Memorial Day, 2026

Tommy Towery

LHS '64

Once again it is time to pause and reflect on the sacrifices made by classmates of Lee High School veterans. This list has not changed since last year, but it is still important enough to show once again. Below is a list of not only Lee's losses, but of all Madison County losses. 

Madison County, Alabama Vietnam Losses

Madison County, Alabama lost at least 33 service members in the Vietnam War, according to the Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS) and the county‑specific roll of honor. Below is a clean, structured list of every Madison County Vietnam War fatality, drawn directly from the Genealogy Trails DCAS extraction (the most complete county‑level source). 

This list includes Huntsville, Madison, Harvest, Toney, and other Madison County communities.

Madison County, Alabama — Vietnam War Fatal Casualties

(Alphabetical by last name; all are confirmed KIA, DOW, or died while missing/POW)

Huntsville (largest group)

Marion Franklin Acton — Army PFC — Apr 11, 1966 

Howard Rivers Andrews Jr. — Army Captain — Apr 17, 1970 

Donald Eugene Ausborn — Army SP4 — Aug 12, 1968 

Lesley Steven Ayers — USMC LCpl — Feb 8, 1968 

William Alfred Bason II — Army PFC — Feb 4, 1966 

Larry Delynn Chandler — Army Sgt — Apr 12, 1969 

Larry Gene Clark — USMC LCpl — Feb 4, 1968 

Donald Leo Cline — Army Sgt — Apr 5, 1969 

Jeffrey Lance Cooper — Army Cpl — May 14, 1971 

Vernon Leroy Downs Jr. — USMC Cpl — Mar 23, 1968 

Lavle Jimmy Hall — USMC LCpl — Jan 27, 1967 

Joel Richard Hankins — Army Cpl — Mar 26, 1971 

Prentice Wayne Hicks — Army Sgt 1st Class — Mar 25, 1969 

James Edmond Huff — USMC Sgt — Oct 27, 1967 

James Anthony Kiger — USMC LCpl — Sep 17, 1966 

Michael Darrell Kuhse — USMC LCpl — May 17, 1968 

Stanley Reed Lewter — Army SP4 — Mar 1, 1968 

David Allen Mallory — USMC PFC — Feb 25, 1969 

Charles Toney Matthews — Army Sgt — Feb 19, 1971 

Robert L. Matthews — Army SP4 — Mar 22, 1967 

Herbert Lynn Meads — USMC Cpl — May 2, 1968 

Elbert Austin Phillips — USAF Tech Sgt — Aug 28, 1968 

Mark Phillip Raiford — Army SP4 — Jul 8, 1970 

Robert Ivan Rice — USMC LCpl — Feb 2, 1968 

Anthony D. Sheffield — Army Sgt — Dec 196? (partial record) 

Madison (city)

Raymon Horace James Jr. — Army 1st Lt — Nov 10, 1971 

Roy Lee Moore — USMC LCpl — Jun 16, 1968 

Robert Thomas Nelson — Army SP5 — Aug 12, 1971 

Harvest

James Phillip Brown — USMC LCpl — Nov 12, 1966 

Toney

James Larry Downs — Army PFC — Mar 7, 1970 

The Wayback Machine

The song was first released in 1968 by a mournful-sounding Don Ho, who introduced Glen Campbell to it when Ho appeared as a guest on The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour. Campbell's recording of the song, released in early 1969, was perceived by many (who listened carefully to the lyrics) as being a Vietnam War protest song, but Campbell performed it up-tempo. In his original promo video, Campbell was dressed as a soldier in a military-style outfit. Webb has challenged the implication of Campbell's version that it was in any way "a patriotic song". According to Webb, the song is "about a guy who's caught up in something he doesn't understand and would rather be somewhere else".

Campbell's version, produced by Al De Lory, also went to number 1 on the country music charts. On other charts, "Galveston" went to number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the "Easy Listening" charts. It was certified gold by the RIAA in October 1969.

Once again I feature the Lee classmates who gave their lives in service to our country. I plan to attend the Memorial Day Event in Bartlett, Tennessee. They always have a patriotic service, attend by about two hundred people. Even though I'm getting older and the weight I lost during my illness came back as fat, I can still get into my uniform one more time to honor my fallen warriors. 

Last Week's Questions, Answers, And Comments

Cecilia LeVan Watson, LHS ‘68, "Have visited Mackinaw Island several times. The first visit was a dream! We stayed at the Grand Hotel for the night. Room was decorated beautifully! Everything reminded me of the movie. We dressed in our best for the 5 course dinner in the elegant ballroom. We swam in the Ester Williams pool and walked the streets and went to the fort.  The sound of horses hoofs and bike horns were music to my ears."

Tom Gilbert, LHS ‘67, "Tommy, thank you again for the weekly update. I am responding to two  old articles one on Patrol Boys and the other Order of the Arrow (OA.) I was in grade 7 at Rison and a patrol boy one morning and called flags out went to go out and Donald Dunphy '67 pulled me on my shirt back as a bus was trying to beat the flags, he saved me from serious injury or death. Later that morning the police came to the school and interviewed us in the principal's office. Next my OA ordeal from Troop 66; it was my induction and we went up to Monte Sano. I believe we reached the designated area and set up my tent, which ended up on an incline. The thunderstorm that night was a flash flood going through my tent and I was soaked."

Dianne Hughey McClure, LHS ‘64, "Somewhere In Time was a favorite movie of Ronnie's and mine. We saw the movie, bought the music and watched it each anniversary. We never got to go to the island.  I'm sure it was worth the trip to get to visit it."