Alabama XXIX

 

Alabama memorial at Anniston

The memorial at Anniston honors the 741 (other sites say up to 1224)  lost or MIA.

Today, as usual, a few.

Jimmy Earl Darby

PFC Jimmy Darby was among 25 lost (50 wounded) in a search and destroy mission near Dak To in the Kontum Province. The result of the effort seems to be 9 NVA killed, two captured and 3 weapons recovered.

Max Duane Kelsey

SP$ Max Kersey was lost to "non-hostile...other accident..." at Long khanh on January 5, 1970. He was awarded a Bronze Star but I could not find out if his death and the award are in anyway connected.

As always, if you have any information, I would love to see it.

James Steven Stanley

SP4 James Stanley was lost at Thua Thien on March 16, 1970. He was said to have been the victim of "hostile action...multiple fragmentation wounds..."

All of these fallen were from Opp, Alabama.

Next time, on July 22nd, we will return to Alaska, so join me, as always, at 9 am.

If you are following along at all, you will have seen that a number of you, like Joan from Wisconsin, Tony from Texas, Mike from Maryland, Ron from Florida, Tim from Virginia, Molly from Florida, Colleen (now three) from Pennsylvania, Elli from Maryland, and Peg and Ray from Florida, among others, have responded to my request to send me memorials you have seen in your area or where you may have traveled. I even got one from Ireland! These submissions help expand the knowledge of how we have remembered the men and women who served and/or were lost in 'Nam, and you help to honor them. If you have any such photos, I would love to see them. Please send them along to the email at the left ed in Neillsville. The site was chosen because the and I will gladly share them here. 

I hope all those listed here will encourage you to send along photos and join the group.

Alabama XVIII

Autauga County Alabama lost 13 of her sons in Vietnam. The county courthouse honors them, and many other veterans, in Prattsville. As of the 2020 census the County has a population of about 58,000.

 

James E. Bouyer

 

Pfc. James Bouyer was lost n April 1, 1969 not long after arriving in 'nam. As tragic as all deaths are from 'nam, his was due to an accident. somehow seems like an even greater waste to me. 

Ronald G. Crowe

Pfc. Ronald Crowe was lost on June 11, 1969 when his fire base was overrun in a late night attack by the enemy. The next morning the attack was repelled but many had been lost.  

Samuel G. Crowell

 

Sp4 Samuel Crowell, like Pfc Bouyer above, was lost at Gia Dinh. They were not lost in the same action and Sp4 Crowell was lost to small arms fire. Little other info seems to be available.

Next time, on September 29th, we will return to Alaska, to honor others so worthy of our admiration and never ending respect. Join me there, at 9:00 am., as always.

If you are following along at all, you will have seen that a number of you, like Joan from Wisconsin, Tony from Texas, Mike from Maryland, Ron from Florida, Tim from Virginia, Molly from Florida, Colleen from Pennsylvania, Elli from Maryland, and Peg and Ray from Florida, among others, have responded to my request to send me memorials you have seen in your area or where you may have traveled. I even got one from Ireland! These submissions help expand the knowledge of how we have remembered the men and women who served and/or were lost in 'Nam and you help to honor them. If you have any such photos, I would love to see them. Please send them along to the email at the left and I will gladly share them here.

I hope all those listed here will encourage you to send along photos and join the group.

Alabama XVII

Several years ago now, I returned to Alabama to see what I might find. In Birmingham, as I reported then, I found this astounding memorial in Veterans Memorial Park. I posted about it and promised to return to once more to highlight some of the other interesting components of the memorial.

Last time I focused on the Hall of Honor and you can find that elsewhere on this site. Today, however, I want to share a few of the artifacts on the 36 pillars outside. 

"There are 36 Columns in the Regiment, each two feet in diameter and 20 feet in height.  The Columns support aluminum casts of 24 citations for Alabama’s Medal of Honor recipients from the 20th Century.  They also support veterans’ stories, veterans’ letters and 59 related original works of art designed by Alabama artists"*

Here are a few:

 

They are often, like the ones above, undesignated.

Some are disturbing.

And, some are distinctively ours. 

Other plaques on other pillars are excerpt from letters home from those lost, or Citations for the 25 Alabama Medal of Honor recipients from the 20th and 21st Centuries.

This memorial is without a doubt one of the most stunning I have visited on this journey. If you ever are in Birmingham, take the time to see it.

Next time, on the 11th, we will revisit Alaska. Meet me there, in The Last Frontier, to see how much it has changed in 10 years or so. As always, at 9:00am.

To see additional memorials from Alabama, or any other state, please click the state name on the left side of this page.

Alabama XVI

 I know that last time in West Virginia I promised that we would trek off to Alaska this time, but I decided to make a quick stop in Alabama first.

In keeping with my Faces of Remembrance series I thought I would share these first.

 

I've shared this guy in the past I think, he was one of the very first photos I ever shot on this journey. He stands before the memorial in Mobile Alabama. He is looking at all the names from the area that are honored here. An interesting note is that he is wearing an old army fatigue shirt and across the breast pocket it says, "it never ends." He represents us today as we age and comments on the reality of so many lives still in turmoil.

These next several faces come from a memorial just feet away from the guy above. It is a tribute to squads and the dogs that served with them. It is really small and the faces on each of these next heroes were no larger than my balled fist and I could not get close enough to get really close shots so they suffer some from the process of pulling them out of a larger photo.

 

 

So, while not postcard perfect photos, I think they still show the raw feelings of being on patrol.

Dedicated in 2008 it is actually called the War Dogs Memorial(and can be seen elsewhere on this site) and honors the thousands of dogs, of many varieties that served in Nam.

Next time, on the 27th, as promised before, we will venture back to Alaska, so join me there, as always, at 9:00am.

To see additional memorials from Alabama, or any other state, please click on the state name on the left side of this page.

Alabama XV

The first time I visited Alabama I went to Decatur. Decatur has a simple memorial to those lost in 'Nam that you can find elsewhere on this site.

While there I noticed some other memorials so I wandered around looking at them.

In addition to the memorial that I came to see, I found another.

It sits not more than 20 yards from the first one. At first, I thought that this was an older memorial replaced by the one I had just photographed, but it seems that is not the case.

 This memorial has seven more names that the first one and it is interesting to note the years listed as the span of the war.

This is one of a couple I have seen that span further than the official, accepted 1975 end of the war. I am sure that this is due to a death of one of these men at the later time. I have seen memorials with end dates as late as 1978.

The memorial is located on the grounds of the Morgan County Court House between Cain Street NE and Ferry Street NE.

Next time, on the 6th, we will return to Arizona, so meet me there, as always, at 9:00am.

To see additional memorials from Alabama. or any other state, please click the state name on the left side of this page.

Alabama XIV

I am a day late with this post and for that I apologize, but at John Lennon is credited with saying, "Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans."

So, live happened and I'm late and I'll try to stay on track from here on in.

Huntsville, Alabama is perhaps best known for being the home of a large NASA facility and "Space Camp," but, it also has this beautiful memorial to all her veterans.

It is located at 200 Monroe Street, NW and would be hard to miss as it is huge.

As you enter you are met by this panel and several others; reminders of the gifts veterans give their fellow citizens and our nation.

Many involvements are honored here and not the least of which is Vietnam. A brief summary of the war and many names of the lost are listed here.

A time line flows along the wall enclosing the area and water streams throughout creating a living memorial from a grateful community.

Bricks abound honoring many others. The dates are not explained and could signify any number of things. These bricks are available if you would like to honor a loved one. Contact the site at:adminperson@HMCVM.org.

Since I visited the site a number of features have been added including several statues based upon Huntsville resident veterans.

Next time, on the 20th, we will return to Arizonz, so join me then at 9:00am.

To see additional memorial from Alabama, or any other state, please click the state name on the left side of this page.

Alabama XIII

I had been headed for Montgomery to find the Vietnam memorial there. Calling ahead, as I sometimes do, I was told that it was currently inaccessible due road construction and other municipal work.

Disappointed, I turned a little east and north of Montgomery because the nice lady I spoke to in Montgomery said there was a memorial in Tallasee.

 Well, this rather striking memorial was mot too hard to find but photographing ot was quite another story. It was one of the hottest and brightest days I have ever seen and fighting the glare on the memorial turned out to be a losing battle.

The three markers contain the names of many who served in our various wars.

An unusual feature is the listing of what medals these brave soldiers received for service

.

Another unusual fact is that all who served or were lost are not listed as families had to pay for the listing and some, not surprisingly, chose not to do so.

Bricks have been engraved with names of others who served but there is no explanation for why some are on bricks as opposed to the wall of if they are listed on both.

Next time, on the 29th, we will return to Arizona, so meet me there at 9:00am.

To see additional memorials from Alabama, or any other state, please click the state name on the left side of this page.

Alabama XII

The Elmore County, Alabama, Court House may have more memorials on its grounds than I have seen elsewhere.

I have written previously on this site about at least two others and today I want to share with you this POW/MIA memorial that graces these premises, too.

Surrounded by these flags it makes quite an impression, but I have been unable to find anything about them. Are they towns, cities, or municipalities? I just don't know, as always, if you do I would love to hear from you.

The memorial also features an eternal flame. I always think that these add a dignity and a sense that those honored here will be honored forever. Sadly, I have seen a number eternal flames that no longer burn.

The plaque reminds us of the sacrifice of so many and to be grateful to them

It is easy to begin to ask the unanswerable questions while remembering these brave brothers and sisters, but do not dwell upon these for too very long for they will only bring grief, not answers.

If you survived and wonder why, perhaps you have a mission to fulfill that is not yet complete. Take solace in that and move forward at all times.

Next time, on the 11th, we will revisit Arizona, so join me there, as always, at 9:00am.

To see additional memorials from Alabama, or any other state, please click on the state name on the left side of this page.

Alabama XVI

Autauga County, Alabama has lined their Court House with memorials.

Among there is one specifically to Vietnam.

There are no names listed here, so that can mean that none were lost or that they did not want to omit anyone, so they went for a more general approach.

A little research found 13 names from the Prattville area lost or MIA. I called the city to see if I could track down the info, but got nowhere. Everyone I spoke to was very nice but could not help and some numbers did not answer.

Next time, on the 26th, we will return to Arizona, so meet me there at 9:00am.

To see additional memorials from Alabama, or any other state, click the state name on the left side of this page.

Alabama XV

After photographing the Vietnam memorial (seen elsewhereon this site) I walked down the street to see what else Clanton had to offer. On the other side of the Court House was another memorial that included those lost in 'Nam.

Listing names from several other wars, it honors the 106 from Chilton county who have given their lives for their country.

This includes 11 of our brothers who were lost in 'Nam.

The memorial is located Court House, 500 2nd. Avenue N.

Next time, on the 11th, look for a special 9/11 post from Shanksville, Pa. at 10:03am..

To see additional memorials from Alabama, or any other state, please click the state name on the left side of this page.

Alabama XIV

About 43 miles north of Anniston, we came upon Noccalula Falls Park, in fact, we nearly missed it because we had been given a different name.

Inside there is a very nice memorial to all who fought in and were lost in Vietnam.

The day was very bright and it was extremely difficult to get good pics on the sun side of the memorial, as you will see. I have always had a tough time countering glare on memorials.

It is kind of a paradox to me as many memorials are specifically designed to draw you in, reflect, become part of the memorial, but it makes them especially difficult to photograph for much of the day.

There are no names listed here, but the text on the front says:

 Into Vietnam went Brave and Patriotic men and women

Their motivation was not greed, was not power, was not heroism.

Their motivation was love of country, the love of family, 

and the belief that everyone should be free

That was their motivation

That was their strength

This noble passage is attributed to Sumner R. King and I can find not one word about him anywhere.

If you have any info, I would love to know it.

The back of  the memorial depicts POWs, the passing of time, and families waiting.

There are other memorials and many activities available in the park and is certainly well worth a visit. It is located at:

1500 Noccalula Road

Gadsden, Alabama

Next time, on the 7th, we return to Arizona, so join me there at 9:00am.

To see additional memorials from Alabama, or any other state, please click the state name on the left side of this page.

Alabama XIII

After leaving Georgia for the time being, Steve and I ended up in a town called Clayton in Chilton County, Alabama.

We found this memorial and another just yards away at the Court House. I will feature the other, older, memorial in the near future.

Dedicated to those from the county that served and died, it features a beautiful eagle landing on a branch.

The names of the 13 local heroes are honored here, forever.

After we finished up, we asked the guard in the Court House where we find something to eat?

He directed us to a cafe just down the street where we had a very nice lunch.

On the way out the cashier, knowing we were not local, asked what brought us to Clayton? I explained our journey and she got really excited and wanted to know if we had been down the road to the Confederate Cemetery? I told her that we had not been there and that I was really only photographing Vietnam memorials. "Oh," she insisted, "there is a Vietnam memorial there, you have to check it out!"

So, we were headed in that direction anyway, we decided to stop and check it out. I have commented on this site a number of times that I often hear of some site from local folks and always try to check them out. Sometimes it pays off, other times, not so much.

Well, we drove the few miles to this beautiful, wooded, cemetery, full of memorials and eventually came to a visitors center. We stopped, went in, and I asked the very nice lady behind the counter where I might find the Vietnam memorial? 

She could not have looked at me more strangely if I had had two heads!

She said, "This is a Confederate Cemetery, dedicated to those who died in the Civil War!"

I explained that I had been directed here by a local and we both had a good laugh over it. I guess this was one of the times that local help was not so helpful. But, I am grateful for the cashier's interest and her attempt to help.

The court House is located at 502 Second Avenue N.

Next time around, we will venture back to Arizona, so join me there at 9:00am. on the 29th.

To see additional memorials from Alabama, or any other state, click the state name on the left side of this page.