An estimated 3,000 men and women from Henderson County served in the military during the Vietnam War. Sixteen men from Henderson County were killed in battle.
The following men from Henderson County were casualties of the Vietnam War. The first death was John W. Irving Jr. in 1965 and the last death was Richard B. Lineberry in 1972.
Please note: The “order” of fatalities is incorrect in articles published in the Times-News at the time of some of the service members’ deaths. Example: Obituary and articles related to Beddingfield state that he was the second fatality from Henderson County. This error is repeated through several articles. It is unclear as to whether Irving or Morgan was not counted by the Times-News. But, due to the fact that the death of Irving was reported in the local newspaper, it is surmised that the Times-News left out Morgan. Morgan’s address was a rural route out of Saluda (Polk County). But this rural route served the Henderson County residents of the Mountain Page community. Morgan lived in the Mountain Page community of Henderson County, not in the town of Saluda in Polk County.
1. Army 1st Lt. John William Irving Jr. (1935-1965) – C Co., 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division MACV – John W. Irving died May 8, 1965, outside a village in South Vietnam “while unloading the helicopter on which he was a gunner, he was hit by Viet Cong small arms ground fire.” He was the first officer killed in action in Vietnam from the 25th Infantry Division. He was born Nov. 21, 1935, in Oklahoma, a son of John W. Irving Sr. (1911-1987) and Ruth Bell Irving (1912-1984). In the 1940 census, the family lived in Ada, Oklahoma. The family moved to Henderson County about 1943 when he was about 8 years old. In 1954, he was among 20 men from Henderson County who left for Charlotte for military induction. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The family lived on Sub-Station Street in the Barker Heights community of Henderson County. His father was a bookkeeper with Hartnett Electric Company and his mother was a teacher at Valley Hill Elementary School. At the time of his death he was married and based in Hawaii. The military lists town of record as San Jose, California. His parents’ grave sites are at Shepherd Memorial Park in Henderson County. His grave site is at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California. Visit http://www.1-14th.com/Vietnam/Memorials/mem_vn_Irving.html
2. Army Sgt. James Pierpont Morgan (1940-1966) – Troop D, 4th Cavalry, 1st Squadron, 1st Infantry Division – James P. Morgan died March 11, 1966, from multiple fragmentation wounds received from a grenade in hostile action in Quang Tin province, South Vietnam. He was a light weapons infantryman. He was born March 26, 1940, in Polk County, a son of Teddy Oran Morgan (1912-1997) and Agnes Morgan Morgan (1915-1969). The family lived in the Mountain Page community of Henderson County, where he grew up. He attended Saluda School. His father was a farmer in the Mountain Page community of Henderson County. At the time of his death, he was married with a child and based in Germany. He and his parents’ grave sites are at Shepherd Memorial Park in Henderson County. Visit http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20091020/NEWS/910201044/0/search and http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=17725860
3. Army Pfc. George Clyde Beddingfield (1946-1966) – Co. C, 27th Infantry, 1st Battalion, 25th Infantry Division – George C. Beddingfield died Dec. 9, 1966, of wounds from an explosive device(mine) in Pleiku Province, South Vietnam. He was a light weapons infantryman and was awarded the Bronze Star. He was born Feb. 20, 1946, in Henderson County, a son of Buford Woodrow Beddingfield (1914-2001) and Sally Beatrice Capps Beddingfield (1922-2015). The family lived in the Green River community of Henderson County, where he grew up. He was a graduate of East Henderson High School. He and his parents’ grave sites are at the Thompson Family Cemetery in the Green River community. Chapter 14 of the Disabled American Veterans, Beddingfield-Shytle Chapter, honors George Beddingfield. Read “Hero, A Good Man, But Only a Boy” at http://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/3210/GEORGE-C-BEDDINGFIELD and visit https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1665&dat=19740422&id=ZlFPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QSQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6518,4451647&hl=en
4. Army Spc. Arthur Wayne Wilkie (1943-1967) – Co. B, 4th Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade – Arthur W. Wilkie was killed in action Jan. 16, 1967, from small arms fire at Binh Duong, South Vietnam, while on a search and destroy operation. He was a light weapons infantryman and was awarded the Bronze Star. He was born Aug. 25, 1943, in Cleveland County, N.C., a son of Arthur Edward Wilkie (1919-2007) and Sara Elizabeth Smith Wilkie (1923-2000). The family moved to Henderson County about 1954. His father was a farmer and his mother worked for Standard Tytape. He and his parents’ grave sites are at Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery in the Edneyville/Fruitland area. Visit http://b4503-173rdairborne.com/In_memory_of_Sp4_Arthur_%20Wayne_Wilkie.htm and http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=17795731
5, Army Sgt. Bobby Dean Lively (1941-1967) – B Troop, 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 25thInfantry Division – Bobby D. Lively died Aug. 7, 1967, of multiple fragmentation wounds received from a grenade at Hua Nghia, South Vietnam. He was an indirect fire infantryman. He was born June 14, 1941, in Henderson County, a son of Fred Ezelle (Ezell) Lively and Bessie Mildred Pittman Lively (1920-2000). He grew up in the Dana community and lived in East Flat Rock at the time of his enlistment. He was a graduate of East Henderson High School. He worked for the Ada Company prior to his enlistment. He was the husband of Alice Dianne Maki (1945-2008) of East Flat Rock. His grave site is at Shepherd Memorial Park in Henderson County. His parents’ grave sites are at Refuge Baptist Church Cemetery in Dana.
Visit https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1665&dat=19670815&id=VJ9PAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ayQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4685,3272530&hl=en and
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=17678334
6. Army Spc. Larry Gay Lance (1946-1967) – SVC Company, 15th Medical Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division – Larry G. Lance died Sept. 8, 1967, in a helicopter crash north of An Khe, South Vietnam. “On September 8, 1967, U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 66-16457 disappeared while on a night MEDEVAC north of An Khe. It was suspected that the aircraft experienced an engine failure, causing the helicopter to hit a tree and crash. The crew consisted of pilots CAPT Kurt L. Kuhns and WO1 Roger C. Rose, crew chief SP4 Larry G. Lance, gunner SGT Francis E. Glazebrook Jr., and medic SP4 Dalton T. Goff. All five received fatal injuries in the crash.” He was born Sept. 14, 1946, in Buncombe County, a son of Grady Washington Lance (1925-1988) and Lucy Nell Hutchinson Lance (1922-2014). He grew up in the Mills River community of Henderson County. He was a graduate of West Henderson High School. He and his parents’ grave sites are at Mount Gilead Baptist Church cemetery in Mills River. Visit: http://army.togetherweserved.com/army/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=56970
7. Army Spc. Charles Lee King (1947-1968) – Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division – Charles L. King was killed in action April 4, 1968, from small arms fire in Thua Thien province, South Vietnam. “I was with Charles the day he died. We had been in a heavy firefight when it was discovered a soldier was missing. We realized he was lying in an open field near the enemy position. Charles was the first to grab his rifle and go into the field to rescue the wounded soldier. He was struck by an enemy bullet while providing cover fire. The wounded soldier was rescued. It was the only time his platoon sergeant and I cried in Vietnam. Charles should have received the Medal of Honor. It was the most heroic act I ever witnessed.” He was a light weapons infantryman and awarded the Bronze Star. He was born July 26, 1947, in North Carolina, a son of Charles Mack King (1919-1970) and Myrtle Galloway King (1926-1964). He was married to Dianna Gayle Redden at the time of his death. He was a graduate of East Henderson High School and employed as a salesman with Mackey Vending Company at the time of his enlistment. He and his parents’ grave sites are at the Blue Ridge Garden of Memory Cemetery in the community of Pisgah Forest in Transylvania County. Visit https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1665&dat=19680409&id=cqBPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kCQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3767,665214&hl=en and http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=17654227
8. Army Cpl. Billy Lewis Strickland (1946-1968) – 108th Artillery Group, 1st Battalion, 44th Artillery, 1st Field Force – Billy L. Strickland was killed in action Jan. 24, 1968, from small arms fire in an ambush at Dong Ha-Camp Carroll, Quang Tri province, South Vietnam. He was an automatic weapons crewman. He was born Nov. 22, 1946, in Pitt County, North Carolina, a son of Elmer Lee Strickland (1914-1983), born Madison County, and Elizabeth “Lizzie” Belle Ruff Strickland (1918-2004), born Jackson County. His family moved to Henderson County about 1950. He attended West Henderson High School. He and his parents’ grave sites are at Shepherd Memorial Park in Henderson County.
Visit Page 7 of the pdf file Feb 2010 Newsletter – Ndqsa.com and
http://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/50278/BILLY-L-STRICKLAND and http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=17757876
9. Army Sgt. James Daniel Bailey (1948-1969) – Charlie Co., 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division – James D. Bailey died Jan. 17, 1969, in the hospital at Binh Long, South Vietnam, from injuries in what is stated as “intentional homicide” in military records. He was a light weapons infantryman. He was born May 26, 1948, in Buncombe County, a son of James Howard Bailey (1924-1978), born Yancey County, and Beatrice Adkins Bailey Wells (1928-2014), born Buncombe County. He was a graduate of West Henderson High School. He and his mother’s grave sites are at Shepherd Memorial Park in Henderson County. His father’s grave site is at Chapel Hill Baptist Church Cemetery in Asheville. See http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20020527/news/205270303 and view http://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=321011 and http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=17239298
10. Army Sgt. Richard Lee Waycaster (1947-1969) – Co. A, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division – Richard L. Waycaster was killed in action Feb. 19, 1969, from small arms fire at Tay Ninh, South Vietnam. He was a light weapons infantryman and received the Distinguished Service Cross and Bronze Star.
“The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Richard Lee Waycaster (US53527713), Specialist Fourth Class, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division. Specialist Four Waycaster distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 19 February 1969 as a machine gunner during a search and clear mission near Landing Zone Saint Barbara in Tay Ninh Province. While the point element of his company was crossing an open field, it came under heavy fire from concealed positions and several members were seriously wounded. Specialist Waycaster immediately advanced through the bullet-swept area, firing his machine gun as he went. Reaching an unprotected sector, he laid down an effective barrage which silenced the enemy automatic weapons positions. After taking his machine gun to another point from which he could cover several of his comrades who were evacuating the casualties, he was wounded by hostile automatic weapons fire, but he continued to provide suppressive fire until the wounded had been brought to safety. As he started to withdraw to his company’s defensive perimeter, he spotted a wounded comrade who had not been seen by the others and moved to assist him. When he had reached the fallen trooper the enemy unleashed a heavy volume of fire at the two men. Specialist Waycaster covered the man’s body with his own and was morally wounded. Specialist Four Waycaster’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.”
He was born June 2, 1947, in Mitchell County, a son of Roy Lee Waycaster (1921-2002) and Virginia Riddle Waycaster (1927-). His family moved to Henderson County about 1951. His father was the owner and operator of Waycaster Tire in Mills River. He was a graduate of West Henderson High School. He and his father’s grave sites are at Mount Gilead Baptist Church cemetery in Mills River. Visit https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1665&dat=19810218&id=-k4aAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OSUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4686,4609566&hl=en and http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20080526/NEWS/413548406
11. Marine Pfc. Roy Edward Pitts (1950-1969) – G Co., 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division – Roy E. Pitts was killed in action Feb. 17, 1969, from small arms fire at Quang Tri, South Vietnam. He was awarded the Navy Cross.
“The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross posthumously to Roy Edward Pitts, Private First Class, United States Marine Corps, for service as set forth in the following citation:
“For extraordinary heroism while serving as a Grenadier with Company G, Second Battalion, Ninth Marines, Third Marine Division, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 17 February 1969, Company G was conducting a reconnaissance in force twenty-five miles southeast of the Vandegrift Combat Base in Quang Tri Province when the lead platoon came under an intense volume of automatic weapons fire from a large hostile force well entrenched in a camouflaged bunker complex. Assigned to retrieve a Marine who was mortally wounded during the initial moments of the fire fight, Private First Class Pitts’ point man maneuvered toward the fallen Marine, who was painfully wounded by enemy automatic weapons fire. After several attempts to aid the two Marines failed Private First Class Pitts, reacting instantly and with complete disregard for his own safety, fearlessly left his covered position and commenced crawling across twenty meters of fire-swept terrain toward his wounded comrades. Reaching the critically injured point man and observing that he was bleeding profusely, Private First Class Pitts immediately administered emergency first aid to his companion. After skillfully applying a battle dressing to temporarily stop the bleeding, he began to drag the man toward a relatively safe area, offering him encouragement while simultaneously directing the covering fire of his squad. After pulling the Marine away from the area of heaviest contact, Private First Class Pitts was mortally wounded by enemy small-arms fire. His heroic and bold efforts inspired all who observed him and saved the life of his fellow Marine. By his courage, selfless concern for his fellowman, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Private First Class Pitts upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.”
He was born Aug. 12, 1950, in Henderson County, a son of Mary Idelette Bishop (1931-2010), born Henderson County, died Sacramento, Calif., and Eury Elbert Corn (1927-1983, grave site Shepherd Memorial Park). His adoptive father was Joseph Winship Pitts II (1923-1977, grave site Shepherd Memorial Park). His home at the time of his enlistment was North Highlands, Sacramento County, California. His grave site is at Shepherd Memorial Park in Henderson County. Visit http://www.virtualwall.org/dp/PittsRE01a.htm and https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1665&dat=19700129&id=o1BPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MyQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6739,1933044&hl=en and http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=32480550
12. Army Spc. Jimmie Sherrill Warren (1948-1969) – 2nd Battalion, 25th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division – Jimmie S. Warren was killed in action Feb. 23, 1969, from small arms fire at Tay Ninh, South Vietnam. He was a radio operator and was awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star. He was born Dec. 30, 1948, in Transylvania County, a son of Sherrill Hixon Warren (1925-1982), born Transylvania County, and Myrtle Lucy Watts Warren (1932-), born Buncombe County. His parents lived in Henderson County until moving to Milan, Michigan. He attended high school in Michigan and the military hometown of record is Milan, Michigan. He and his father’s grave sites are at Shepherd Memorial Park in Henderson County. Visit http://oldnews.aadl.org/N003_0146_005 and http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Warren&GSiman=1&GScid=48732&GRid=32476383&
13. Army Warrant Officer Gary Richard Mason (1946-1969) – 189th Assault Helicopter Co., 52nd Aviation Battalion, 17th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade – Gary R. Mason died Sept. 14, 1969, in a helicopter crash in Pleiku province, South Vietnam – “had mechanical catastrophic failure after dropping off general en route to Camp Holloway.” He was a helicopter pilot and was awarded the Bronze Star. He was born Feb. 1, 1946, in Henderson County, a son of Fred Crowell Mason Jr. (1925-) and Lois Mae Newman Mason (1926-1976). At the time of his death, he was married to Carol Mason and had a daughter. He and his mother’s grave sites are at Shepherd Memorial Park in Henderson County. Visit http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=17698390
14. Air Force Sgt. Robert Lamar Johnson (1945-1970) – 22nd Technical Air Support Squadron, 504th Tactical Air Support Group, 7th Air Force – Robert L. Johnson died Jan. 25, 1970, of injuries received in an accident in Kien Phong province, South Vietnam. He was born Dec. 28, 1945, in Henderson County, a son of Dahl Moody Johnson (1901-1987), born Henderson County, and Essie Mae Harkins Johnson (1917-1993), born Haywood County. He was a graduate of Hendersonville High School and attended Mars Hill College. He and his parents’ grave sites are at Shepherd Memorial Park in Henderson County.
Visit http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=17654668
15. Army Cpl. Paul Robert Stepp Jr. – A Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division – Paul R. Stepp died March 29, 1970, of multiple fragmentation wounds in Tay Ninh province, South Vietnam. He was a light weapons infantryman and was awarded the Bronze Star. He was born Jan. 6, 1949, in Henderson County, a son of Paul Robert Stepp Sr. (1923-) and Kathryn Billie Collins Stepp (1927-1995). He was a graduate of East Henderson High School and worked for the FBI prior to his military service. He and his mother’s grave sites are at Shepherd Memorial Park in Henderson County. Photos and information at http://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/49758/PAUL-R-STEPP-JR and http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=17759478 and http://www.virtualwall.org/ds/SteppPR01a.htm
16. Navy Lt. Richard Bryan Lineberry (1946-1973) – USS Oriskany CVA 34, TF77, VF194, 7th Fleet – Richard B. Lineberry died Sept. 27, 1972, in Quang Nam province, South Vietnam, when his jet fighter crashed. He was a fixed wing pilot. He was born Sept. 16, 1946, in Buncombe County, a son of William Jerald Lineberry Sr. (1922-1993), born Buncombe County, and Beuna Mae Coston Lineberry (1920-1984), born Tennessee. He lived in Asheville and Charlotte, prior to his parents moving to Henderson County. He was a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He and his parents’ grave sites are at Shepherd Memorial Park in Henderson County.
Information on crash in “U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps Aircraft Damaged or Destroyed During the Vietnam War,” by Douglas E. Campbell
Information and photos: http://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/30791/RICHARD-B-LINEBERRY and http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=17678357