Welcome Home Brother, Thank You For Your Service

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 On that day in 1973, the last combat troops were withdrawn from Vietnam and the last prisoners of war held in North Vietnam arrived on American soil.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