I mostly know what branch of service they served in,
but sadly, I don't know the rank of many of them)
Died in War:
Cpl. William R "Billy" Adams, US Army
Brother to my Aunt by Marriage
Billy is featured on three different pages:
Spec 4 - E4 Mark Stephen Bundy, US Army
Close friend of my husband and attended same high school,
also shared mutual friends.
Mark is featured on two different pages:
Pfc William E. "Billy" Tolliver, US Army
Schoolmate at same High School.
Please also read my earlier Blog about Billy:
Discharged from War, then Died Later in Life:
PVT2 E. Bruce Adams, US Army
Was engaged to marry my sister, good friend,
many shared friends.
SP5 Hiram Rodney Baker, US Army
Brother of my classmate Ann Baker
William R. "Bill" Bond, USMC
Friend, Attended same High School, had Mutual Friends
Major Dr. Dodd E. Edington, US Army
Friend of my family and also my family dentist.
We had mutual cousins on different sides of the family
Sgt. Gregory W. Hawkins (USMC)
Dear Friend and School mate
(Brother of SGT/E-5 Robert Hawkins, USMC)
Donald Eugene Nicholson, Sr., US Army
Graduated with my brother Jimmie
Dennis P. O'Brien, USN
A very good friend to me and also my brother Jon.
Sgt. Charles Roy Owens,USAF
Graduated with me.
Sgt. Ernest J Portlow, USAF
He was my friend on Twitter.
Wish I could have met him in person.
I was 83 days older than him.
John E. Rowe, US Army
Grew up in the same block, attended same school.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Roger Warren Silvers, USN
Close Friend and Neighbor.
Roger Silvers and Tom Silvers were Brothers.
Thomas Lee Silvers, USN
Close Friend and Neighbor, graduated with me.
Cpl. Gregory T. "Gig" Srygler, USMC
Shared Mutual Friends
Timothy J. Stapp, USN
Attended same High School.
SN David W. Thompson, USN
Attended same High School.
Winton Dale Turner, USMC
Friend, neighbor and Attended same High School.
Kenton L. Watson, US Army
Attended same High School, shared mutual friends.
Ronnie Gene Blackburn, Sr.
School mate who grew up down the street from me
STILL LIVING--"The East Boys"
"The East Boys", Alan, Edward, Steve and Timothy were sons of Frank East who joined the Navy with my Dad in WWII. We and our families remained friends all our lives.
Alan East, USN
Edward East, USN
Steve East, USN
Timothy East, USN
STILL LIVING:
John W. Claypool, US Army
Friend of my daughter and our family
Ellis R. "Hawk" Hawkins, US Army
Graduated with my brother Jimmie
SGT/E-5 Robert Hawkins, USMC
(Brother of Sgt. Gregory W. Hawkins, USMC)
Attended same High School, shared mutual friends.
Lonnie Ray Jones, US Army
Married my Friend and Classmate.
Master Sgt. Cameron Morran, US Army
My third cousin
Daniel Robert Walls, USN
Graduated with my brother Jimmie
Some I didn't know personally, but knew something about:
Sgt. Jerry Dean Martin, US Army
(Probably my distant cousin)
Richard Claye Ramsey, USN
(Father of a friend of my deceased daughter)
Lt. Col. Calvin Jones "Cal" Jeffries, USAF
(May be distantly related to me;
Found while searching genealogy)
Lawrence County, Indiana Vietnam War Memorial
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Even though he was not a Vietnam Veteran, I have to mention My Dad,
Harvey Price Jeffries (1925-1986). He is the one who impressed upon me the value of our veterans and taught me to respect, love and admire those who serve our country.
Daddy was a Disabled Veteran from WWII; He enlisted in the U.S. Navy July 16, 1942, when he was just 17 years, one month and 9 days old, and participated in the landing at Normandy Beach on D-Day (June 6, 1944, one day before his nineteenth birthday). He was discharged from the Navy in March, 1945.
His unit, the 1st US Naval Beach Battalion are now called "The (original) Beach Boys". Here is a link to their page:
Harvey P. Jeffries, c. 1941
Champaign-Urbana IL
U.S. Navy Signal School
Harvey Price Jeffries Memorial Page
June 7, 1925 - October 19, 1986
June 7, 1925 - October 19, 1986
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