‘58,000 Americans gave their lives in Vietnam; 1,581 missing in action’
A Memorial Observance for the Paris Peace Accord ending the Vietnam War was hosted Friday, Jan. 27 at the Veterans Memorial on the grounds of the 1885 Historic Shelby County Courthouse in Center by the Shelby County Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8904 and the Auxiliary.
Post Quartermaster Larry Hume welcomed and thanked those attending to remember those who served in the Vietnam War.
Chaplain Kenneth Ramsey led the opening prayer. “Almighty God, we are here today to pay tribute to the men and women, living and dead who went to a distant land called Vietnam. We thank you for the sacrifices they made for us and for peace. We gather here in these moments to remember them. God bless the over 58,000 who died in the Vietnam war and their families. May those still missing in action be accounted for and returned to their loved ones. In Gods holy name we pray, amen.”
Hume led a Pledge of Allegiance to the flag before beginning. “The Paris Peace Accord ending the Vietnam War was signed 50 years ago on January 27, 1973,” he said, “and was followed by the withdrawal of the remaining American troops. The terms of the accord called for a complete ceasefire in South Vietnam. It allowed North Vietnamese forces to retain the territory they had captured, and provided for the release U.S. prisoners of war. It called for both sides to find a political solution to the conflict and as an enticement to South Vietnam, President Nixon offered U.S. airpower to enforce the peace terms. This was stopped in December 1974 when Congress cut off all military aid to south Vietnam.”
More than 58,000 Americans gave their lives in the Vietnam War and there are still 1,581 missing in action, said Hume. “This is three less than last year when we gathered to remember. Three families now have closure due to our POW/MIA accounting teams that continue to search around the world wherever there are missing Americans.
“There are 11 veterans buried in Shelby County who were killed in action in Vietnam and one who died while preparing to deploy there,” said Hume. “We would like to remember them this day by reading their names. Post Commander Richard Lundie will read the first name.
The names included: TED WANE ADAMS: Killed in Action on November 15, 1966. Vietnam Memorial Panel 12 East, Line 76.
WILLIAM LARRY “SHORTY” ANDREWS: Killed in action on February 16th, 1967. Vietnam Memorial Panel 15 East, Line 38 JIMMY D. BARNETT: Killed in action on March 26, 1968. Vietnam Memorial Panel 46 East, Line 28.
MAC CURTIS BUCKLEY: Killed in action on July 5, 1968. Vietnam Memorial Panel 53 West, Line 16.
LARRY STEPHEN BYFORD: Killed in action on June 23, 1967. Vietnam Memorial Panel 22 East, Line 52.
RAY A. CHATELAIN: Killed in action on July 30, 1967. Vietnam Memorial Panel 24 East, Line 50.
WILLIAM HENRY EADEN: Killed in action on November 12, 1965. Vietnam Memorial Panel 3 East, Line 42.
JERRY LYNN HUGHES: Killed in action on July 12, 1967. Vietnam Memorial Panel 23 East, Line 59.
TAYLOR D. JOHNSON: Killed in action on January 28, 1966. Vietnam Memorial Panel 4 East, Line 103.
JOHN B. LIGHTFOOT: Died while preparing to deploy to Vietnam.
SAMUEL B. LYNCH: Killed in action December 18, 1970. Vietnam Memorial, Panel 6 West, Line 130.
CALVIN R. PATRICK: Killed in action on May 28, 1969. Vietnam Memorial Panel 24 West, Line 106.
Hume concluded, “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. In honor of all those who served and are still living.”
Post Gold Legacy Life Member and Vietnam veteran Mike Wulf hung the VFW tribute wreath on the Veterans Memorial.
“It’s been said that no one is truly dead until their name is no longer spoken,” said Hume. Each of our 12 Shelby County Vietnam veterans are alive today because of you in attendance – we spoke their name as we did last year and will do again next year.
Several responded to Hume’s offer for anyone who wanted to remember a Vietnam veteran, deceased or living. “I would like to remember two I served with in Vietnam and have passed,” said Hume. “Sergeant Ray Litchfield and Sergeant Glenn Ward.
As a final tribute, taps was sounded by Past Post Commander Gene Hutto for all Vietnam veterans no longer living.
Hume thanked attendees before introducing new post member Stephen Smiley who earned his eligibility with service in Kosovo. Hume also announced that VFW members would be traveling to Joaquin Junior High School to present 8th grade student Lucinda David with her thirdplace district 19 award for her Patriot’s Pen Entry. (See inside today’s edition for photo and additional information.)