On May 6, 1966, Buddy was killed in action while on a combat operation.
Buddy was looking forward to getting married upon his return from Vietnam. He was engaged to Lynda Florence Carpenter. He also had planned to continue his education.
Elmer Powell was awarded the Bronze Star medal with the "V' for heroism and the Purple Heart. He was also awarded two medals from the Republic of Vietnam, the Military Merit Medal, and the Gallantry Cross.
The Bronze Star citation reads: "Under intense enemy small arms fire, Private First Class Powell, with disregard for his own life, was mortally wounded while assaulting the enemy position."
I remember walking into Ms. Housers Language Arts Class and Buddy Powell was talking to her (he had her previous class and was getting ready to shift class) I could pick up the conversation. He was telling her he was thinking of dropping out of school and going into the Army. Buddy was a slow student (I wasn't the brightest bulb either) and I think he felt he could do something better with his life and was frustrated with school. Ms Houser was a bit teary-eyed and looked upset...she said "I wish you wouldn't do that..think about it, give it some time".
And of course we know what happened. I remember going to his viewing at the funeral home, he was in his unifom, one of the early one's to die in that cauldron of Vietnam.
There is a memorial with his name in the stone. It is located in front of the Oak Valley School. During our last reunion some of us met there played taps and left flowers. His picture is on the Wall of Heros at the Justice building in Woodbury.
David Cairns
On May 6, 1966, Buddy was killed in action while on a combat operation.
Buddy was looking forward to getting married upon his return from Vietnam. He was engaged to Lynda Florence Carpenter. He also had planned to continue his education.
Elmer Powell was awarded the Bronze Star medal with the "V' for heroism and the Purple Heart. He was also awarded two medals from the Republic of Vietnam, the Military Merit Medal, and the Gallantry Cross.
The Bronze Star citation reads: "Under intense enemy small arms fire, Private First Class Powell, with disregard for his own life, was mortally wounded while assaulting the enemy position."
David W Taylor
I remember walking into Ms. Housers Language Arts Class and Buddy Powell was talking to her (he had her previous class and was getting ready to shift class) I could pick up the conversation. He was telling her he was thinking of dropping out of school and going into the Army. Buddy was a slow student (I wasn't the brightest bulb either) and I think he felt he could do something better with his life and was frustrated with school. Ms Houser was a bit teary-eyed and looked upset...she said "I wish you wouldn't do that..think about it, give it some time".
And of course we know what happened. I remember going to his viewing at the funeral home, he was in his unifom, one of the early one's to die in that cauldron of Vietnam.
Gerald John O'Hare
There is a memorial with his name in the stone. It is located in front of the Oak Valley School. During our last reunion some of us met there played taps and left flowers. His picture is on the Wall of Heros at the Justice building in Woodbury.