Category: Vietnam War

PFC Marshall Eugene Callahan

Birth: Dec. 26, 1949, Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co.

Death: Aug. 29, 1968, Vietnam

Marshall Eugene Callahan was 18 years old and was not married. His body was recovered. His platoon was rebuilding an old French bridge on QL-1 just south of Duc Pho at the time. In the process of building the intermediate supports and abutments at the time SP/4 Kennebrew, and PFC Callahan had been tasked to go pick up a load of stones from the rock quarry south of LZ Thunder Mountain. On the return trip their truck hit a mine killing both soldiers. When the Bridge was finished it was renamed KC Bridge 414 in honor of PFC Callahan and SP/4 Kennebrew.

He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul E Callahan of Charlotte, NC. Served with the 19th Combat Engineer Battalion, 19th Combat Engineer Battalion, 35th Engineer Group, 18th Engineer Brigade, USA Engineer Command. He was awarded The Army Commendation Medal with “V” Device for Bravery, The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, the Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and The Army Good Conduct Medal.

Burial: Sunset Memory Gardens, Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co.

(Source: Posted with permission of Tom & Jim Reece, #46857744; finding NC Vietnam KIA/MIA’s gravesites; Reconfigured and submitted by: Ron Yates)

Corp Robert Edward “Eddie” Caldwell

Birth: Mar. 23, 1947, Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., NC

Death: Feb. 28, 1968 Quang Tri, Vietnam

US Marine Corporal Robert Edward Caldwell was 20 years old and was not married. Robert died when his helicopter crashed. His body was recovered. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Caldwell, Charlotte, NC. He served with Headquarters and Services Company, 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines, 1st Marine Division, 3rd MAF. He was awarded The Combat Action Ribbon(CAR), The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.

Burial: Forest Lawn West Cemetery, Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., NC Plot: Sect. P, Lot 145, Space # 4

(Source: Posted with permission of Tom & Jim Reece, #46857744; finding NC Vietnam KIA/MIA’s gravesites; Reconfigured and submitted by: Ron Yates)

Nathaniel Brown

Birth: May 31, 1939 Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.

Death: Oct. 31, 1966, Vietnam.

Staff Sergeant Nathaniel Brown was 27 years old and was not married. It was reported that Nathaniel died from weapons malfunction. His body was recovered. He served our country for 8 years. He was the son of Mrs. Edith Brown, of Charlotte, NC. He served with Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, “The Rock”, 173rd Airborne Brigade. He was awarded The Combat Infantryman’s Badge, The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and Twice awarded The Good Conduct Medal.

Burial: York Memorial Cemetery, Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.

(Source: Posted with permission of Tom & Jim Reece, #46857744;finding NC Vietnam KIA/MIA’s gravesites; Reconfigured and submitted by: Ron Yates)

Edward Dean Brown, Jr

Birth: Mar. 21, 1940 Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, South Carolina.

Death: Jul. 29, 1965, Vietnam.

US Navy Lieutenant Junior Grade Edward Dean Brown Jr. was 25 years old and was married. It was reported that Edward died when his plane crashed. Between 1964 and 1972, eighty-three Crusader Aircraft were either lost or destroyed by enemy fire. Another 109 required major rebuilding. 145 Crusader pilots were recovered; 57 were not. Twenty of these pilots were captured and released.

The other 43 remained missing at the end of the war. The breakdown of those not recovered includes Lt. Edward D. Brown. He was a pilot assigned to Fighter Squadron 191 onboard the aircraft carrier USS Bon Homme Richard. On July 29, 1965 he launched in his F8E Crusader aircraft on a strike mission over South Vietnam. The mission would take him into the Delta region of South Vietnam, in Vinh Binh Province near the city of Phu Vinh. On a strafing pass, Brown’s aircraft was seen to impact the ground. No evidence of ejection attempt was observed, and it was felt that if Brown went down with his plane, no remains were recoverable.

Hostile fire was observed in the vicinity. Brown was classified Killed in Action/Body Not Recovered. Edward Brown is listed with honor among the missing because his remains were never returned to the country he fought for. He was awarded The Bronze Star Medal, The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal, The Good Conduct Medal and The Air Medal with Multiple Oak Leaf Clusters. Burial: Honolulu ABMC Memorial, Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii. Plot: Courts of the Missing Cenotaph.

(Source: Posted with permission of Tom & Jim Reece, #46857744; finding NC Vietnam KIA/MIA’s gravesites; Reconfigured and submitted by: Ron Yates)

William Glenn Brewer

Birth: Feb. 24, 1935 Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.

Death: Aug. 5, 1968 Tay Ninh Province, Vietnam.

Sergeant William Glenn Brewer was 33 years old and was the Husband of Brigetta Karen Jager. It was reported that William died from small arms fire or grenade. His body was recovered. He is the Son of Mr. Clarence Bryan and Mrs. Artis Jane Little Brewer. They are buried with him in the same cemetery.

He served with Delta Company, 3rd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment,”My God, Those are Regulars”, 25th Infantry Division, “Tropic Lightning”. He was awarded The Combat Infantryman’s Badge, The Bronze Star Medal, The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and The Good Conduct Medal. Burial: Williams Memorial Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Plot: Brewer.

(Source: Posted with permission of Tom & Jim Reece, #46857744; finding NC Vietnam KIA/MIA’s gravesites; Reconfigured and submitted by: Ron Yates)

Woodrow Wilson Bradley, Jr.

Birth: Aug. 5, 1942 Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.

Death: Nov. 1, 1968 Kontum, Vietnam.

Sergeant Woodrow Wilson Bradley Jr. was 26 years old and was not married. It was reported that Woodrow died when his vehicle crashed. SGT Bradley is on panel 40W, line 075 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. He served our country for one year. He was the Son of Mr. Woodrow W Bradley and Mrs. Lula Mae McCarty Bradley of Charlotte, NC. He served with Charlie Battery, 4th Battalion, 60th Artillery Group, 1st Field Force. He was awarded the Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, the Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. Burial:York Memorial Cemetery, Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Plot: Sect. 10, Lot # 83, Space 1.

(Source: Posted with permission of Tom & Jim Reece, #46857744; finding NC Vietnam KIA/MIA’s gravesites; Reconfigured and submitted by: Ron Yates)

 

 

John Westley Bowden

Birth: Jan. 29, 1947 Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.

Death: May 31, 1968, Thua Thien, Vietnam.

Sergeant John Westley Bowden was 21 years old and was married. John died from small arms fire or grenade. His body was recovered. He served our country for 2 years. He was the Husband of Mrs. Dianne Bowden of Charlotte, NC. He served with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, “Screaming Eagles”. He was awarded The Combat Infantryman’s Badge, The Bronze Star Medal, The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. Burial: York Memorial Cemetery, Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Plot: Sect.6 A, Block # 3, Lot # 69, Grave C.

(Source: Posted with permission of Tom & Jim Reece, #46857744; finding NC Vietnam KIA/MIA’s gravesites; Reconfigured and submitted by: Ron Yates)

Howard Duncan Bennett

Birth: Jun. 13, 1942, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee.

Death: Feb. 3, 1968, Vietnam.

Warrant Officer Howard Duncan Bennett was born in Knoxville, Tennessee but became a native of Charlotte, NC. He was 25 years old and was married. It was reported that Howard died when his helicopter crashed. His body was recovered.

There is a book about that battle called, “The Beast Was Out There’ by James Shelton. Here is a synopsized excerpt: “A Major Holleder was killed during the battle and an OH-13 landed to bring his body back to the NDP (Night Defensive Position). A side bar to all of this. The OH-13 was flown by a Warrant Officer Howard Bennett. He and Lieutenant Bill Erwin (an Infantryman with the ground unit) sat beside each other a few months later as they flew to Hawaii to meet their wives. Unfortunately, Howard was killed during TET”.

NORTH MECKLENBURG GRAD KILLED IN VIETNAM: A former Charlottean was killed Saturday when his helicopter was shot down in Vietnam, the Army said Tuesday. Army Warrant Officer Howard Duncan Bennett, 25, died from metal wounds and burns suffered when the helicopter he was piloting was hit by ground fire while on an early morning reconnaissance mission. The helicopter crashed and burned. Bennett received the Distinguished Service Cross for heroism in action on Nov. 10, 1267 after a month in Vietnam. He was raised in Charlotte, was graduated from North Mecklenburg High School and spent two years studying architecture at Central Piedmont Community Cottage. He worked as a draftsman for Duke Power Company. Bennett was married to the former Jean Lineburger of Charlotte, who now lives in Denver, Colorado. Also surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ward B. Bennett of Danla, Fla., and formerly of Charlotte; two sisters, Mrs. Hope Martin of the Philippines and Mrs. Bob Goul of St Thomas Virgin Island; a brother, Ward Bennett Jr. of Dania, Fla., and Aunt, Miss Ossie Bennett of Charlotte and an Uncle, Otway Bennett of Charlotte.

CITATION TO ACCOMPANY THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS: For heroism while participating in aerial flight on this date, Warrant Officer Bennett was flying his observation helicopter in support of an infantry battalion engaged in a defensive perimeter. It was heavily engaged with elements of a Viet Cong regiment and sustained a large number of casualties. The moment that he became aware of the situation, Warrant Officer Bennett voluntarily flew to a small clearing that had been picked out as an emergency landing zone. There, in spite of heavy hostile fire and with complete disregard for his personal safety, he landed, picked up a seriously wounded man, and flew him back to the friendly perimeter. On his second trip he was forced to take evasive maneuvers which consequently damaged the tail of his aircraft. Disregarding the damage to his ship and the heavy hostile fire, he returned twice more. After the fourth trip Warrant Officer Bennett was relieved by another aircraft, but not until he had personally evacuated four seriously wounded men. Warrant Officer Bennett’s actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division and the United States Army.

He served with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, “The Big Red One”. He was awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross, The Bronze Star Medal, The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal, The Good Conduct Medal(s) and The Air Medal with Ten Oak Leaf Clusters. Burial: Forest Lawn West Cemetery, Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Plot: Bennett. (Source: Posted with permission of Tom & Jim Reece, #46857744; finding NC Vietnam KIA/MIA’s gravesites; Reconfigured and submitted by: Ron Yates)

Marvin Vincent Bell, Jr.

Birth: Nov. 29, 1946 Shelby, Cleveland County, North Carolina.

Death: Sep. 21, 1968, Vietnam.

SP4 Marvin Vincent Bell was a native of Charlotte, NC. SP4 Marvin Vincent Bell was a member of the Army and was 21 years old and was not married. It was reported that Marvin died in a convoy pedestrian accident. His body was recovered. He was run over by a South Vietnamese Convoy vehicle in Vinh Long as he was standing on a corner with friends. He is the son of the Reverend Marvin V. & Adelle Rainey Bell, 615 Seldon Drive, Charlotte, NC. He served with the 114th Assault Helicopter Company, 164th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade. He was awarded the Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, the Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. Burial: Unknown

(Source: Posted with permission of Tom & Jim Reece, #46857744; finding NC Vietnam KIA/MIA’s gravesites; Reconfigured and submitted by: Ron Yates)

 

 

Edward Harding Ballard

Birth: Dec. 1, 1946 Charlotte, Mecklenburg County North Carolina

Death: Mar. 11, 1967 Log An, Vietnam

Cpl Edward Harding Ballard was 20 years old and was married. It was reported that Edward died from multiple fragmentation wounds from a landmine. His body was recovered. He was the husband of Mrs. Norma H Ballard, 300 Peterson Drive, Charlotte, NC. He served with Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division. He was awarded The Combat Infantryman’s Badge, The Bronze Star Medal, The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, the Vietnam Service Medal, The Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, The National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. Burial: Sharon Memorial Park, Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. (Source: Posted with permission of Tom & Jim Reece, #46857744; finding NC Vietnam KIA/MIA’s gravesites; Reconfigured and submitted by: Ron Yates)