Virginia XXXIV

I posted earlier about a memorial deep within Luray Caverns in Virginia. If you can't travel to the caverns, and you should if you can, here is that original post.

 

In the mean time here are some of the heroes honored on this unique memorial.

 

Norman C. Brubaker

SSGT Brubaker was lost at Ninh Thuan on May 15,1968 to hostile small arms fire. it saddens me that so little information seems to be available not only for SSGT Brubaker, but for the vast majority of those I try to honor here. 

Emmett Dougans

SP4 Dougans was lost when a convoy, on the Minh Thuan Road, was ambushed by the V.C. on July 9, 1966. He was born in Washington, DC but lived and is buried in Page County, Virginia.

Thomas A. fox

PFC Thomas Fox was killed in a VC ambush on May 6, 1968. the following was taken from the Find a Grave site. Written by another soldier and sent to Thomas' cousin who was actively seeking information about him.

 "...each man carried a box of machine him ammo to distribute the weight. It was noisy and we were on a heavy firefight. I was calling for ammo and here comes 'ol T-Fox low crawling toward me with his can of ammo dragging beside him. He reaches out to hand the can and I reach out to grab it. Our hands are touching and he is hit in the head. I yell for the medic, Doc, Doc, Fox is hit. Doc crawls over, checks him, and says he's gone. That's exactly how it happened. I think about him all the time. Hope this helps. He fought well..."

It is odd that I just complained about lack of information and I run across one that actually tells a story. 

Next time, on September 4th, we will return to Washington, 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!