Breathitty County’s Vietnam Casualties

By Stephen D. Bowling

The Vietnam War divided a nation. Hundreds of thousands of veterans suffered because of the United State’s military policies and efforts to contain the growing threat of communism around the world. Many still deal with the emotional and physical scars the war left in its wake. Across the United States, more than 58,000 homes were shattered as a generation of young soldiers died to preserve the freedom of others. Twelve of those young men had direct ties to Breathitt County.

We list them here to ensure that their names are never forgotten and that due honor is paid to these men who take way too soon.

Pearl Bush

Son of James Garfield and Katherine (Mullins) Bush
Born- December 30, 1937, in Breathitt County, Kentucky

Military Service
A Battery, 3rd Battalion, 82nd Artillery, 196th Infantry Battalion, United States Army
Rank- Staff Sergeant
Grade- E6

Hometown- Little, Breathitt County, Kentucky

Died- May 11, 1968, in the Quang Nam Province
Buried- Neddie Strong Cemetery, Sulphur Gap, Breathit County, Kentucky
Vietnam Wall- Panel 58 E, Line 19

*The Jackson Times*, May 23, 1968, page 1.

Eddie Dean Carpenter

Son of Herbert and Julia M. Carpenter
Born- June 26, 1950

Company K, 75th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division, United States Army
Rank- Corporal

Died- November 13, 1969, in the Pleiku Province
Buried- Carpenter-Gibbs Cemetery, Frozen Creek, Breathitt County, Kentucky
Vietnam Wall- Panel 16 W, Line 69

Orville Caudill

Son of Price and Ola (Morris) Caudill
Born- October 10, 1947, in Breathitt County, Kentucky

United States Army
Rank- Specialist 4

Died- November 15, 1967, in the Quang Nam Province, Vietnam 

An Army telegraph informed the parents: "The soldier died from gun shot wound while on combat operations when engaged with hostile force in firefight.

Buried- Swiss Colony Cemetery, London, Laurel County, Kentucky
Vietnam Wall- Panel 29 E, Line 99

*The Kentucky Post and Times-Star*, November 2, 1967, page 3.

William Phillip Centers, Jr.

Son of William P. and Josephine (Hollan) Centers 
Born- January 8, 1941, in Breathitt County, Kentucky

United States Army
K Troop, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry
Rank- Specialist 5

Died- May 21, 1967, in the Long Khanh Province
Buried- Hillcrest Memorial Park, Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky
Vietnam Wall- Panel 20 E, Line 71

*The Jackson Times*, June 1, 1967, page 1.

William P. Centers Jr.’s stone in Lexington, Kentucky. Source- Find A Grave

Clyde Cecil Collins

Son of Ray W. and Eula J. (Deaton) Collins
Born- August 3, 1948, in Breathitt County, Kentucky

United States Army
Company A, 501 Infantry, 101 Airborn Division
Rank- Specialist 4

Died- April 10, 1968, in the Quang Tri Province, Quảng Trị
Buried- Jackson Cemetery, Jackson, Bretathitt County, Kentucky
Vietnam Wall- Panel 49 E, Line 9

*The Jackson Times*, May 2, 1968, page 1.

Farrish Combs

Son of Jesse W. and Tempa (Campbell) Combs
Born- March 31, 1949, in Breathitt County, Kentucky

United States Army
Troop F, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
Bronze Star Medal and Purple Haart
Rank- Corporal

Hometown- Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Died- December 15, 1969, in the Phuoc Long Province
Buried- T Point Cemetery, Clayhole, Breathitt County, Kentucky
Vietnam Wall- Panel 15 W, Line 58

*The Jackson Times*, December 25, 1969, page 1.

Ezekiel Fraley, Jr.

Son of Ezekiel Fraley
Born- September 1, 1936, in Perry County, Kentucky

United States Army
Company A, 84 Engineer Battalion
Rank- First Sergeant

Married- Joan Lee Chinman (1941-2008)

Died- September 17, 1970, in Pleiku, Gia Lai, Province
Buried- Mona View Cemetery, Muskegon, Muskegon County, Michigan 
Vietnam Wall- Palen 7 W, Line 69

*The Benton Harbor News-Palladium* (Michigan), September 24, 1970, page 23.

Owen Raymond Montgomery

Son of Lawrence M. and Ethel (Kibby) Montgomery
Born- May 20, 1943 in Greenup County, Kentucky

United States Army
Rank- Sergeant 

Hometown- Lost Creek, Breathitt County, Kentucky

Died- July 12, 1967 in the Pleiku Province
Buried- Montgomery Cemetery, Samaria, Greenup County, Kentucky
Vietnam Wall- Panel 23 E, Line 59

*The Cincinnati Enquirer*, July 20, 1967, page 16.

Bobby Gene Patrick

Son of         and Julia (Combs) Patrick
Born February 21, 1944, in Breathitt County, Kentucky

United States Army
Company A, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Division
Bronze Star, Purple Heart
Rank- Sergeant

Married- Helga _______

Hometown- Quicksand, Breathitt County, Kentucky

Died- November 5, 1967, in the Binh Duong Province
Buried- Jackson Cemetery, Jackson, Breathitt County, Kentucky
Vietnam Wall- Panel 29 E, Line 23

*The Jackson Times*, November 23, 1967, page 1.

James Price Spencer

Son of James P. and Mary Golden (Gross) Spencer
Born- May 3, 1940, in Breathitt County, Kentucky

United States Army
Company D, 4th Cavalry, 25th Infantry Division
Rank- Corporal

Married Sylvia 

Hometown- War Creek, Breathitt County, Kentucky

Died- January 24, 1967, in the Bien Hoa Province
Buried- Price Spencer Cemetery, War Creek, Breathitt County, Kentucky
Vietnam Wall- Panel 14 E, Line 75

The Lexington Herald, January 30, 1967, page 8.

Marion Watkins

Son of Kay and Hazel (Trent) Watkins
Born- October 30, 1946, in Breathitt County, Kentucky

United States Army
Rank- Private First Class

Hometown- War Creek, Kentucky

Died- November 19, 1966, in Vietnam
Buried- Lou Gross Cemetery, War Creek, Breathitt County, Kentucky
Vietnam Wall- Panel 12 E, Line 92

*The Jackson Times*, November 24, 1966, page 1.

Floyd Watts

Son of Harrison and Mazzie (Mullins) Watts
Born- September 8, 1943, in Breathitt County, Kentucky

United States Army
Rank- Sergeant

Hometown- Watts, Breathitt County, Kentucky

Died- July 4, 1969, in the Thua Thein Province
Buried in the Watts-Mullins Cemetery, River Caney, Breathitt County, Kentucky
Vietnam Wall- Panel 21 W, Line 63

*The Jackson Times*, July 24, 1969, page 1

Let us always remember and honor those taken from us by war and the living who fought in our names in efforts to ensure liberty for all mankind.