Scott County Historical Society – January 2, 2025

PFC Michael D. Terry, KIA, Vietnam

Michael Dean Terry was born in Oneida, Tennessee and was the son of Mitchel and Wanda (Hill) Terry. He moved to McCordsville, Indiana and graduated Mt. Vernon High School in 1968 and studied data processing at the Vocational Technology College in Indianapolis, Indiana. He joined the US Marines in February 1969 and was sent to Vietnam on July 25, 1969. PFC. Terry was wounded October 6, 1969 near Da Nang, South Vietnam and died on October 12, 1969 in a hospital in Da Nang. 

 

 

 

 

 

PFC. Paul Griffith, Purple Heart- Korea

Paul Griffith was born in Scott County on May 16, 1930 was the son of Richard and Della (Newport) Griffith. He enlisted on January 21, 1949 and was assigned to an Infantry Regiment when he was sent to Korea. The North Korean Army launched a missile strike and PFC Griffith was seriously wounded on November 7, 1950. after recovering from those wounds he went back to his unit. He was honorably discharged on February 1, 1954. He then reenlisted March 20, 1956 and was honorably discharged again on October 12, 1957.

Paul Griffith married Naomi (Hughett) Griffith and they had one daughter, Paula. PFC. Griffith died June 20, 1979 and is interred in the Ranzi Newport Cemetery in Scott County, Tennessee.

 

 

 

Sgt. Tommie Keeton; First Scott Countian KIA in Vietnam

Tommie Keeton was born in Scott County August 12, 1941 and was the son of Lawrence and Helen (West) Keeton. Tommie was one of seven children, his siblings were; Lillard, Delmer, David, Jackie, Douglas and Lucille. He was a graduate of the Huntsville High School class of 1959. He arrived in Vietnam August 16, 1965 and was assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, who would take part in the Battle of la Orang the first major battle between the United States Army and the North Vietnamese as part of the Pleiku Campaign early in the Vietnam War. On November 14th through the 18th there was heavy fighting near a creek bed that found one platoon cut off from the rest of the American forces. As the rest of the platoons fought to save the “Lost Platoon” the US forces took heavy casualties. This battle was the inspiration for the movie “We Were Soldiers” starring Mel Gibson and Berry Pepper.

The U.S. Forces suffered 79 men killed in action and 121 wounded, Sgt. Tommie Keeton was one of the 79 men killed during this battle on November 16, 1965. His body was brought back to Scott County and was interred in the Carson Memorial Park, Oneida, Tennessee.