March 29, 1973 – Two months after the signing of the Vietnam peace agreement, the last U.S. combat troops left South Vietnam as Hanoi freed the remaining American prisoners of war held in North Vietnam. America’s direct intervention in the Vietnam War ended.
In 2011, nearly four decades after the final withdrawal of U.S. combat and combat-support troops from Vietnam, the Senate passed a resolution designating March 29-31 as “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day”.
The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act, signed into law in 2017, designates March 29 of each year as National Vietnam War Veterans Day.
Vietnam Veterans Day commemorates the sacrifices of Vietnam veterans and their families and is part of a national effort to recognize the men and women who were denied a proper welcome upon returning home more from an unpopular war.
Most states celebrate “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day” on March 29 or 30 of each year. Though there is some debate, March 29 is generally viewed as a more appropriate date. On that day in 1973, the last combat troops were withdrawn from Vietnam and the last prisoners of war held in North Vietnam arrived on American soil. It is also the date President Nixon chose for the first Vietnam Veterans Day in 1974.
America’s involvement in Vietnam began in June 1954 with military advisors, and escalated into 11 years of military compact involving 3 million service men and women. Of the 228,000 Georgians that served during the conflict, 1,582 died in combat including 13 young men from Chattooga County.
The Chattooga County fallen heroes include: Bill Guinn Browning, Randy Graham Cagle, James Lafayette Clarkston, Charlie David Dodd, Larry Wade Duke, Benny Ray Dupree, James Robert Floyd, Nathaniel Knowles, Gary Thomas Marbutt, Gary M. Mitchell, Jimmy Ralph Patrick, Vernon Davey Southerland, and Charles Clinton Williams.
In 2016 Chattooga County hosted its first Welcome Home event, veterans in attendance that day included:
Veteran’s Name | Rank | Branch of service | Date of Service |
John Crawford | LT | USMC | Sept. 69-Sept. 71 |
Bill T. Croy | E7 | Army | Sept. 64-Sept. 88 |
Jimmy P. McGraw | E3 | Army | 57-63 |
Jerry Ricketts | Corpl | Navy | June 58-July 64 |
Charles A. Stoker | E3 | Army | 2/62-2/65 |
Billy L. Edwards | E5 | Army | Feb 72-74 |
Jack Wentz | E7 | Army/Airforce | 1968-1983 |
Ray E. Lee | Spec. 4 | Army | 12/60-12/67 |
Michael D. Ross | E8 | Army | 1971-1991 |
David L. Love | E4 | Army | 9/67-6/69 |
Gregory D. Patrick | PFC | Army | 1966- |
Wayne L. Cain | E7/ L | Army/Airforce | 1964-Army 1993-Airforce |
Eddie D. Hawkins | S4 | Army | 69-70 |
Jim R. Parker | CPL | Marine Corp. | 66-69 |
Deed E. Price | E4 | Army | 61-63 |
William D. Ford | E5 | USMC | 71-77 |
Clifford G. Albernathy | E4 | Navy | 67-71 |
Ken W. McCarly | Cpt. | Army | 64-69 |
Sam Hudsuth | 1 SG | Army | 58-88 |
James T. Riley | Sp/5 | Army | 71-82 |
Tommy G. Purcell | Spt. | Army | 58-71 |
Charles A. Butler | SP/5 | Army | 70-81 |
William G. Hinton | 1st Sgt. | Army | 61-90 |
Tommy F. Grimes | S4 | Army | 69-71 |
Michael F. King | S4 | Army | 70-71 |
Donald R. Webb | S4 | Army | 69-71 |
Cecil W. Parker | E4 | Navy | 64-66 |
Ronald G. Winters | E5 | Army | 66-68 |
Danny R. Hatcher | E5 | Army | 69-71 |
Chester H. Skelton Jr. | Sgt. | Army | 67-69 |
Carl M Fowler | E8 | Air Force | 67-68 |
Charlie R Swords | E4 | Army | 68-71 |
Loyd C. Moore | E2 | Air Force | 62-66 |
Donald R. Henderson | 1st LT | Army | 67-69 |
James E. Parker | Cpt. | Army | 63-68 |
William D. Evans | Sp. 4 | Army | 69-70 |
John G. Fulton | E5 | Army | 70-73 |
Billy W. Pledger | Sp. 4 | Army | 69-71 |
Sam C. Finster Sr. | 1st LT | Army | 65-68 |
David L. Collins | E5 | Navy | 65-69 |
William J. Tucker | Sp. 5 | Army | 66-69 |
Sam A. Porcarello | E4 | Navy | 71-74 |
William D. Durham | PFC | Army | 69-71 |
Robert W. Chappell | Sgt. | Air Force | 67-68 |
John F. Nichols | E5 | Army | 66-68 |
James E. Lunsden | St Sgt. | Air Force | 70-76 |
Douglas B. Stone | CPL | Army | 74-79 |
Aubrey G. Newton | E2 | Army | 68-70 |
Kenneth W. Hampton | E5 | Army | 74-78 |
Stephen W. Jones | E4 | Army | 70-72 |
Michael L. Posey | MSgt. | Air Force | 63-85 |
Jimmy R. Pinion | Sp 4 | Army | 66-68 |
Lewis N. Railey | Sp 4 | Army | 64-67 |
Carl A. Kilgo | Spl 4 | Army | 68-70 |
Joesph M. Salmon | S5 | Army | 67-69 |
Willie J. Warren | SEC | Army | 62-90 |
Henry Emason | E4 | Army | 68-70 |
Raymond J. Ware | E4 | Air Force | 66-69 |
Eemaus Lee Major | E5 | Army | 66-06 |
Robert C. Keheley | E7 | Navy | 55-75 |
Ron D. Stephens | E4 | Army | 68-70 |
Milton L. McDaniels | E4 | Army | 68-70 |
Anthony D. Gaylor | E5 | Army | 66-68 |
James d. Bearden | PFC | Army | 64-72 |
Norvah T. Henderson | E6 | Army | 74-80 |
After the event over 100 additional Vietnam Veterans who were not in attendance reached out to Ms. Barbara Reece and Mrs. Odell Anderson, the two are planning another Welcome Home ceremony in the upcoming months. At the future event Vietnam Veterans will be presented certificates and other honors. The future event will be a public event for the community to have an opportunity to express their gratitude.
Below is as complete of list as available of Vietnam Veterans from Chattooga County, if you know of other Vietnam Veterans from Chattooga County who are not on the list, please message AllOnGeorgia.
Veteran’s Name | Rank | Branch | Date of Service |
Alfred S. Perkins | E4 | United States Air Force | 1961 to 1965 |
Benny T. Young | E4 | United States Air Force | 1959 to 1963 |
Carl M. Fowler | E8 | United States Air Force | 1967 to 1968 |
Charles L. Frady | E8 | United States Air Force | 1954 to 1974 |
Hugh D. Gibbons Jr. | E7 | United States Air Force | 1966 to 1967 |
Jack Spangler | ***** | United States Air Force | |
John A. Agnew | E4 | United States Air Force | 1965 to 1969 |
John L. Sparks | E3 | United States Air Force | 1958 to 1961 |
Leroy E. Sweatman | E5 | United States Air Force | 1967 to 1970 |
Loyd C. Moore | E2 | United States Air Force | 1962 to 1966 |
Max E. Cordle | E2 | United States Air Force | 1958 to 1960 |
Michael L. Posey | E7 | United States Air Force | 1963 to 1985 |
Paul D. Ledbetter | E8 | United States Air Force | 1958 to 1985 |
Raymond J. Ware | E4 | United States Air Force | 1966 to 1969 |
Robert W. Chappell | E5 | United States Air Force | 1967 to 1968 |
Thomas E. Tinney | E3 | United States Air Force | 1969 to 1971 |
Wilburn E. Ragland | E9 | United States Air Force | 1953 to 1974 |
Allen R. Cochran | E5 | United States Army | 1959 to 1964 |
Andrew E. Brock | E4 | United States Army | 1957 to 1959 |
Barry R. Smith | E4 | United States Army | 1964 to 1972 |
Bill T. Croy | E7 | United States Army | 1964 to 1988 |
Billy L. Edwards | E5 | United States Army | 1972 to 1974 |
Bobby G. Davis | E4 | United States Army | 1971 to 1974 |
Carl A. Kilgo | E4 | United States Army | 1968 to 1970 |
Carlton R. Millican | E4 | United States Army | 1972 to 1975 |
Charles A. Stoker | E3 | United States Army | 1962 to 1965 |
Charles Y. Park | E5 | United States Army | 1966 to 1969 |
Clinton E. Young | E4 | United States Army | 1959 to 1965 |
David E. Welch | E3 | United States Army | 1960 to 1963 |
David L. Love | E4 | United States Army | 1967 to 1969 |
Deed E. Price | E4 | United States Army | 1961 to 1963 |
Dennis Brown | E5 | United States Army | 1967 to 1969 |
Dennis L. Tucker | E4 | United States Army | 1967 to 1969 |
Donald K. Hammond | E5 | United States Army | 1969 to 1971 |
Donald R. Webb | E4 | United States Army | 1969 to 1971 |
Earl A. Callan | E4 | United States Army | 1966 to 1968 |
Eddie D. Hawkins | S4 | United States Army | 1969 to 1970 |
Edward L. Campbell | E4 | United States Army | 1967 to 1969 |
Everett M. James | E5 | United States Army | 1963 to 1966 |
Gary W. Howell | E2 | United States Army | June 1970 to December 1970 |
Harold D. Ragland | E4 | United States Army | 1960 to 1963 |
James B. Evans | E5 | United States Army | 1965 to 1967 |
James G. Snead | E5 | United States Army | 1969 to 1970 |
James R. Rains | E5 | United States Army | 1966 to 1972 |
James T. Riley | Sp/5 | United States Army | 1971 to 1982 |
Jimmy L. Hix | E4 | United States Army | 1966 to 1968 |
Jimmy P. McGraw | E3 | United States Army | 1957 to 1963 |
Ken W. McCarly | O3 | United States Army | 1964 to 1969 |
Larry C. Veatch | E4 | United States Army | 1969 to 1971 |
Larry Starky | Spc 4 | United States Army | 1972 to 1975 |
Michael D. Ross | E8 | United States Army | 1971 to 1991 |
Michael F. King | E4 | United States Army | 1970 to 1971 |
Michael T. Tucker | E3 | United States Army | 1966 to 1968 |
Michael W. Price | E4 | United States Army | 1967 to 1969 |
Otto L. Willie | E8 | United States Army | 1947 to 1968 |
Ralph Anderson | E3 | United States Army | 1957 to 1959 |
Ray E. Lee | E4 | United States Army | 1960 to 1967 |
Robert L. Woodall | E1 | United States Army | 1953 to 1955 |
Ronald D. Hawkins | E4 | United States Army | 1965 to 1967 |
Ronald K. Webb | E4 | United States Army | 1969 to 1971 |
Sam E. Hudsputh | E8 | United States Army | 1958 to 1988 |
Steve J. Teems | E4 | United States Army | 1971 to 1972 |
Tommy F. Grimes | E4 | United States Army | 1969 to 1971 |
Tommy G. Purcell | E5 | United States Army | 1950 to 1971 |
Virgil L. Hartline | E4 | United States Army | 1966 to 1968 |
William D. Durham | E3 | United States Army | 1969 to 1971 |
William F Kirk | E5 | United States Army | 1961 to 1967 |
William G. Hinton | E8 | United States Army | 1961 to 1990 |
Anthony D. Gaylor | E5 | United States Army | 1966 to 1968 |
Aubrey G. Newton | E2 | United States Army | 1968 to 1970 |
Billy W. Pledger | E4 | United States Army | 1969 to 1971 |
Charles A. Butler | SP/5 | United States Army | 1970 to 1981 |
Charlie R. Swords | E4 | United States Army | 1968 to 1971 |
Chester H. Skelton Jr. | E5 | United States Army | 1967 to 1969 |
Danny R. Hatcher | E5 | United States Army | 1969 to 1971 |
David M. Cargle | E4 | United States Army | 1965 to 1967 |
Donald R. Henderson | O2 | United States Army | 1967 to 1969 |
Douglas B. Stone | E4 | United States Army | 1974 to 1979 |
Eddie G. Shireman | E4 | United States Army | 1967 to 1970 |
Emmaus L. Major | E5 | United States Army | 1969 to 1972 |
Emory N. Adams | E3 | United States Army | 1968 to 1970 |
Henry E. Mason | E4 | United States Army | 1968 to 1970 |
Howard F. Dillard | E5 | United States Army | 1963 to 1967 |
James D. Bearden | E3 | United States Army | 1969 to 1972 |
James E. Parker | O3 | United States Army | 1963 to 1968 |
James R. Dunaway | E4 | United States Army | 1966 to 1968 |
Jerry D. Knox | E5 | United States Army | 1968 to 1972 |
Jimmy L. Fowler | E4 | United States Army | 1966 to 1968 |
Jimmy R. Pinion | E4 | United States Army | 1966 to 1968 |
John F. Nichols | Staff Sargent | United States Army | 1966 to 1968 |
John G. Fulton | E5 | United States Army | 1970 to 1973 |
Joseph M. Salmon | S5 | United States Army | 1967 to 1969 |
Kenneth W. Hampton | E5 | United States Army | 1974 to 1978 |
Milton L. McDaniels | E4 | United States Army | 1968 to 1970 |
Norval T. Henderson | E6 | United States Army | 1974 to 1980 |
R.V. Hall | E5 | United States Army | 1967 to 1975 |
Ralph Whaley | W2 | United States Army | 1954 to 1974 |
Richard A. White | E5 | United States Army | 1965 to 1967 |
Ron D. Stephens | E4 | United States Army | 1968 to 1970 |
Ronald G. Winters | E5 | United States Army | 1966 to 1968 |
Sam C. Finster Sr. | O2 | United States Army | 1965 to 1968 |
Stephen W. Jones | E4 | United States Army | 1970 to 1972 |
Tommy F. Stephens | E5 | United States Army | 1964 to 1966 |
William D. Evans | E4 | United States Army | 1969 to 1970 |
William J. Tucker | Sp. 5 | United States Army | 1966 to 1969 |
Willie J. Warren | E7 | United States Army | 1962 to 1990 |
Lewis N. Railey | E4 | United States Army | 1964 to 1967 |
Jack E. Wentz | E7 | United States Army/AF | 1968 to 1983 |
Wayne L. Cain | E7 | United States Army/AF | 1964 to 1967 |
David M. Henry | E4 | United States Marine Corps | 1972 to 1974 |
Emmett W. Miller | E5 | United States Marine Corps | 1962 to 1966 |
Emory G. Tallent | E3 | United States Marine Corps | 1968 to 1969 |
Henry A. Jones Jr. | E4 | United States Marine Corps | 1967 to 1970 |
Jim R. Parker | E4 | United States Marine Corps | 1966 to 1969 |
John G. Crawford | O2 | United States Marine Corps | 1969 to 1971 |
Jonathan M. Payne | E4 | United States Marine Corps | 1967 to 1973 |
Richard L. Richter | E4 | United States Marine Corps | 1960 to 1966 |
Thomas R. Adams | E4 | United States Marine Corps | 1963 to 1968 |
William D. Ford | E5 | United States Marine Corps | 1971 to 1977 |
Grady E. Schrader | E5 | United States Marine Corps | 1964 to 1967 |
David L. Burrage | E4 | United States Marine Corps | 1969 to 1972 |
Ben W. Hege | E6 | United States Navy | 1956 to 1977 |
Cecil W. Parker | E4 | United States Navy | 1964 to 1966 |
Clifford G. Albernathy | E4 | United States Navy | 1967 to 1971 |
Dempsey Lawson | E4 | United States Navy | 1960 to 1966 |
James Clark | E4 | United States Navy | 1972 to 1976 |
James H. Henry | E4 | United States Navy | 1961 to 1963 |
James M. Hardin | E4 | United States Navy | 1960 to 1966 |
Jerry Q. Ricketts | E4 | United States Navy | 1958 to 1964 |
Marion R. Swinford | E5 | United States Navy | 1956 to 1966 |
Richard L. Comer | E4 | United States Navy | 1961 to 1964 |
William D. McManamy | E5 | United States Navy | 1968 to 1972 |
Alonzo J. Davis | E5 | United States Navy | 1959 to 1963 |
David L. Collins | E5 | United States Navy | 1965 to 1969 |
Paul C. McDaniel | E7 | United States Navy | 1974 to 1998 |
Robert C. Keheley | E7 | United States Navy | 1955 to 1975 |
Sam A. Porcarello | E4 | United States Navy | 1971 to 1974 |
Ewart Q. Wilson | E3 | United States United States Air Force | 1968 to 1973 |
Patrick H. Groover | E5 | United States United States Air Force | 1965 to 1966 |
Betty F. Henry | Sp/5 | United States United States Army | 1974 to 1977 |
Gaylon L. Rush | E4 | United States United States Army | 1958 to 1960 |
Doyle L. Farmer | PFC | United States United States Army | 1961 to 1963 |
Wallace C. Martin | Sp/4 | United States United States Army | 1961 to 1963 |
Charles F. Logan | E4 | United States United States Army | 1968 to 1970 |
Willie H. Mayes, Jr. | E3 | United States United States Army | January 1971 to September 1971 |
Rodney P. Edwards | E4 | United States United States Navy | 1972 to 1978 |
Johnny M. Brown | E3 | United States United States Navy | 1973 to 1977 |
Bobby W. Maton | Private | United States United States Navy | 1970 to 1972 |
Peggy F. Farmer-Hegwood | 1961 to 1963 | ||