History

Sgt. Jerry B. Lay Was born January 21, 1947 in Huntsville, Tennessee the son of WWII Veteran, Rev. Odus P. and Mildred (Foust) Lay. Jerry Lay enlisted in Knoxville, Tennessee on July 28, 1965 he was sent to Vietnam on February 1966 and was assigned to Company A. 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry. On January 13,…

Jerry W. West, Vietnam Jerry W. West was born February 16, 1948 and was the son of Clarence and Mildred (Austin) West. He enlisted September 28, 1967 in the US Army as an Infantryman. He was sent to Vietnam in early 1968 and was in the 1st Cavalry Division and was a light weapons infantryman. He…

MSG. E. Ray Austin, US Army, Retired I was born in Norma, Scott County Tennessee, in November of 1946. My parents were Luther Joseph Austin (1899-1987), and Pearlie Ann (FORD) Austin (1903-1991). What influenced my decision to join the military as a young man was seeing three of my older brothers in Military uniform, looking…

Dillard Massengale Dillard Massengale, served in the Vietnam War 1967- 1968 in Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, his father Elmer Massengale was a WWIl veteran and brother Donald Massengale was also a Vietnam veteran who served in the 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry of the 1st Calvary Division. Dillard recieved his draft…

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…

Sgt. Bailey Keeton, Jr., Age 20 at the time he was declared missing in action, was a member of the United States Army, Company D, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was listed on December 2, 1950 as missing in action while fighting the enemy in North Korea. In a battle zone…

Sgt. Jerry Hughes, American Fighter – Korea Sgt. Jerry Max, Hughes was born on January 9, 1935 in Fewflood Wood, Ohio to Native American parents, Ted and Edna Hughes. Unfortunately his mother died while giving birth to his twin siblings when he was five, leaving his father, Ted Hughes, who was blind at the time,…

Cpl. Woodrow W. Sharp KIA, Italy 1945 Cpl. Woodrow W. Sharp KIA, Italy 1945  Woodrow W. Sharp was born November 12, 1913 in Van Leer, Johnson County, Ky. His parents were Calvin Archer and Frankie (Chitwood) Sharp. Woodrow had a grammar school education and was employed as a lumberman and craftsman prior to his joining…

Scott County the Beginning SSGT. Ralph Blevins   Ralph Blevins was born in Scott County, his parents were Rev. J. Wheeler and Ruby Blevins. After his induction into the US Army his training started at Fort Benning, Georgia with the 17th Engineer Battalion (Armored) and assigned to the 2nd Armored Division. After organizing the new…

PFC, Ralphard Payne; KIA, WWII France Ralphard Payne was born May 21, 1925 in Scott County and was the son of Thomas and Daisy Nona (Anderson) Payne. Ralphard entered service on June 8,’1943 and received his training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, Fort McClellan, Alabama and Fort George C. Meade in Maryland. He was assigned to…