Kentucky IX

Today, we return to regular posts honoring those individuals who were lost served or memorials to those who served and/or were lost.

Three from Kentucky will be honored today. Their names are listed on the memorial in Simpson County.

Paul Douglass Aton

PFC Aton     was lost on July 29th, 1968. He was involved in ground combat and drowned. He was born in Texas but moved to Kentucky, enlisted from there and was buried there.

Ronnie L. Clayburn

LCPL Clayburn was lost 0n June 7, 1969 at Quang Nam Province by rocket or artillary fire. He, like PFC Aton above was from Franklin, Kentucky.

Earl W. Frye

PFC Frye was lost to artillary, rocket, or mortar fire on March 26, 1968.

The memorial honoring these men, among others, is located at the Franklin City Hall.

Next time, on January 16th, we will return to Louisiana and a brand new memorial to all who were lost from the state, so join me there, as usual at 9:00 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 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. 

Kentucky VII

As mentioned in the last post, Franklin hosts two Vietnam memorials. This one is located in a park a few miles from the city square. I had read that there was a memorial in this town and did not feel as if the one on the square was it! I went into some stores and asked a few folks on the street, but no one was aware of a Vietnam memorial. I nearly gave up, but decided to check out the Police Department. No one there was sure, but one guy thought it might be in the park. He kindly drew me a map to the park area and to the local VFW. I went to the VFW but no one was there. I drove into the park just as the sun was setting and was doubtful about having time to locate and photograph the site.

Well, it got dark and I headed out of the park and just as I was leaving I noticed an American flag. I pulled over and at the base of the flag found this marker. There was no sign or anything marking it, so it was just luck that I stumbled upon it.

I found it very interesting that the plaque shown in the last photo had been included. Long time readers of this site know that on occasion those who design these memorials include something that addresses the controversy that surrounded the war. As I have said before, I think that these inclusions tell our story more completely. To see another example of this effort to tell the whole story, go to the list of states on the left of this page and "click" on Idaho.

Next, I will move on to Tennessee; Nashville, Springfield, Soddy-Daisy and Whitwell. Join me on June 19th.

Kentucky VI

This memorial is located at the City Hall in Franklin, Ky. Not far from the Tennessee State line, Franklin has been named as one of the best small southern states in which to live.

This memorial, like in so many small towns, is one that honors sons and daughters of many wars. Those listed here, eight in all, may also be found on a separate Vietnam memorial located elsewhere in Franklin. I will write about that one in the next post.

This one can be found on the corner of Cedar and Main, on the Cedar Street side of the building. Individual bricks are found interspersed along the walkway.