The names of 50 Wiregrass men who sacrificed their lives in defense of liberty will be read at the city’s first National Vietnam War Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 29, at the Enterprise Farmers Market.
The commemoration day was designated by presidential proclamation in 2017 to “honor the brave Vietnam veterans who, in service to our Nation and in defense of liberty, fought gallantly against the spread of communism and defended the freedom of the Vietnamese people.”
This year will be the first commemorative ceremony in Enterprise resulting from a collaboration with the city of Enterprise and Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 373. All Vietnam in-country from 1955 to 1975 and era veterans are invited to attend.
“It is our honor to be a part of this ceremony recognizing the men and women who served our nation valiantly during the long war in Vietnam,” said Mayor William E. Cooper. “Sadly, the conflict took the lives of more than 58,000 American soldiers. This ceremony will pay our greatest respect and appreciation for both the survivors and the fallen heroes.”
Retired Chief Warrant Officer Bob Cooper, president of VVA Chapter 373, will lead the ceremony, where the mayor will sign a local proclamation declaring Vietnam Veterans Day in Enterprise.
The names of the 50 soldiers listed on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Ozark will also be read.
They are:
From Coffee County: Cpl. Alfonzie Culver, Pfc. Delacy Gray, Staff Sgt. Charlie Frank Lee, 1st Sgt. Joseph M. Moore, 1st Lt. William Terry Allen, Spc. 5 Allen Wayne Allums, Sgt. 1st Class Guy Albert Byrd, Staff Sgt. Lytell B. Christian, Staff Sgt. Ronald Isaac Crody, Chief Warrant Officer Billy Gene Hammer, Pfc. John Henry Jones, Sgt. James Richard Layton, Staff Sgt. Green Edward Miller Jr., Lt. Col. William Russell Phillips, Spc. 4 James Rowe Stephens, Spc. 4 Gary Morgan Pridgen, Pfc. Roy Lee Bass and 1st Lt. Paul Lewis Sawyer Jr.
From Dale County: Chief Warrant Officer Jerald Wayne Carter, Cpl. Robert Michael Durall, Pfc. James Edward Isaac Jr., Maj. Robert John Williams; Staff Sgt. Kenneth Earl Enfinger, Chief Warrant Officer Lawrence John Herman III, Sgt. 1st Class Donald Eugene Lisenby, Capt. Robert Neal Middlebrooks, Warrant Officer James Arthur Barefield, Lance Cpl. Clifton Bradley Smith and Warrant Officer Gerald Douglas Spradlin.
From Geneva County: Staff Sgt. Earl Gautney, Sgt. Maj. Robert Allen Fowler, Sgt. Jefferson Davis Hall, 1st Lt. Donald Lynn Kelly, Spc. 4 Kenneth Edward Ray Burch, 2nd Lt. Harley Edwin Spivey; Pfc. Raymond White and Spc. 4 J.C. Love.
From Houston County: Staff Sgt. Larry Allen Brown; Staff Sgt. Joseph Thomas Roberson; Spc. 4 Ernest Lee Elliott, Pfc. Charles Walker Ford; Spc. .5 William Robert Gregory, SSGT Lowell Clay Hansen, PFC Randle Kinney, CWP Russell Wilford Kistler, Lance Cpl. Hurley Alvin Smith, Capt. Robert Thomas Wilson, Pfc. Jeffrey Allen Yerion, Lance Cpl. David Mitchell Wood and Lt. Col. Donald Dawson Burnham.
The memorial wall was sponsored by VVA Chapters 373 and 607, and was approved by the Dale County Commission in March 2019. The monument is located on the grounds of the Dale County Administration Building.
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