SSG Billy J. Ellis

HVHS Class of 1966

HVHS Class of 1966

Bridge GPS Coordinates:

N 36 degrees 19.084' W 082 degrees 16.786'

Billy Joe Ellis was living in Elizabethton, TN when he entered the service and was a member of Company D, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Regiment. On January 3, 1969, he was on radio watch at landing zone Leslie, when incoming mortar rounds cause the nearby ammunition bunker to explode. He was listed as Missing in Action. His remains were never found. He is memorialized at Honolulu and has a memorialstone at Happy Valley Memorial Park, Elizabethton, Carter County, TN.


Billy Joe Ellis' grave marker is located in the Gethsemane section 96-C, Space 3.

*All information for this individual was gathered from the East Tn Veterans Memorial webpage, honorstates.com, abmc.gov, find a grave webpage, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund webpage and family contributions.


Shared Memories

Llegue aquí ya que mi padre es retirado del Ejército aquí en Chile y hoy ordenando, entre sus cosas encontre una pulsera con el nombre de "Billy Joe Ellis" quise saber quien era y llegue hasta esta pagina, donde comprendí su historia, y realmente estoy orgullosa de la persona que fue. Tengo 14 años, y espero que mi generación sepa apreciar a personas como el, personas que dieron su vida por su país, que tenían un corazón enorme y estaban dispuestos a todo con tal de ayudar, lamento haber llegado tan tarde Turk, siempre te recordaremos como familia sin haberte conocido, nos conmoviste, y desde ahora, cada vez que vea esta pulsera, recordaré lo valiente que fuiste. 

--Fernanda Ignacia

My name is Carl Dileo I was also a sergeant in The company second of the 12th cavalry I was in the bottle at Leslie when the Lz was under siege new Billy Joe Ellis very well his nickname was lurch The battle for Leslie was a fierce and chaotic night battle almost everyone agrees that Sergeant Ellis was wounded and to cover in the ammunition bunker which later took a direct hit from a rocket or a mortar never found Sergeant Ellis is body think of him often good Guy good soldier 

I will always remember the days we played basketball and especially the ones on Saturday and Sunday without coach's around. You were the best friend a young boy could have. I will always remember the Gap Creek Boys. You are thought of all the time. I wish there was something that could be done to find you alive or dead. You are and will be forever remembered Turk. 

--Tom Townsend

To many years have passed since we last communicated. Somewhere in my war chest I believe I have the last letter you sent. In fact I believe the last letter you sent my father is in there as well. He always told the story of how you left my little brother dangling from a telephone guide wire in the front yard the last time you came to visit, that was just days before you left for Viet Nam. I will never understand why some of us were allowed to live through it all and return home to live out our lives while others, like you my friend, we're not. Maybe God has clued you in and you can share that information at our heavenly reunion. RIP TURK. 

--James Hughes

I joined D Co "Stacked Deck" on December 31st 1967. We met many of the 150 or so on the small LZ and do not remember if I met Billy but I must have since we were both in the 4th platoon, the mortar platoon. He was last seen crawling into a bunker after being wounded by incoming motor rounds. We looked for him the next day but to no avail. The attack lasted through the night and into the next afternoon. We believe the bunker was blown up in the battle.It is hard to let go of a man wo is still listed as "Missing in Action"