A tribute long overdue was presented Saturday to the families of the 15 servicemen from the city of Poplar Bluff who were killed in action in the Vietnam War.
Three Rivers College President Dr. Wesley Payne said, “It is both an honor and a privilege to be part of tonight’s tribute, not only as a representative of the college, but as a representative of a friend who was a Vietnam veteran who I hold in the highest regard and for whom I have great respect.
“Tonight is the collective effort of our community representatives to properly express our community support, respect and gratitude to the Gold Star families of Butler County.”
Payne was asked to present the star certificates to the 15 soldiers’ families and to provide the perspective from a Vietnam veteran who returned after his tour.
“Every soldier killed in action is never forgotten by their family and the men who were standing with them. While every lost, loved one can’t have their own national holiday, the local community can and is obligated to always remember,” Payne said. “Even though we may not remember that individual soldier because we didn’t have a private relationship with them, we can remember them because they were from our hometown.
“Their families are our neighbors and our friends. In due time, each of us will face our own mortality, and our time of death.”
Payne said his own friend was remembered and recognized by the man’s family, who had a star named after him in tribute. The friend realized for some veterans, there were not any family members to pay the same tribute.
“He wanted (this) for those from his hometown who did not return from Vietnam to have that same legacy, only stories,” Payne said. “He realized for those who were single, there would be no children. He made a promise to himself at that time, that he’d make sure those from his hometown were always remembered. There are 15 names on the Vietnam War National Memorial Wall with an official home of record listed as Poplar Bluff, Missouri.”
Work is not complete and will continue on efforts to honor each person from Butler County, Payne said.
“In our attempt to give proper honor, respect and gratitude to both the soldier and his family, we will be presenting the frame certificates of 15 stars symbolically named In Memoriam of that soldier,” he continued.
Each family received a certificate showing a star within the memorial for their soldier. This certificate reads that the International Star Registry hereby designates a star to each of the 15 soldiers. This name is permanently filed in the registries vault in Switzerland and recorded in a vault which will be registered in the Copyright Office of the United States of America.
Poplar Bluff Mayor Steve Davis said, “Today, the city council will honor the Gold Star families of 15 men who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country during the Vietnam War. ... These men gave the ultimate sacrifice to ensure our freedom and preserve our way of life.”
Proclamations from the Missouri House of Representatives were presented by Rep. Hardy Billington. Also present were Rep. Darrell Atchison and former Sen. Doug Libla.
The JROTC Billy Gene Kanell Battalion of Poplar Bluff Senior High School presented and retired the Colors.
The program was presented by the Poplar Bluff Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, along with Three Rivers College, city of Poplar Bluff, University of Missouri and the Missouri State House of Representatives.
In offering the invocation, John J. Pershing VA Medical Center Chaplain Dr. Rafael Machuca said, “Dear Lord, thank you for this day and opportunity that we can come together, family and friends in the community, to remember and honor our heroes.”
Margaret Shackleford, Poplar Bluff NSDAR, said, “When Mrs. (Wendy) Spradling approached our chapter to assist in this project, we recognized that this tribute was necessary.
“It was decades overdue, and definitely something that we should invest ourselves in. Many thanks to our Poplar Bluff chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the genealogy ladies who helped locate these families that needed finding, and we also extend our appreciation to the New Home General Baptist Church for the use of their facilities.”
The tribute to the Gold Star families of Poplar Bluff started in town with a Poplar Bluff police escort leading their families to the church.
The servicemen are:
• Lance Cpl. Ronald David Cobb USMC, d. April 29, 1968
• Maj. Freddie Dale Dickens USAF, d. Oct. 17, 1968
• Pfc. Michael Lee Endicott USMC, d. Aug. 5, 1967
• Spc. 4 Garclee M. Fredwell US Army, d. Aug. 29, 1968
• Spc. 4 Harold Ray Harris US Army, d. July 4, 1969
• Spc. 4 Dale Francis Hudson, US Army, d. Nov. 17, 1965
• Spc. 4 Famous Lee Lane US Army, d. April 20, 1966
• Col. James Hardin Metz USAF, d. p. April 15, 1968 (POW)
• Pfc. Paul James Miller US Army, d. Feb. 27, 1968
• Spc. 4 Edward Jerry Muller US Army, d. March 21, 1967
• Lance Cpl. Riley David Raulston USMC, d. May 15, 1968
• Cpl. Robert Daniel Richardson USMC, d. July 4, 1966
• Airman 1st Class Charles Harold Stepp USAF, d. Sept. 5, 1972
• Spc. 4 George Edward Stewart US Army, d. Oct. 18, 1966
• Spc. 4 James Edward Tinsley US Army, d. Feb. 11, 1968