Larry W. Bailey, SP4 USARMY, KIA/RVN, 10/2/66
A Remembrance from CCHS Classmate and fellow soldier, Cleveland Merrow:
"Here's all I have on Larry Bailey, I have attached a newspaper clipping sent to me while I was in Vietnam at the time of his death. Larry and I went in the Army at the same time on the buddy plan, but we got separated after only a few days, and never were able to get back together on the buddy plan. When he found out that I had orders to Vietnam. He went and volunteered to go hoping we could serve together, but I went to the 119th Assault Helicopter Company, 52nd Combat Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade station at Camp Holloway near the Vietnamese city of Pleiku in central highlands of Vietnam, and Larry got sent to the 1st Infantry Division that was located in the delta region of Vietnam, where he lost his life. It haunts me to this day that we were separated when we were to be together under the Army's buddy plan. O well life happens, and we are just along for the ride."
"He loved life, and was proud to serve his country. He was a Loyal American Soldier and truly loved his country and was proud of it. I wish I had saved his letters to me. They would have been a great insight into the great person he was and his love of life. I miss him still, and think of him often."
signed/Cleve Merrow, written June 1, 2015 at Camden County, Georgia
(U.S.Army Service August 6th 1964 to August 7th 1969
2 Tour Vietnam Veteran
1st Aviation Brigade Pleiku, Vietnam 1966 to 1967
25th Infantry Division Cu Chi, Vietnam 1968 to 1969
Departing Rank: Sergeant First Class)
See Also: Larry's Tribute and other comments from fellow soldiers on the VietNam Memorial "Wall of Faces" at:
http://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/1975/LARRY-W-BAILEY
Editor's note:
When Cleve visited Larry's page on the "Wall-of-Faces" he saw a note from a soldier who left his Email address...
The following exchange of Email messages between Cleve Merrow and Charlie Gould, a Vietnam veteran and fellow soldier who was with our classmate, Larry Bailey in combat at the time of his death, is entered on this site by permission from Cleve in the hope that it will provide comfort and closure to those who take the time to read it and consider the extreme valor and brotherhood that ALL of these honorable men exhibited. s/JG, Editor
Cleve's Email to Charlie Gould:
Charlie,
I understand from the Website "Faces on the Wall" that you were with Larry, "My Best Buddy" on the day that he was Killed In Action, 2 Oct. 1966. Larry and I went in the Army at the same time on the buddy plan, but we got separated after only a few days, and we never were able to get back together again.
When he found out that I had orders to Vietnam. He went and volunteered to go hoping we could serve together, but I went to the 119th Assault Helicopter Company, 52nd Combat Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade station at Camp Holloway near the Vietnamese city of Pleiku in the central highlands of Vietnam, and Larry got sent to the 1st Infantry Division that was located in the delta region of Vietnam, where he lost his life. It haunts me to this day that we were separated when we were supposed to be together under the Army's buddy plan.
Charlie, the attached obituary is all I ever learned about Larry's death. Could you tell me more? He was like a brother to me. We lacked 2 weeks of being the exact age as each other. He was born July 7th 1947 and I was born July 21st 1947. I still think of him often even after all these years.
Thank You,
Cleve R. Merrow, Jr.
2 tour Vietnam Veteran
1st Aviation Brigade Pleiku, Vietnam 1966 to 1967
25th Infantry Division Cu Chi, Vietnam 1968 to 1969
Charlie Gould's Email response to Cleve:
Hi Cleve,
I was really taken aback reading your email. It opened up some things I had buried deep down long ago. I have honored Larry every year on Veterans Day and Memorial Day. We, too, forged a fast friendship, and were best buddies in Vietnam. We both loved eating and cooking and couldn't wait for the day we got back to The World to gorge ourselves on 'real' food! Larry was a guy who would go back-to-back with you in combat, or a bar. (Not saying we did that, but, you know).
Our unit was the 1st Battalion 18th Infantry "Swamp Rats", so named as we were the only unit ever able to penetrate the 'Rung Sat Special Zone", a vast area of Mangrove Swamps which was a major hiding place for VC, and also a transportation route for their fighters and gear. We went on a lot of specialized missions in that area, and Oct 2nd, 1966 was one of those. There was good intel that a large VC force had been moving into/through the area, and our company was tasked to insert and do recon, engaging only if contacted, with several units in the rear ready to reinforce if necessary.
We loaded up on four "Mike" boats - South Vietnamese Ranger River Patrol Boats, and began our trip into the hell hole that was the Rung Sat. The area is all Mangrove Swamps, with tides that rose and fell over ten feet each day. We usually slogged through knee-deep mud over the twisted roots for a hundred meters or so, then climbed up in the trees when the water started to rise. We would stay up there until it got low enough to push on slogging through the mud again and repeated this every day. Not a fun place!
That day though, we never got to deploy. As we were heading up river (either the Saigon River or the Song Be River, time has dulled my recall) we made a turn into narrower channel. Bailey and I were standing side-by-side on the 2nd boat, I think. He had just asked me for a light (we both smoked back then) and a VC detonated a large remote underwater mine directly under our boat. I remember waking up under water, then clawing my way back to the surface somehow, and was face-to-face with Larry. He had an odd look in his face in the water, and I was stunned from the explosion, as well. He struggled to stay up, and I tried to reach for him just a few feet away, but my body wouldn't move. I couldn't hear anything. I then sank beneath the surface, and one of our guys from another boat dove in and pulled me up and over to the roots on the shoreline. When I looked for Larry, I did not see him. They hauled us out on the other boats. Several guys were killed, many wounded.
They never found Larry before we left. The next day we returned, and tore-up that river valley, and as I recall, until we found Larry's body tangled in some Mangrove roots downstream. I'll spare you the graphic details.
I healed after a trip to the 93rd MedEvac Field Hospital. When I returned to the unit, I never again connected to anyone as closely as Larry.
I often think of him, and our experiences together even today, and lay flowers at a Vietnam memorial monument each year. Took me four visits, but I finally got the courage to visit his panel on the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC. And I was there for the dedication in 1982! Just knew too many names on the granite. But I finally had to visit to make sure Larry's name was there. Both my wife and my daughters know about Larry. We are never gone until we are forgotten. That won't happen as long as I am still alive.
Thank you, for sending his obituary. Seeing his picture was very emotional for me, but I truly appreciate it!
Charlie Gould
1st Battalion 18th Infantry 'SwampRats'
'Nam, Feb 2, 1966 - Feb 2, 1967
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A Remembrance from CCHS Classmate and fellow soldier, Cleveland Merrow:
"Here's all I have on Larry Bailey, I have attached a newspaper clipping sent to me while I was in Vietnam at the time of his death. Larry and I went in the Army at the same time on the buddy plan, but we got separated after only a few days, and never were able to get back together on the buddy plan. When he found out that I had orders to Vietnam. He went and volunteered to go hoping we could serve together, but I went to the 119th Assault Helicopter Company, 52nd Combat Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade station at Camp Holloway near the Vietnamese city of Pleiku in central highlands of Vietnam, and Larry got sent to the 1st Infantry Division that was located in the delta region of Vietnam, where he lost his life. It haunts me to this day that we were separated when we were to be together under the Army's buddy plan. O well life happens, and we are just along for the ride."
"He loved life, and was proud to serve his country. He was a Loyal American Soldier and truly loved his country and was proud of it. I wish I had saved his letters to me. They would have been a great insight into the great person he was and his love of life. I miss him still, and think of him often."
signed/Cleve Merrow, written June 1, 2015 at Camden County, Georgia
(U.S.Army Service August 6th 1964 to August 7th 1969
2 Tour Vietnam Veteran
1st Aviation Brigade Pleiku, Vietnam 1966 to 1967
25th Infantry Division Cu Chi, Vietnam 1968 to 1969
Departing Rank: Sergeant First Class)
See Also: Larry's Tribute and other comments from fellow soldiers on the VietNam Memorial "Wall of Faces" at:
http://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/1975/LARRY-W-BAILEY
Editor's note:
When Cleve visited Larry's page on the "Wall-of-Faces" he saw a note from a soldier who left his Email address...
The following exchange of Email messages between Cleve Merrow and Charlie Gould, a Vietnam veteran and fellow soldier who was with our classmate, Larry Bailey in combat at the time of his death, is entered on this site by permission from Cleve in the hope that it will provide comfort and closure to those who take the time to read it and consider the extreme valor and brotherhood that ALL of these honorable men exhibited. s/JG, Editor
Cleve's Email to Charlie Gould:
Charlie,
I understand from the Website "Faces on the Wall" that you were with Larry, "My Best Buddy" on the day that he was Killed In Action, 2 Oct. 1966. Larry and I went in the Army at the same time on the buddy plan, but we got separated after only a few days, and we never were able to get back together again.
When he found out that I had orders to Vietnam. He went and volunteered to go hoping we could serve together, but I went to the 119th Assault Helicopter Company, 52nd Combat Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade station at Camp Holloway near the Vietnamese city of Pleiku in the central highlands of Vietnam, and Larry got sent to the 1st Infantry Division that was located in the delta region of Vietnam, where he lost his life. It haunts me to this day that we were separated when we were supposed to be together under the Army's buddy plan.
Charlie, the attached obituary is all I ever learned about Larry's death. Could you tell me more? He was like a brother to me. We lacked 2 weeks of being the exact age as each other. He was born July 7th 1947 and I was born July 21st 1947. I still think of him often even after all these years.
Thank You,
Cleve R. Merrow, Jr.
2 tour Vietnam Veteran
1st Aviation Brigade Pleiku, Vietnam 1966 to 1967
25th Infantry Division Cu Chi, Vietnam 1968 to 1969
Charlie Gould's Email response to Cleve:
Hi Cleve,
I was really taken aback reading your email. It opened up some things I had buried deep down long ago. I have honored Larry every year on Veterans Day and Memorial Day. We, too, forged a fast friendship, and were best buddies in Vietnam. We both loved eating and cooking and couldn't wait for the day we got back to The World to gorge ourselves on 'real' food! Larry was a guy who would go back-to-back with you in combat, or a bar. (Not saying we did that, but, you know).
Our unit was the 1st Battalion 18th Infantry "Swamp Rats", so named as we were the only unit ever able to penetrate the 'Rung Sat Special Zone", a vast area of Mangrove Swamps which was a major hiding place for VC, and also a transportation route for their fighters and gear. We went on a lot of specialized missions in that area, and Oct 2nd, 1966 was one of those. There was good intel that a large VC force had been moving into/through the area, and our company was tasked to insert and do recon, engaging only if contacted, with several units in the rear ready to reinforce if necessary.
We loaded up on four "Mike" boats - South Vietnamese Ranger River Patrol Boats, and began our trip into the hell hole that was the Rung Sat. The area is all Mangrove Swamps, with tides that rose and fell over ten feet each day. We usually slogged through knee-deep mud over the twisted roots for a hundred meters or so, then climbed up in the trees when the water started to rise. We would stay up there until it got low enough to push on slogging through the mud again and repeated this every day. Not a fun place!
That day though, we never got to deploy. As we were heading up river (either the Saigon River or the Song Be River, time has dulled my recall) we made a turn into narrower channel. Bailey and I were standing side-by-side on the 2nd boat, I think. He had just asked me for a light (we both smoked back then) and a VC detonated a large remote underwater mine directly under our boat. I remember waking up under water, then clawing my way back to the surface somehow, and was face-to-face with Larry. He had an odd look in his face in the water, and I was stunned from the explosion, as well. He struggled to stay up, and I tried to reach for him just a few feet away, but my body wouldn't move. I couldn't hear anything. I then sank beneath the surface, and one of our guys from another boat dove in and pulled me up and over to the roots on the shoreline. When I looked for Larry, I did not see him. They hauled us out on the other boats. Several guys were killed, many wounded.
They never found Larry before we left. The next day we returned, and tore-up that river valley, and as I recall, until we found Larry's body tangled in some Mangrove roots downstream. I'll spare you the graphic details.
I healed after a trip to the 93rd MedEvac Field Hospital. When I returned to the unit, I never again connected to anyone as closely as Larry.
I often think of him, and our experiences together even today, and lay flowers at a Vietnam memorial monument each year. Took me four visits, but I finally got the courage to visit his panel on the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC. And I was there for the dedication in 1982! Just knew too many names on the granite. But I finally had to visit to make sure Larry's name was there. Both my wife and my daughters know about Larry. We are never gone until we are forgotten. That won't happen as long as I am still alive.
Thank you, for sending his obituary. Seeing his picture was very emotional for me, but I truly appreciate it!
Charlie Gould
1st Battalion 18th Infantry 'SwampRats'
'Nam, Feb 2, 1966 - Feb 2, 1967
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Roddy Barnard Campbell
December 17, 1945 ~ April 28, 2012
Roddy Barnard Campbell, age 66 of the Lanier Avenue community of Kingsland passed away unexpectedly Saturday evening, April 28th, 2012 in Saint Marys at Southeast Georgia Heath System’s Camden Campus.
Mr. Campbell was born in Fernandina Beach, Fl. on December 17th, 1945. He is the son of the late James Ralph and Rosa Lee Pacetty Campbell. Mr. Campbell served his country honorably in the US Army from 1966-1968, attaining the rank of sergeant. On June 16th, 1968 he was wed to Miss Janice Glenda Johnson in Kingsland and they have shared 44 years of life’s journey together. After the service, Mr. Campbell started his own business, Campbell Electric as an electrician. He was also a contractor at Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base. His family and friends remember him as a loyal friend, father, and husband. He was a mentor and father figure to many. He was respected and his word was gold. He was always there when you needed him, even if you didn't ask for help. He was a seemingly master of all trades and was an extremely hard worker. His niece said of him, “My sweet, capable, stoic, fish frying, baby loving, machine fixing, belly laughing, Aunt Janice taming, Uncle Rod died unexpectedly of a heart attack last night. He will be missed in a thousand ways. He was a good man, a very good man. I keep imagining every angel in heaven with something that needs fixing, frying or fermenting, lining up to greet him. Rest in peace Uncle Rod." He is the greatest man we’ve ever known and our hero.
Mr. Campbell is survived by his beloved wife, Janice G. Campbell of Kingsland; his children, Jaimee Denyse C. (Michael) Garcia of Carthage, NC and Justin Reed Campbell of Savannah; his grandchildren, Cameron Reed Garcia and Lainee Reed Campbell, and his cousin, Margaret Eddinger of St. Marys. Besides his parents, Mr. Campbell is preceded in passing by his son, Joey Rod Campbell.
Memorial services will be held at 11 AM Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012 in the old chapel of Kingsland First United Methodist Church with Pastor Chip Strickland presiding. Honorary pallbearers will be Mike Lucas, Nels Palm, Ron Tyson, Troy Smith, John Herring, Carl David Peter Paul Landry and Ronnie Gay.
Mr. Campbell’s cremains will be laid to rest at a later date next to his son in Lawnwood Cemetery in Kingsland.
The family requests in lieu of flowers that memorial contributions be made in his honor to the Wounded Warrior Project /PO BOX 758517/Topeka, KS 66675.
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Mr. Campbell was born in Fernandina Beach, Fl. on December 17th, 1945. He is the son of the late James Ralph and Rosa Lee Pacetty Campbell. Mr. Campbell served his country honorably in the US Army from 1966-1968, attaining the rank of sergeant. On June 16th, 1968 he was wed to Miss Janice Glenda Johnson in Kingsland and they have shared 44 years of life’s journey together. After the service, Mr. Campbell started his own business, Campbell Electric as an electrician. He was also a contractor at Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base. His family and friends remember him as a loyal friend, father, and husband. He was a mentor and father figure to many. He was respected and his word was gold. He was always there when you needed him, even if you didn't ask for help. He was a seemingly master of all trades and was an extremely hard worker. His niece said of him, “My sweet, capable, stoic, fish frying, baby loving, machine fixing, belly laughing, Aunt Janice taming, Uncle Rod died unexpectedly of a heart attack last night. He will be missed in a thousand ways. He was a good man, a very good man. I keep imagining every angel in heaven with something that needs fixing, frying or fermenting, lining up to greet him. Rest in peace Uncle Rod." He is the greatest man we’ve ever known and our hero.
Mr. Campbell is survived by his beloved wife, Janice G. Campbell of Kingsland; his children, Jaimee Denyse C. (Michael) Garcia of Carthage, NC and Justin Reed Campbell of Savannah; his grandchildren, Cameron Reed Garcia and Lainee Reed Campbell, and his cousin, Margaret Eddinger of St. Marys. Besides his parents, Mr. Campbell is preceded in passing by his son, Joey Rod Campbell.
Memorial services will be held at 11 AM Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012 in the old chapel of Kingsland First United Methodist Church with Pastor Chip Strickland presiding. Honorary pallbearers will be Mike Lucas, Nels Palm, Ron Tyson, Troy Smith, John Herring, Carl David Peter Paul Landry and Ronnie Gay.
Mr. Campbell’s cremains will be laid to rest at a later date next to his son in Lawnwood Cemetery in Kingsland.
The family requests in lieu of flowers that memorial contributions be made in his honor to the Wounded Warrior Project /PO BOX 758517/Topeka, KS 66675.
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Phillip Edward Gay
November 6, 1947 ~ October 18, 2012
Phillip Edward Gay, age 64 of Escott Road in Kingsland, passed away on the early morning of Thursday October 18th, 2012 at his son’s residence. Mr. Gay was born on November 6th, 1947 in Kingsland, Ga. He is the son of the late Allen Edward and Winifred Jeanette Peeples Gay, Jr. Mr. Gay was a graduate of Camden County High School. He became a pipe fitter at Gilman Paper Company and retired with over 33 years of service. He will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved him.
Mr. Gay is survived by his wife, Geraldine Casumpang Gay; his son, Scott Gay and his wife Stephanie of Kingsland; his grandson, Austin Gay of Kingsland; his sister Cindy G. Dyals and her husband Ray of St. Marys; and his nephews Mark and Lee Dyals.
Funeral services will be held graveside at 1PM Sunday, October 21st, 2012 at the Brazell-Peeples Cemetery off Escott Rd. in Kingsland with Reverend Terry Brown and Benny Simpson presiding. Honorary pallbearers are Terry Thrift, Pete Godfrey, John Herring, Ken Gay, Austin Gay and Matthews Peeples.
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Mr. Gay is survived by his wife, Geraldine Casumpang Gay; his son, Scott Gay and his wife Stephanie of Kingsland; his grandson, Austin Gay of Kingsland; his sister Cindy G. Dyals and her husband Ray of St. Marys; and his nephews Mark and Lee Dyals.
Funeral services will be held graveside at 1PM Sunday, October 21st, 2012 at the Brazell-Peeples Cemetery off Escott Rd. in Kingsland with Reverend Terry Brown and Benny Simpson presiding. Honorary pallbearers are Terry Thrift, Pete Godfrey, John Herring, Ken Gay, Austin Gay and Matthews Peeples.
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Judith Nunley Vessels September 3, 1946 ~ December 19, 2014 Athens (Alabama)
Judith Nunley Vessels, age 68, of Athens, passed away Friday, December 19, 2014, at her residence. Mrs. Vessels was born September 3, 1946, in Limestone County to Mahlon E. Nunley and Mary Ellen Blair Nunley.
Services will be Sunday, December 21, 2014, 3 p.m. at Copeland Presbyterian Church with Tom Lewis officiating. Visitation will be Sunday, from 12:30 p.m. until 2:45 p.m. prior to the service. Burial will be in Copeland Cemetery.
Preceded in death by her parents, Mahlon and Mary Nunley; sister, Marci Siniard.
Survived by her husband, James Harold Vessels, of Athens; one son, John Curtis Hartsfield II, of Athens; one brother, David Nunley, of Rosewell, GA; one granddaughter, Kaitlyn Hartsfield, of Athens.
Pallbearers will be Steve Nelson, Glen Turner, Marty Nunley, Tim Springer, Jeff Turner and Steve Gulley.
Sign (Judy's) celebration wall at:
http://limestonechapel.com/obituaries/obituary-listings?obId=370671#/obituaryInfo
Published in the Decatur (Alabama) Daily on Dec. 20, 2014
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Judith Nunley Vessels, age 68, of Athens, passed away Friday, December 19, 2014, at her residence. Mrs. Vessels was born September 3, 1946, in Limestone County to Mahlon E. Nunley and Mary Ellen Blair Nunley.
Services will be Sunday, December 21, 2014, 3 p.m. at Copeland Presbyterian Church with Tom Lewis officiating. Visitation will be Sunday, from 12:30 p.m. until 2:45 p.m. prior to the service. Burial will be in Copeland Cemetery.
Preceded in death by her parents, Mahlon and Mary Nunley; sister, Marci Siniard.
Survived by her husband, James Harold Vessels, of Athens; one son, John Curtis Hartsfield II, of Athens; one brother, David Nunley, of Rosewell, GA; one granddaughter, Kaitlyn Hartsfield, of Athens.
Pallbearers will be Steve Nelson, Glen Turner, Marty Nunley, Tim Springer, Jeff Turner and Steve Gulley.
Sign (Judy's) celebration wall at:
http://limestonechapel.com/obituaries/obituary-listings?obId=370671#/obituaryInfo
Published in the Decatur (Alabama) Daily on Dec. 20, 2014
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ADDITIONAL OBITUARIES WILL BE ADDED AS THEY ARE PROVIDED. PLEASE SEND LINKS, HARD COPY, OR INFORMATION/PICTURES SO ALL DECEASED ~~CCHS Class of '65~~ CLASSMATES MAY BE MEMORIALIZED. Thank you.
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