LANDON CLAIR RAY
Photo Courtesy of Allen Duff
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25th Infantry Division 30 year old Single, Caucasian, Male Born on Jul 21, 1936 From KENNA, WEST VIRGINIA Length of service 10 years. His tour of duty began on Dec 18, 1966 Casualty was on Feb 23, 1967 in TAY NINH, SOUTH VIETNAM Hostile, died of wounds GROUND CASUALTY GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE Body was recovered Religion PROTESTANT Panel 15E - - Line 81 |
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| My name is Allen Duff, Jr of Charleston, WV. I was doing some exploring/searching on my uncle SSGT. Landon C. Ray of Kenna, WV. He was a solider in this unit (I believe from the information I have been able to gather) and was killed in action on February 23, 1967. I never knew my uncle, he died 10 years before I was born, but I have heard stories about his life and how much he loved the Army and his brothers in the Army. From what I have been told, Landon served one full tour in Vietnam and then returned home for a short period of time. He was given the option to go to Beckley, WV (about 1 1/2 hours south of Kenna) to be a recruiter for the Army. He declined and opted to back for another tour. He was shipped out to a base in California (not sure which one) where he had appendicitis and had to have surgery. Again he was given the option to come back home and be a recruiter, but declined and after he healed was shipped out for another tour. 2 months and 18 days into his second tour, he was shot in the stomach and killed. I was told by my mother, after they were notified of his death and his body returned home that she and my grandfather and grandmother went to identify him. Only they were shown another solider that was killed, shot in the face and not recognizable. She has said she can still see that moment very clearly today. Landon is buried in a family cemetery on Rt. 21 in between Goldtown and Kenna. He rests on top of a hill over looking the beautiful mountains and valleys of West Virginia awaiting the return of his lord and savior. |
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