Compiled By: Janelle Layne Taylor and Willene N. Campbell

    Some have said that there are only two who would lay down their lives for you. Those two are Jesus Christ and the American Soldier. This article chronicles those soldiers from Grundy County, TN, who did give their lives in service to their country so that everyday citizens like you and me can live free from oppression. If you have additional information for our Historical Society about any of these men, please contact jcoats [at] cafes [dot] net or 931 467-3603. World War II soldiers were included in a similar article published Veterans’ Day 2005. That article may be viewed on the following website: www.gchs.homestead.com

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Charles E. Anderson was born August 14, 1948 and died in hostile ground fighting in Gia Dinh, South Vietnam, on February 16, 1968, at the age of 19. Although he was inducted from Cleveland, Ohio, Charles was originally from Coalmont, TN. He was in the Army; his rank was SP4 E4, and he was a member of the 199th Light Infantry Brigade. His name on the Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. is on panel 39E line 057. Charles was the 741st American casualty of the Vietnam Conflict. His parents were Lewis “Runt” Anderson and Violet Crabtree Anderson. Charles is buried at Coalmont Cemetery.
Source:  Grundy County Heritage Book 2004 & U.S. Military Records
    The following comment appears on the Internet.
    James Speer james [dot] speer [at] med [dot] va [dot] gov
    Knew his Mother
    I worked with your Mother in Euclid. I went to The Wall and got a rubbing of your name, and also several pictures of the panel your name is engraved upon. I will never forget the look on her face when I presented her with these reminders of you. I was a lucky one. I returned home you did so only in spirit and in memories. You Are Not Forgotten, a fellow Vietnam Vet.
Thursday, April 13, 2006

Marshall Edward “Mad Dog” Brown was from Palmer, TN, born June 20, 1936, and died April 13, 1967, in a crash over Khanah Hoa, South Vietnam, at the age of 30. Marshall’s rank was an Air Force TSGT E6. His name is located on panel 18E line 021 on the Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. He was the son of Robert & Rosalee Pocus Brown. His brother was Bobby Gene Brown. Marshall was married to Dot Barnes Brown. They had a daughter Melissa. Marshall is buried at Fall Creek Cemetery in Gruetli-Laager.
    The following is a letter from a fellow veteran and friend of Marshall’s.
    “I met Marshall when I was transferred to Travis, AFB California as a C-141 aircraft flight chief, Marshall and I worked the night shift together. We were both promoted to TSGT and applied for flight engineer school at the same time. We were roommates at the school and were in the same class. After graduation we went to Tinker AFB, Oklahoma for the C-141 engineer training, we flew together a few times while there and drove back to Travis together. Marshall was assigned to McChord AFB, Washington, which is just South of Seattle, I stayed at Travis so while he was moving to McChord I was flying and completed my training. Marshall was the student flight engineer on his first trip to Vietnam, on April 13, 1967 the aircraft landed at Cam Rahn Bay Air Base, Vietnam to unload cargo and take on fuel.
    The aircraft crashed into the bay while taking off at night. I landed at Cam Rahn Bay AB early on April 14, 1967 and was informed that a C-141 from McChord had crashed on take off. The ground crewman I talked to had refueled that aircraft and remembered Marshall because Marshall had spent the ground time visiting with him. Marshall was a true Tennessee gentleman and a good friend.”
William H. Barnes, Tijeras, NM wbarnes130 [at] aol [dot] com
Source: David Patton, U.S. Military Records

John Allen “Little John” Cox of Palmer died in 1966 while serving with the U.S. Navy in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska.
    John was the son of the late Reno Cox & Nellie Dykes Cox Creighton and the brother of the late Ronnie Cox. He is survived by a sister Martha Carroll Cox Hensley of Florida.
Source: Research of David Patton

Raymond Carl Eubanks, Jr. was born March 6, 1947, in Altamont, TN.  He attained the rank of SGT E5 in the U.S. Army 25th Infantry Division. On December 23, 1967, he was a ground casualty of an explosion in Tay Ninyh, South Vietnam. His name is located on panel 32E line 053 on the Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. Raymond was the 4,486th American casualty of the war in Vietnam. He is buried at Grace Chapel in Beersheba Springs. His parents were Raymond, Sr. and Josephine King Eubanks.
Source: Joyce Eubanks, sister, U.S. Military records
    The following tributes appear on the Internet.
    Roscoe Knight jlknight [at] nexband [dot] com
    he was my friend
    141 Forrest Park Drive
    Chickamauga, GA 30707 USA
    A close wonderful friend
    Ray and I were drafted same time we took basic then AIT together. He grew up in Altamont, TN me in Jasper, TN we become close friends. We left home a week early to see the country, went thru Chicago, than San Francisco. He had already gotten his port call when he was killed. I was back in 25th Div base camp getting over an injury from a RPG when I received word he had been KIA. I was not scheduled yet to come home however his mother told the Army they left together I want them to come home together. I escorted the body home. Ray had wonderful family they acted like I was his brother.
Sure miss him?
Friday, August 19, 2005
    Mike Stockman
    Friend
    Ray Eubanks was one of the Best Men, Soldier and Leader that I have ever known. It was My pleasure to have served with Ray. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of Him. See You later Ray, God, Take care of Him.
Wednesday, December 03, 2003
    Tom De Losa tomdee [at] peoplepc [dot] com
    served under Sgt. Eubanks in Nam.
    Gilbert, Arizona 85296 USA
    Sgt. Eubanks was my platoon leader, and a brave soldier.
    Sgt. Eubanks I remember you very well. You were the first person to speak to me my first night in Viet Nam just one short month before you died. I took your picture the morning of the day you died. You didn’t know I took your picture and I didn’t know you would die that day. If the family of Sgt. Eubanks ever visits this site, please contact me and I’ll send you that old picture I kept for so long.
    Sgt. Eubanks was a good man, soldier and teacher, I thank you for teaching me how to survive in that god forsaken place, I only wish you had made it home too! May God bless you my friend and show you his light. Sgt. Tom De Losa 4&9, 25th Infantry Div. Tay Ninh, RSVN
Wednesday, April 03, 2002

George Edward Henry was from Palmer, TN, born on November 2, 1948, to George “Dibble” & Ruby Henry.
    He was drafted into the Army in February of 1969 and attained the rank of CPL E3. George was killed on August 26, 1969, in hostile action in Quang Ngai, South Vietnam, as he was getting off his plane.
    George was the 1095th American military casualty in Vietnam. His name is located on panel 19W line 119 on the Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.  George’s brothers were Joel B, Alan & Jimmy Dale Henry. His sisters: Leonna Henry Green, Zina L. Henry, and Christine Tate. George Henry Road in Palmer honors his memory. The inscription on his tombstone states that he was a member of Co. D, 31st Infantry, American Div. SS-BSM-PH.
    Corporal Henry is buried at Fall Creek Cemetery in Gruetli-Laager, TN.
(Source: Research of Lucille Campbell Scissom & David Patton)

Marvin Foster Phillips was from Gruetli, TN, born June 30, 1946 and graduated from Grundy County High School in 1964. Marvin was drafter into the Army and became a SP4 E4. He was 20 years old when the helicopter in which he was riding crashed over South Vietnam on September 26, 1966. His body was not recovered. Marvin’s name is located on panel 11E line 020 on the Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. He was the 2,942nd American casualty of the Vietnam Conflict. His parents were David & Ruby Nell Davis Phillips.
Source: Mildred Phillips, aunt & U.S. Military Records

Glenn Haskell Rollins was from Monteagle, TN, born March 18, 1945, to Math Rollins and Louise Starlin Rollins. Glenn had siblings Charlie and Joe Rollins, another brother and 2 sisters. He served in the Army’s 9th Infantry Division with the rank of SGT E5. Glenn died at age 23 on January 24, 1969, in Dinh Tuong, South Vietnam, as a result of wounds from an explosive device. He was the 2,586th casualty of the war. His name is on the Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. on panel 34W line 072.
    Glenn is buried at Monteagle City Cemetery.
Source: Dorothy Rollins Layne, niece & U.S. Military records
    The following appears on the Internet:
    from hondo711 [at] yahoo [dot] com
    A grateful American
    Melrose Park, Illinois 60161
    Sgt Glenn Haskell Rollins was a member of the 4/39th Infantry that fought so bravely at Dong Tam, South Vietnam in 1969. The 4/39th Infantry mission in South Vietnam is well documented in the book entitled “Steel My Soldiers’ Hearts” written by Col. David H. Hackworth who recently passed away on 4 May 2005 & was one of America’s most decorated military war HEROES. To Glenn & David, thank YOU for YOUR service & sacrifices to our great country.
Friday, May 27, 2005

Kenneth Edward Shrum was inducted from Chattanooga, TN, but was a native of Tracy City.  Kenneth was born May 12, 1943, and was killed in action October 15, 1966. He was a SP4 E4 in the Army 25th Infantry Division and died at the age of 23 in hostile ground activity in South Vietnam. He was the 4,486th American casualty. His name is located on panel 11E line 078 on the Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.
Source: U.S. Military Records
    The following note appears on the Internet.
    Vince Fullone vfullone [at] aol [dot] com
    Friend
    Bob Kassabaum, Lindell Richardson, and myself spent the last night of Kenny’s life with him. The only thing mentioned was that Kenny had a mission the next day. The following afternoon we got word that Kenny and others where killed in a PC with an armor piercing shell. To us this was the worst day since we arrived in country. Thru the rest of our tour Ken was mentioned every day. Rest In Peace Friend
Sunday, September 15, 2002

Reuben Charles Williams was born in Altamont, TN, on August 12, 1944, and joined the Marine Corps where he attained the rank of 2LT 01. He died in hostile ground activity in Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam, on August 30, 1967, at the age of 23 while on a mission near the DMZ. Reuben’s name is engraved on the Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. on panel 25E line 073. Reuben graduated from David Lipscomb University in Nashville in June of 1966.
    He was buried with full military honors in the Altamont Cemetery. His parents were H.B. and Willie Mae Williams.
Source: Warren County Heritage Book, U.S. Military Records
    The following note was posted on the Internet.
    JIM THOMPSON JTHOMP8E [at] BELLSOUTH [dot] NET
    BASIC SCHOOL SUITE MATES
    750 PARK AVE NE 8E
    ATLANTA, GA 30326 USA
    A LONG TIME AGO REUBEN DIDN’T HAVE MUCH TO SAY BUT WHEN HE DID, YOU LISTENED. IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME (39 YEARS) BUT I STILL SEE HIS FACE AND SMILE. JIM THOMPSON
Wednesday, June 29, 2005

James Edward Wise was from Gruetli, TN, born November 23, 1946. He was a member of the Army’s 25th Infantry Division. James was killed in hostile ground activity on February 25, 1969, at the age of 22 in Hua Nghia Province, South Vietnam. He was the 4,486th American military casualty of the war and is memorialized on panel 31W line 062 on the Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. He was the son of Lyndall & Mary Hargis Wise. James is buried at Fall Creek Cemetery in Gruetli-Laager, TN. His tombstone states SP4 Co. A, 5 Infantry, 25 Division Vietnam, BSM-AR-com and 2 Olc-2PH.
Source: Mary Wise, mother; David Patton & U.S. Military Records
    The following note is posted on the Internet with a personal account of action the day James died.
    Denis McDonough Denis1146 [at] aol [dot] com
    Fellow Bobcat 1/5 Mech
    James, I just wanted you to know, you are not forgotten. You are loved and missed. My prayers to you and your family. If anyone knows this brave soldier who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Would you please contact me so we can honor James by having his picture placed on his former unit the 1/5 Mech website memorial page and on the Wall.
Monday, September 20, 2004
    “James was a Bobcat. He was a member of the 1/5 Mech Co. A, 25th Inf Div. We rode in APC’s (Armored Personal Carriers) Below is an account for 2/25/69.
    On February 25, 1969, at 0857 hours, Company A was conducting a RIF operation 2 kilometers northeast of the junction of Highways 1 and 7A, when an unknown type booby trap exploded. Three Bobcats were wounded. At 0915 hours, in the same area the company located and destroyed a booby-trapped 105mm and a 155mm artillery round.
    At 1820 hours, Company A and Company A, 2/34th Armor received small arms and RPG fire. Fire was returned with organic weapons and artillery. Several enemy soldiers were killed in the contact. One Bobcat from Company A was killed and four soldiers were wounded.”
Denis McDonough