THE DALLAS POST TRIBUNE REQUESTS YOUR HELP TO FIND 15 MISSING PICTURES OF DALLAS HEROES THAT BELONGS ON THE WALL OF FACES OF THE VIETNAM MEMORIAL IN WASHINGTON, DC
Mrs. Janna Hoehn of Maui, Hawaii is leading a campaign with local volunteers attempting to find pictures of all 330 Dallas County men killed in action for the Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC.
The Wall of Faces will be a part of an underground gallery near the Vietnam Memorial, sometimes called “The Wall,” located on the mall in Washington, DC.
Whereas, Ms. Hoehn was looking for 128 of our 330 men last fall when she entered Dallas County. Today, the number has decreased to 24 of which 15 happen to be Black and are difficult to locate. Therefore, the Dallas Post Tribune has volunteered to help by publishing the names of the 15 Heroes in our newspaper.
We are encouraging our readers to please review the list of names that has a short biography to see if you recognize anyone on the list.
The campaign to build the Education Center at The Wall is an effort to build an educational and honorific component to one of the nation’s most powerful and moving memorials.
The Education Center at The Wall will:
Put a face to every one of the more than 58,000 names listed on The Wall
Share some of the hundreds of thousands of objects left at The Wall by families, military comrades, and others over more than three decades.
Provide a historical account of the events that took place on the battlefield and the home front during the Vietnam Era.
Tell the story of The Wall
The campaign to build the Education Center at The Wall is well under way. The land
has been appropriated. Final design approvals are in hand.
With each passing day, we lose more Vietnam veterans. Their stories must be preserved and told now so that future generations never forget the lessons of the Vietnam Era.
The following information was sent by Mrs. Janna Hoehn of Maui, Hawaii and due to the vital content in order to locate our Heroes it appears as sent without corrections.
Artist’s rending of the inside of the future Education Center that will serve as a gallery to display pictures of the men lost in the Vietnam War as a part of the Vietnam Memorial on the mall in Washington, DC
Boney, William (Aug 19, 1947-Feb 16, 1968) (Black – Protestant – Single) (US Marine Corps-Co D, 1st Bn, 5th Marines) Dallas, TX.
Buried in Oakland Cemetery Tallulah, Louisiana, William Boney appears to have been from Tallulah, Louisiana where his mother Bernice Boney and grandmother Rosa L. Napper lived.
There is no record that he ever went to school in Dallas and the only connection we have been able to establish is that there is a Boney family in Tallulah who claim that William was related. However, that family has never responded to correspondence.
Burrough, Jesse Clarence (Sep 2, 1948-Apr 4, 1968) (Black – Baptist – Never Married) (US Army – Co A, 3rd Bn, 39th Inf, 9ID) Dallas, TX.
We know that he attended Lincoln High School for some period (in about the class of 1966) but no one at Lincoln High School has responded to inquiries. We also know that he was a member of Mount Horn Baptist Church but that church may no longer exist.
His mother, who passed away on Dec 15, 2001, was Helen Burrough of 2303 Stoneman Street, Dallas, TX 75215. The house on Stoneman Street belonged to a gentleman named Samuel L. Burrough (who may or may not have been Jesse’s father) and who is thought to live in Mesquite but a letter to him was not answered so it is not known if he received it. At one time a gentleman named Frank Burrough lived at 2303 Stoneman and may have been a brother of Jesse. Mother Helen may have been related to Arthur Lee Burrough (Oct 8, 1945 – Jul 30, 2014) and Aaron D. Burrough (Aug 24, 1959 – Sep 13, 2013). Jesse Burourgh had a sister named Linda Dotson and two ladies with that name have been sent letters but with no response. One of those ladies lives in Saint Augustine, FL while the other may live in Garland, TX.
Jesse Burrough is buried in Lincoln Memorial Cemetery but the cemetery has no additional amplifying information about him or his relatives
Butler, Henry (Dec 16, 1944-Aug 15, 1966) (Black – Baptist – Never Married) (US Army – Co B, 2nd Bn, 5th Cav, 1CD) Dallas, TX
A former student at N.R. Crozier High School in Dallas, in about the class of 1962, he is buried in New Zion Rest Cemetery, Shreveport, LA.
Henry Butler’s mother was Vera Williams of 516 Allen Street, Shreveport, LA. Four different ladies in Shreveport are named Vera Williams and all have been sent letters – one has informed that she is not related.
There is no know obituary dealing with Henry Butler in the Dallas Morning News or in the library records in the Shreveport, LA Public Library (The reference section of the Shreveport Library began to research Henry Butler in September 2016)
Carter Jr., Fred Douglas (Jun 22, 1943- May 25, 1968)) (Black – Methodist – Married) (US Army – Co C, 1st Bn, 8th Inf, 4ID) Dallas, TX.
There is no record that Fred Carter ever attended any school in Dallas County, but if he did he would have been in about the high school class of 1961. He may have left a widow whose current name could be Betty Jean Carter or Betty Carter Blanton and who might live at 1254 Harlandale Avenue, Dallas, TX 75216. Letters have been mailed to that address but it is not known if the letters were ever received.
It is thought that family members may have a picture because of this posting left at The Wall by a Kim Carter: “To My Daddy” Posted on 1/17/16 “I didn’t really know my daddy never met him before. He died when I was 4 months old, but I have heard wonderful stories about him and seen a ton of pictures of him. He was a very handsome man. Even though I didn’t know my daddy I love him with every breath that I have!!!And my daddy made the ultimate sacrifice for this country. I love you daddy always and forever your baby girl Kim.”
A Kimala M. Carter is on Facebook and asked a volunteer for information about the campaign to find a picture but does not respond to requests for a picture. As such it is not known if Kimala even owns a picture of Fred Carter.
Fisher, James Louis (Oct 15, 1930- Nov 17, 1965) (Black – Protestant – Never Married) (US Army – Co A, 2nd Bn, 7th Cav, 1CD) Dallas, TX.
James Fisher was a 35 year old platoon sergeant in the fabled 7th Cavalry who lost his life in terrible fighting in the Battle of The Ia Drang Valley depicted in a popular Mel Gibson movie entitled “We Were Soldiers” As such members of his former Company A, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment have been canvased for a picture without success.
Buried in Lincoln Memorial Cemetery in Dallas, he had also served in the Korean War.
He was the son of George and Ellen M. Fisher of 3714 Hamilton Avenue, Dallas, TX and had attended Booker T. Washington High School in about the class of 1948.
His advanced age (for a soldier) at the time he was killed in battle combined with the fact that he was never married has made finding a picture of him very difficult.
Hines Jr Namon. (Oct 31, 1946-Jun 24, 1967)(Black – Baptist – Single) (US Army -5th Trans Co, 4th Trans Cmd, 1st Log Cmd)
Buried in Mount Morian Baptist Church Cemetery, Frierson, Louisiana, very little is known about Namon Hines, Jr.
.
He attended Booker T. Washington High School in Dallas in about the class of 1965 and was single.
While his mother Mrs. Ethel B. Hines lived at 1651 East Elmore Street in Dallas, his father Mr. Namon Hines, Sr. (1924-2004) lived in Gloster, Louisiana.
Morris, Elroy (March 6, 1949-Feb 27, 1969) (Black – Religion Unknown – Single) (US Marine Corps – 1st CAG, Combined Action Program, III MAF) Dallas.
Elroy Morris was the son Vernal Anderson, 3516 Colonial Street and Leroy Morris of 4403 West University Blvd. It is unknown where he attended high school but by looking at addresses he might have attended Lincoln High School.
For some unknown reason he is buried in Wheaton Cemetery in Hayesville, Louisiana.
Morris, John Lee (Feb 14, 1950-Mar 23, 1969) (Black – Baptist – Never Married) (US Army – Co C, 3rd Bn, 39th Inf, 9ID) Dallas, TX.
John Morris was the son of Mr. & Mrs. Roosevelt Morris, Sr. (begging the question if a son Roosevelt Morris, Jr. is still alive).
John Morris attended Springfield High School in Coushatta, Louisiana and later Booker T. Washington High School in Shreveport, Louisiana where he was reported to have graduated, presumably in about the high school class of 1968. We know that there is no picture of him from Springfield High School in Coushatta.
In battle he was cited for provided aid to the wounded, caring many to safety and earned the Bronze Star Medal with Valor device for his bravery.
Perry Jr., R.C. (Mar 17, 1936-Feb 13, 1967) (Black – Baptist – Married) (US Army – Co C, 2nd Bn, 22nd Inf, 4ID) Dallas, TX
Born to R.C. Perry, Sr. and Arella Turner Perry who passed away on Oct 17, 1954 (1902-1954), R.C. Perry attended Booker T. Washington High School in Dallas and would have been in about the class of 1954.
His wife was Lurra M. Perry who lived on Grand Street in Dallas. Buried in Lincoln Memorial Park in Dallas, he was a career soldier who held the rank of Staff Sergeant.
By use of 1940 Census data a number of possible relatives were incorrectly contacted in the Copperas Cove area of Texas who turned out to not be related.
Price, Charles Allen (Sep 18, 1948-Jan 19, 1969) (Black – Methodist – Never Married) (US Army – HHB, 41st Arty Group, I Field Force) Dallas, TX.
Buried in Rocky Branch Cemetery in Kirvin, TX in Freestone County, Charles Price attended Franklin D. Roosevelt High School in Dallas but is also thought to have attended Wortham High School in Freestone County. His mother, Allie B. Price (1910 – 1970) lived in Worthham, TX and was listed as the single next of kin to be notified upon the death of Charles.
But there was a father Johnnie Price (1900 – 1969) and a sister named Jessie Wallace who lived in Dallas at the time Charles Price was killed in action. Sibling Ivory Jean Price (1940 – 1969) appears to have passed at about the same time that Charles was killed in action. As such, sister Jessie Wallace might still be alive.
Ross, Gene Autry (Dec 11, 1946- Jan 30, 1968) (Black – Baptist – Never Married) (US Army – HHC, 4th Bn, 503rd Inf, 173rd Airborne Brigade) Dallas, TX.
Very little is known about Gene A. Ross. While he entered the army from Dallas he appears to have actually been a native of Louisiana.
He enlisted on Dec 8, 1966 and became a paratrooper. His mother’s name is Cleo Ross, 907 ½ Park Avenue, Shreveport, Louisiana while his father was Jesse W. Ross of McDade, Louisiana.
He is buried in Shehee Cemetery, Ringgold, Louisiana.
It appears that he likely had a brother because on September 21, 2001 a nephew named Jesse Ross left this message at The Vietnam Memorial, “…Sorry, Hi mickey. This is your brother’s only child Jesse, Sug is my father. I never got a chance to meet you but I have heard a lot of your name in my life. I got here in 1971 just a little bit late to meet you but I will always honor you. I’m sorry your life was cut so short and I’m sorry you had to go through so much pain and suffering over there, I really don’t agree with the war you had to fight, but I’m glad you were not a coward. In your mane I want you to know that I Love the United States of America…God be with your soul. Love Your Nephew Jesse Ross…”
Stephens Jr., Bennie Vorice (Dec 18, 1948-Nov 4, 1969) (Black – Roman Catholic – Married) (US Marine Corps – Co C, 1st Bn, 7th Marines) Dallas, TX.
Bennie Stephens was the son of Bennie V. Stephens Sr, 309 Foreman Street, Dallas, TX and Sarah Pinkie (Jones) Stephens) thought to have been deceased at the time Bennie was killed in action). He was husband to Ruby J Stephens, 2903 Foreman Street, Dallas, TX and had a son named Aaron B. Stephens and also appears to have had a son named Ronnie D. Stephens. In addition Bennie may have had four grandchildren.
He was a student at Lincoln High School in Dallas, TX in about the class of 1966.
Bennie Stephens and his family were thought of very highly by Dallas Reverend John Delly who remembers them from Bennie’s childhood attendance at the Mount Calvary Church of God in Christ. Letters have been mailed to Reverend Delly.
Washington, Donald Ray (May 31, 1950-Oct 14, 1969) (Black – Protestant – Never Married) (US Navy – USS Vancouver) Dallas, TX.
Donald Washington, who attended L.G. Pinkston High School in about the class of 1968, was a fireman on board the USS Vancouver when he lost his life to drowning in connection with the Vietnam War.
Buried in Lincoln Memorial Cemetery in Dallas, TX there was no “next of kin” notification document dealing with his death in the records but the Dallas Morning News reported that he was the son of Mrs. Lovarier Goodson, 4002 Applegrove, in Dallas. As such, presuming some family connection a letter was mailed to Torrey Damon Goodson, 1128 Valley View, Red Oak, TX 75154 but that letter was returned as undeliverable.
Williams, Rayfield (Apr 6, 1947-Feb 6, 1968) (Black – Religion Unknown – Married) (US Army – HHC, 1st Bn, 14th Inf, 4ID) Dallas, TX.
Rayfield Williams attended James Madison High School in Dallas and would have been in about the high school class of 1965. He was married to Maetta Williams (whose maiden name might have been Maetta McCullar) who lived at 2933 School Place, Dallas, TX. He is known to have married Maetta on March 12, 1966 who bore his baby daughter, named Marie Williams, just a few days before Rayfield was killed in action. Maetta later married Roger T. Campbell, from whom she had a child named Yolanda Evette Campbell, and after that married Crawford Bedford, who she had children with named Anthony Jerome Bedford and Tamica Bedford.
Half-brother Anthony is thought to live in Lancaster, TX while half sister Yolanda E. Campbell may live in Arlington, TX.
Rayfield Williams’ mother was Antonia Williams of 1730 4th Avenue, Dallas and passed away in 2008.
Buried in Lincoln Memorial Park in Dallas, he was lost to ground fire serving as a platoon medic.
Williams, Vance George (Nov 21 1946- Apr 2, 1967) (Black – Baptist – Married) (US Army -Co D, 2nd Bn, 8th Cav, 1CD) Dallas, TX
Vance Williams attended Lincoln High School in Dallas in the class of about 1964. He was the husband of Barbara A. Williams (maiden name Barbara Ann Griffin), 2549 Choice Street, Dallas, TX. His father was Mr. Grady Williams, of Naples, TX while his mother was Ladella Ervin, 2251 Scoland, Dallas TX.
In addition to the Purple Heart Medal he was the combat recipient of the Bronze Star Medal and the Air Medal
