Sp4 Bickett Orlando Wade, Jr.; Birth: Oct. 8, 1947 Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., NC Death: May 16, 1967, Vietnam. Sp4 Bickett Orlando Wade, Jr. native of Charlotte, NC was 19 years old and was not married. Bickett died from small arms fire or grenade. His body was recovered. Bickett is reported to have died in the arms of the Medic trying to save his life after he was mortally wounded. The Medic has expressed remorse that he could not bring Bickett back to life and thought Bickett was one of the best. He was the son of Mr. Bickett Leroy Wade (1920 - 2006) and Mrs. Bickett O. Wade Sr. of Charlotte, NC.

Specialist 4 Bickett Orlanda Wade Jr. who served with Charlie Company, 1st Platoon, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, " Wolfhounds " 25th Infantry Division " Tropic Lightning " was a posthumous recipient of the Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, and was entitled to wear the Combat Infantryman's Badge. Burial: York Memorial Park Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., NC Plot: Sect.5, Block # 4, Lot #1, Grave D. (Source: Posted with permission of Tom & Jim Reece, #46857744; finding NC Vietnam KIA/MIA's gravesites; Reconfigured and submitted by: Ron Yates)

SGT Stephen Archie Walker; Birth: Jun. 1, 1947 Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., NC Death: Jun. 21, 1968 Quang Tin, Vietnam. SGT Stephen Archie Walker native of Charlotte, North Carolina was 21 years old and was not married. It was reported that Stephen died from an undetermined explosion. His body was recovered.

Steve sustained serious wounds in hostile ground action and was carried to a landing zone where he was given CPR while waiting for the medical evacuation helicopter. After 45 minutes of resuscitation effort Steve died of his wounds. Several comrades reported as a result of the haze and confusion of combat that a series of bizarre events occurred that day when Steve was mortally wounded. He was the son of Bundy Walker (1914 - 1980) and Velma Lucille Lilly Walker (1915 - 2007) of Charlotte North Carolina.

He served with Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 196th Infantry Brigade. He was awarded The Combat Infantryman's Badge, The Bronze Star Medal, The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and The Good Conduct Medal. Burial: York Memorial Park Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., NC Plot: Sect. 6-A, Lot 22-23, Block 3, Grave C. (Source: Posted with permission of Tom & Jim Reece, #46857744; finding NC Vietnam KIA/MIA's gravesites; Reconfigured and submitted by: Ron Yates)

Reginald Alvin Watkins; Birth: Apr. 30, 1940 Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., NC Death: Nov. 15, 1965, Vietnam. SGT Reginald Alvin Watkins native of Charlotte, NC was 25 years old and was married. It was reported that Reginald died from multiple fragmentation wounds from a mine. His body was recovered.

He served with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, (AMBL). He was awarded The Combat Infantryman's Badge, The Bronze Star Medal, The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and The Good Conduct Medal. Burial: Raleigh National Cemetery Raleigh, Wake Co., NC Plot: Site 14/1188. (Source: Posted with permission of Tom & Jim Reece, #46857744; finding NC Vietnam KIA/MIA's gravesites; Reconfigured and submitted by: Ron Yates)

PFC Wilson Lewis Webb, Jr.; Birth: Aug. 28, 1949 Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., NC Death: Apr. 29, 1970 Quang Nam Province, Vietnam. USMC PVT Wilson Lewis Webb Jr. native of Charlotte, North Carolina was 20 years old and was not married. It was reported that Wilson died from drowning. His body was recovered.

The Hospital corpsman who served with him in his platoon described Wilson as a brave Marine and was proud to serve with him. He served with Hotel Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, 3rd MAF. He was awarded The Combat Action Ribbon (CAR), The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and The Good Conduct Medal. Burial: Salisbury National Cemetery Salisbury, Rowan Co., NC. (Source: Posted with permission of Tom & Jim Reece, #46857744; finding NC Vietnam KIA/MIA's gravesites; Reconfigured and submitted by: Ron Yates)

Captain Stephen Lee Whisenant; Birth: Oct. 16, 1944 Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., NC Death: Feb. 9, 1971 Quang Tri, Vietnam. Captain Stephen Lee Whisenant native of Charlotte, NC was 26 years old and was married. He was a graduate of North Mecklenburg High School, Charlotte, NC. Stephen died when his helicopter crashed. His body was recovered.

Two men of D Company, 101st Aviation Battalion, died when their AH-1G COBRA (tail number 68-17106) was shot down, CPT Stephen Lee Whisenant, copilot, was one of them. He served with Delta Company, 101st Aviation Battalion, 101st Aviation Group, 101st Airborne Division, "Screaming Eagles". He was awarded The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal, The Good Conduct Medal and The Air Medal with Multiple Oak Leaf Clusters. Burial: Sharon Memorial Park Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., NC. (Source: Posted with permission of Tom & Jim Reece, #46857744; finding NC Vietnam KIA/MIA's gravesites; Reconfigured and submitted by: Ron Yates)

US Air Force Capt John Dudley Wiley; Birth: May 28, 1936 Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., Death: Aug. 3, 1967 Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam. US Air Force Capt John Dudley Wiley, ID # 3104286 native of Charlotte, NC was 31 years old and was married. It was reported that John died when his plane was shot down by friendly fire. His body was recovered.

Three USAF airmen died in a tragic friendly fire incident on August 3, 1967. A C-7 Caribou was approaching the Duc Pho Special Forces camp, about 20 miles south of Quang Ngai, when it was hit by a shell from a U. S. Army 155mm howitzer. The ammunition-laden plane aircraft had flown into the line of fire and the shell blew off its entire rear fuselage and tail section. There is a well-publicized photograph of the aircraft taken during its fatal dive into the ground on the outskirts of the camp. Following this accident the Army and Air Force tightened up their coordination procedures for air operations near artillery fire zones.

His remaining crew remembers the day they departed Chu Lai for Duc Pho. None of us thought the day would turn out like it did. When the bodies were returned to Chu Lai they came back to a very sad group of guys. They were described as a happy crew and will be remembered by me that way. The lunch we shared and the jokes that were told while loading your Caribou are fondly remembered. Father: Ewell Van Wiley, Mother: Agnes Dunlop Wiley, Wife: Patricia Morrison, Children: John Malcolm and Jane. Dora Lee Wiley Brown.

OBITUARY: CAPT WILEY KILLED IN ASIAN WAR.

Capt John Dudley Wiley, 30, Margaret Road, was killed in action on August 3, according to official notification by the US Air Force. Yesterday word as received that he was missing in action and it was later reported that he had been killed aboard a Caribou C-7A aircraft making a landing approach at Ha Tranh, Vietnam - when the aircraft was accidently hit by American artillery fire. He was married to the former Patricia Morrison of Iredell County and the couple has two children, John Malcolm, 6, and Jane Agnes, age three and a half. In addition to his wife and children, he is survived by his mother, Mrs. E.V. Wiley of Charlotte, a sister, Mrs. Robert H. Brown of Charlotte and his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Dora Dunlop of Charlotte.

He was born in Mecklenburg County May 26, 1937. His father was a Presbyterian minister and formerly served the Concord Presbyterian Church in Iredell County. He grew up in Waxhaw and Norwood and moved with his family to Loray in 1953, when his father became pastor of the church there. He attended Scotts High School and Darlington Preparatory School, Rome Ga. He attended Davison College and Mars Hill College. He joined the US Air Force in 1957 and was commissioned an officer in 1960. He was married in September of that year.

Burial is in the Concord Presbyterian Church in Loray. On Thursday this newspaper published a picture on the Front Page of an American Aircraft falling apart in the Air after being struck by American artillery, 45 miles north of Duc Pho. The information at that time was that three men were killed in the accident. It has been definitely established that Capt Wiley was one of those killed. He served with the 459th Tactical Airlift Squadron, 483rd Tactical Airlift Wing, 7th Air Force. He was awarded the Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, the Vietnam Service Medal, The Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, The National Defense Service Medal and the Air Medal with Clusters. Burial: Concord Presbyterian Church Cemetery Statesville, Iredell Co., NC Plot: Wiley. (Source: Posted with permission of Tom & Jim Reece, #46857744; finding NC Vietnam KIA/MIA's gravesites; Reconfigured and submitted by: Ron Yates)

SP4 Charles R Willard, Jr.; Birth: Mar. 5, 1948 Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., NC Death: Jan. 7, 1970 Binh Dinh Province, Vietnam. SP4 Charles R Willard, Jr. a US Army Ranger and native of Charlotte, NC was a graduate of 1970 Class at UNC. He was a member of the Army Selective Service and a Draftee, 21 years old and was not married. It was reported that Charles died from small arms fire or grenade. His body was recovered.

His assignment was working with three other men placed deep in enemy held territory. He and his team mates would spy on enemy activity and report it to higher command for use in planning larger operations. This information could be gotten no other way. It called for nerves and guts of steel due to the closeness of the enemy and the distance they usually were from any friendly help. They had to survive on skill, team work, communications, artillery, and gun ships.

Charles proved himself to be a team player and a fierce combatant when necessary, and he was still the loving, helpful, kind, person he was before all of this. He had a great personality and was loved by his peers and Officers of the unit. Charles died with two of his team mates, La Roy Roth and Michael Lyne, while on patrol. They were securing their night location when the enemy sprung a surprise ambush on them.

He served with Kilo Company, 75th Infantry Regiment (Rangers), 4th Infantry Division. He was awarded The Combat Infantryman's Badge, The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and The Good Conduct Medal. Burial: Evergreen Cemetery Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., NC Plot: Sect. #2, Lot # 71, Grave # 2. (Source: Posted with permission of Tom & Jim Reece, #46857744; finding NC Vietnam KIA/MIA's gravesites; Reconfigured and submitted by: Ron Yates)

Senior Master Sgt James R. Williams; Birth: Mar. 28, 1945 Charlotte, NC Death: Dec. 29, 1967, North Vietnam. Senior Master Sergeant (SMSgt) is the eighth enlisted rank (pay grade E-8) in the U.S. Air Force, just above Master Sergeant and below Chief Master Sergeant and is a senior non-commissioned officer (SNCO). SMSgts are key, experienced, operational leaders, skilled at merging their personnel's talents, skills, and resources with other teams' functions to most effectively accomplish the mission. SMSgts continue to develop their leadership and management skills in preparation for expanded responsibilities and higher leadership positions. SMSgts normally operate at the operational level of leadership.

On the night of 28/29 December 1967, a "Combat Talon" MC-130E (tail number 64-0547) departed Nha Trang for a special operations mission over North Vietnam. The aircraft and the crew (Combat Talon crew S-01) were assigned to Detachment 1, 314th Tactical Airlift Wing, 13th AF, based at Nha Trang.

The mission involved a low-level incursion into northwestern North Vietnam, with a propaganda leaflet drop that would be followed by a diversionary resupply drop in the Song Da Valley. These drops were intended to fool the North Vietnamese into thinking there were clandestine teams working within a particular area. Progress along the route was reported by "quick-burst" radio signals. At about 4 AM the crew reported completion of the leaflet drop. Nothing further was heard, and the aircraft did not return to base.

Although extensive efforts were made to locate the crash site, it was not found. The 11 crewmen were classed as Missing in Action. In 1977 and 1978 the Secretary of the Air Force approved Presumptive Findings of Death for the eleven missing crewmen, all of whom had been promoted while in MIA status. The eleven crewmen were:

Colonel Charles P. Claxton, Chicago, IL ; Colonel Donald E. Fisher, Halfway, OR ; Lt Col Edwin N. Osborne, Raiford, FL; Lt Col Gerald G. Van Buren, Toledo, OH ; Lt Col Gordon J. Wenaas, Mayville, ND ; Major Frank C. Parker, Bridgeport, PA; CMSgt Edward J. Darcy, Portland, ME ; CMSgt Wayne A. Eckley, Enterprise, OR; CMSgt Jack Mc Crary, Madison, TN ; CMSgt Gean P. Clapper, Altoona, PA; and, SMSgt James R. Williams, Charlotte, NC

In the early 1990s the crash site was located about 100 feet below the summit of a 4900-foot-high karst cliff in the mountains of Lau Chau Province, NVN, some 32 miles northeast of Dien Bien Phu. Investigations in 1992 identified the aircraft and led to a full-scale excavation in 1993. Department of Defense analysts concluded from the distribution of the aircraft wreckage that the C-130 hit the mountainside and that the crew was unaware of the impending crash. The identification of the very fragmented human remains repatriated on 13 December 1993 - almost 26 years after the loss - was announced on Friday, 27 Oct 2000.

Only five of the men could be positively identified by means of DNA analysis - Darcy, Eckley, Parker, Fisher, and Williams. The remaining individually unidentifiable remains were grouped as remains "from an incident involving" 11 men. On 6 November 2000 the remains were turned over to the crewmens' families for burial, and on 15 November 2000 the remains were interred in a group burial in one casket in Arlington National Cemetery under a headstone bearing all 11 crewmen's names. Burial: Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Arlington Co., VA. (Source: Posted with permission of Tom & Jim Reece, #46857744; finding NC Vietnam KIA/MIA's gravesites; Reconfigured and submitted by: Ron Yates)

SSG Oscar Burdett Williams; Birth: Apr. 29, 1932 Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., NC Death: Aug. 29, 1971 Quang Tin, Vietnam. Staff Sgt Oscar Burdett Williams native of Charlotte, NC was 39 years old and was married. It was reported that Oscar died when his vehicle crashed. His body was recovered. SSG Oscar Williams was the son of John Louis & Calonia Thompson Williams of Mallard Creek, NC.

The funeral for SSG Oscar Burdette Williams of 1020 Clairemore Place is to be held at 1:30pm tomorrow at St John Baptist Church. The Reverend R.H. Leake, pastor, will officiate. Burial is to be in York Memorial Park. He died August 29 in Vietnam. He is survived by his wife, Mrs Lois Williams; mother, Mrs Calontia Coble of Charlotte; two sons, Tony Maurice Williams, Karl Louis Williams of the home; two daughters, Miss Maretta Teresa Williams, Miss Oscilla Faith Williams of the home; three brothers, James E Williams of the U.S. Army, Willie Calvin Wiliams of Oakland, California; and seven sisters, Mrs Ollie Mae Moore of Concord, Mrs Lottie Byers of Fort Ord, California, Mrs Bernice Hayes, Mrs Dorothy Heard of Bronx, NY, Mrs Nola Jones, Mrs Voncilla Smith of Staten Island, NY, Mrs Lowine Lawrence of Hampstead, NY.

He served with the 596th Maintenance Company, 227th Transportation Battalion, 80th Ground Support Group, 1st Logistics Command. He was awarded The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and The Good Conduct Medal. Burial: Unknown. (Source: Posted with permission of Tom & Jim Reece, #46857744; finding NC Vietnam KIA/MIA's gravesites; Reconfigured and submitted by: Ron Yates)

Capt James Baker Woods III; Birth: Sep. 19, 1940 Davidson, Mecklenburg Co., NC Death: Feb. 6, 1966, Vietnam. Capt James Baker Woods III native of Davidson, NC was 25 years old and was married. It was reported that James died from multiple fragmentation wounds from a mine. His body was recovered. He was the Husband of Sheena Woods of Charlotte, NC and the son of James Baker Woods (1898 - 1986).

He served with the Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry, "Cacti Forever", 25th Infantry Division, "Tropic Lightning". The decorations earned by CPT James B. Woods III include: The Combat Infantryman's Badge, The Silver Star for Gallantry in Action, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, The Air Medal with Four Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation. Burial: Mimosa Cemetery Davidson, Mecklenburg Co., NC Plot: Woods. (Source: Posted with permission of Tom & Jim Reece, #46857744; finding NC Vietnam KIA/MIA's gravesites; Reconfigured and submitted by: Ron Yates)

SP4 Fred Melvin Wrenn; Birth: May 5, 1947 Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., NC Death: Jan. 5, 1968 Gia Dinh, Vietnam. SP4 Fred Melvin Wrenn native of Charlotte North Carolina was a member of the Army Selective Service and a Draftee, 20 years old and was not married. It was reported that Fred died when his vehicle crashed after an ambush. His body was recovered.

He served with the 1st Engineer Battalion, 1st Infantry Division, "Big Red One". He was awarded The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and The Good Conduct Medal. Burial: Sharon Memorial Park Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., NC Plot: Sect.11 D, Lot 377, Space 3. (Source: Posted with permission of Tom & Jim Reece, #46857744; finding NC Vietnam KIA/MIA's gravesites; Reconfigured and submitted by: Ron Yates)