HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) – Community members in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County are being asked to help identify the families of local service members who died during the Vietnam War ahead of a memorial unveiling later this month.
A small stone was placed in Court Square, in front of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham County Circuit Court in 1973, recognizing nine local men who were killed in the war. However, because the Vietnam War did not end until 1975, several names were not included on the original marker.
“I think we need to take every opportunity to remember from the memorial side, every individual that’s given us supreme sacrifice for us as a nation and certainly within this community,” said Clerk of Court Chaz Haywood.
Names of fallen Vietnam Soldiers
- SP4 Norman Norwood Miller — April 1966
- 1st Lt. Garland D. Whitmore II — September 1967
- Sgt. Elza Morton Brewer, Jr. — November 1967
- PFC William Medford Pangle — April 1968
- Cpl. Cecil Thomas Oscar — June 1968
- SP4 Basil Lee Hareford — July 1968
- LCpl George Dolbryn Thomas — May 1969
- EN George William Simmers, Jr. — September 1969
- PFC Dickie Carson Curry — July 1970
- SP4 Carroll Steven Plum – September 1970
- SSgt Charles Venton McGovern — November 1976
- A1C Kenneth Wilson Shook – September 1968
Haywood said he hopes relatives or friends will share memories of the fallen service members during the ceremony or help provide short biographies about the lives of the fallen.
The event will take place at 2 p.m. on March 29 at Court Square in Harrisonburg. In addition to unveiling the updated memorial, officials will dedicate a new flagpole as part of the ceremony.
If you have any relation to the names you can contact the Harrisonburg-Rockingham County Circuit Court at 540-564-3111.
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