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Corporal
A BTRY, 2ND BN, 13TH ARTILLERY, 2 FIELD FORCE
Army of the United States
04 October 1947 - 22 August 1968
Madisonville, Tennessee
Sunset Cem.
Son of George Washington
and Ophia King Self. He dropped out of Vonore High School in 1966 and later received his high school diploma
in the service. Husband of former Maudie
Evelyn Mitchell at the time of his death. He was an employee of
Hiwassee Furniture Co., Inc. before entering the army Aug. 1967. He was
killed while serving with a gun crew in an artillery firing position while
engaged with hostile forces, the notice of his death stated. Gr.parent: Henderson
King of Vonore.
23
Jan 2006
Corporal
James Self was a draftee who started his tour of duty with A Battery on February 9, 1968. He was a
assigned as a cannon crew non-commissioned officer, which would have him
performing duties as gunner, assistant gunner, or section chief. As the unit
had 24 hour firing responsibility, SP4 Self would have found himself
performing any of these interchangeable responsibilities.
A
Battery operated out of the many fire support bases in Tay Ninh Province during 1968. No matter which
base they were occupying, the sight of Nui Ba Dinh, the Black
Virgin Mountain,
was always present. No matter which fire support base they occupied near Nui Ba Dinh, A Battery
received random sniper, mortar, and rocket fire.
Corporal
James Self was killed by small arms fire, presumably sniper rounds, six
months into his tour with A Battery. Exact
circumstances need to be explained by another individual.
Unit
veterans from Service Battery always commented that resupplying A Battery with ammunition, rations, and equipment was a
dangerous task. A Battery seemed to be
assigned to the most dangerous locations in III Corps during 1968-1970. They
comment A Battery seemed to be located in
the center of a bullseye target in the middle of
Indian Country. Resupply of A Battery was always a dicey assignment, because
of the fire support missions A Battery drew
during those years.
Corporal
James Self was assigned to a unit accustomed to dangerous assignments. He
served in a leadership role with a 105mm howitzer crew for six months. Our
veterans speak highly of the gun crew leaders, many of whom were drafted into
the Army like James Self. Life at the fire support bases in Tay Ninh Province was filled with ever-present
danger of shelling and ground attack. Leaders like Corporal Jim Self set the
example for the men in their crews. The gun crews of A Battery, B Battery,
and C Battery all had men like Jim Self
leading by example. Small wonder why the Red Dragon Clan earned the
reputation of being General Ewell's Fire Brigade in
II Field Force Artillery.
Rest
in Peace, Corporal James Self. You are honored, respected, and remembered by
the Red Dragon Clan. LTC William Miracle, currently commanding 3rd Battalion
13th Artillery on active duty in Iraq, comments that his men are continually
inspired by the performance, duty, and devotion of the 2nd and 3rd Battalions
13th Artillery in Vietnam. They frequent The Virtual Wall site pages for the
13th Artillery Regiment in Vietnam.
Thus, Corporal James Self and the 27 other members of 2nd Battalion 13th
Artillery who died in Vietnam
are still remembered by Active Duty personnel. LTC Miracle assures us their
memories are still honored by today's Red Dragon Clan.
Corporal
PERSONAL DATA Home of Record: Madisonville, Tennessee Date of birth: Saturday, 10/04/1947 MILITARY DATA Service: Army (Selective Service) Grade at loss: E4 Rank: Corporal ID No: 53756612 MOS: 13B40 Cannon Crewmember LenSvc: Between 1 and 2 years Unit: A BTRY, 2ND BN, 13TH ARTILLERY, 2 FIELD FORCE CASUALTY DATA Start Tour: Friday, 02/09/1968 Cas Date: Thursday, 08/22/1968 Age at Loss: 20 Remains: Body Recovered Location: Tay Ninh, South Vietnam Type: Hostile, Died Reason: Gun, Small Arms Fire - Ground Casualty
Researcher and Designer
Joy Locke & Joe Irons
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