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!  

Virginia XXXIII

Last time I promised that we would next visit Wisconsin, but, Colleen from Pennsylvania visited Luray, Virginia and sent me these pics of a memorial found deep within the world famous Caverns found there.

Located in the Cathedral Room the memorial was originally established to honor those from Page County lost in WW I. Placed by the American Legion, over the years additional tributes have been added to the site. Until 1928 no such plaques, etc., were allowed within the cavern site.

Five from Page County were lost in 'Nam and they like their comrades from earlier wars are memorialized here.

This was a tiny, tiny pic probably from a cell phone so it is especially hard to see here. 

It says, Veterans from Page county who lost their lives in Vietnam

The name of the five lost heroes from Page County are:

Norman Brubaker

Emmett Dougans

Thomas Fox

Leroy Phillips

Samuel Tharpe

R.I.P. brothers, may you always be honored and remembered. I have written here before that it is said that as long as someone says your name, you will always be. Even many feet into a marvelous cavern, these are remembered.

There is much interesting about the caverns themselves and you may check them out here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luray_Caverns

Next time, on October 25th, we will return to Wisconsin, so join me there, as usual, at 9:00 am.

To see additional memorials from Virginia, or any other state, please click a state name on the left side of this page. Please note that Canada, Ireland, and Puerto Rico have been added to the list.

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, Colleen from Pennsylvania and Molly from Florida, and very soon Elli from Maryland, 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 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. Thanks, once again, to all who have contributed.