The most recent obituary and service information is available at the Patterson-Forest Grove Funeral . He married Billie Jean Matthews on August 3, 1947 in Cleburne. I asked my commander for guidance, for a task and purpose, but he did not respond. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Add Weldon's birthday or the date he died to see a list of historic events Sign up for service and obituary updates. Weldon Shelton Honeycutt was born on month day 1925. This video was compiled using CBS Archival Footage. I would relax a little bit, truly read a book in the boonies because I knew Crutts was always watching. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made, by making a donation to Weldon Huneycutt's favorite charity, the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. The enemy was still there and didnt care if the paratroopers knew it; they would be waiting on the Rakkasans when they tried to take the hill again. Sponsored by Ancestry. facebook. Memorials. He is survived by : his wife Billie Jean Huneycutt; his children, Linda Vick Tarrant (Larry) and Steven G. Huneycutt (Wanda); his grandchildren, Angela Vick, Bradley Huneycutt and Abbey Dowdy (Ryan); his great grandchild Harper Rose Dowdy; his sister-in-law Sue Crosier of Arlington; and his siblings, Cecil Huneycutt (Betty) of Cleburne and Leta George of Weatherford. We lost contact after I moved back east. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Are you ok? until 0400 est. In a war that some would rather forget, and memories that are most times too hard to face, how do we honor such men who were called to make the ultimate sacrifice? Who were the people in Weldon's life? The allied troops for this operation included the 9th Marine Regiment, two battalions from the 1st ARVN Division, 3/5th Cavalry, and the 3rd Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division, which would make the initial combat assault. Search above to list available cemeteries. It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Melvin H Honeycutt of Blacklick, Ohio, born in Charleston, South Carolina, who passed away on February 15, 2022, at the age of 92, leaving to mourn family and friends. The Marines, 3/5th Cav and two other ARVN battalions would play supporting roles in the operation with 3/5th Cav clearing Highway 547, so it could be completed through the eastern mountains and pushed into the heart of the valley, while the 9th Marines operations would blunt any attempt to reinforce the northern end of the valley. Copyright 2023 Echovita Inc. All rights reserved. Finally, he explains why it is important to lead American Soldiers well. The public outcry against the seemingly senseless bloodshed at Hamburger Hill appears to have had an impact on deliberations in the Nixon administration about the way ahead in the war. Hell no, we will not go. May 12, 2021 In conclusion, LTC Weldon Honeycutt failed in the application of the principles of mission command during the battle of Hamburger Hill. You can always change this later in your Account settings. The general tried to explain to him why the battle was being joined on Dong Ap Bia, but the journalist was not satisfied with his explanation. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? All Death, Burial, Cemetery & Obituaries results for Weldon Honeycutt 1-20 of 3,028 Browse by collection To get better results, add more information such as Birth Info, Death Info and Location even a guess will help. Retired Maj. Gen. Eldon Bargewell. The 11-day battle resulted in 70 percent of the formation wounded or killed in action while imparting 600 killed in action on the enemy. Share highlights of Weldon's life. Death 8 Apr 1992 (aged 78) . newsletter for the best of the past, delivered every Monday and Thursday. Honeycutt, whose Bravo Company was being held in 3rd Brigade reserve at Firebase Blaze, called Colonel Conmy and requested release of his company. There was a problem getting your location. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. One day my favorite couple will be together agaln.. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Justin Wright | As dusk arrived on May 14, the survivors of the days fight assumed night defensive positions. Make sure relatives of Weldon Huneycutt know they have sympathy messages here. This was the first of five friendly fire incidents during the battle, caused by the thick jungle that rendered target identification very difficult. Before Hamburger Hill, the U.S. forces were still seeking victory on the battlefield; after Hamburger Hill, they were only seeking a way out. What was that like? This browser does not support getting your location. Finally, by 1700, the hill was secured. Interview conducted in May 1969. James Baylor, by returning to that hallowed battlefield in the A Shau Valley for on the battles 50th anniversary. At 0710 hours, after the prep fires were concluded, 64 Huey helicopters inserted the lead elements of the 1-506 and 3-187 into their assigned landing zones at the northern end of the valley. He was born September 23, 1928 to Dr. Semeion Fairenton Huneycutt and Lena Viola (Turner) Huneycutt in Sherman, Texas. Epsom. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Im saddened to hear of Dr. Honeycutt passing. cemeteries found in Pineville, Rapides Parish, Louisiana, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. All rights reserved. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Dr. Weldon Glen Huneycutt was a longtime member of Field Street Baptist Church where he enjoyed teaching Sunday School and lay preaching. Elvis scandalized adults and thrilled teens. | View Image Page, In 1968, Spc. Baylor attended basic training and advanced individual training at Fort Ord, California. A system error has occurred. Please enter your email and password to sign in. I was 26 and Crutts was 21. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Later, he found out they were pointing out the Soldiers they perceived would not make it home from Vietnam alive. Yet they acquitted themselves every bit as well, if not better. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. If the president was going to have time to achieve peace with honor as he had promised in his election campaign, he had to make sure there were no more Hamburger Hills. Where was Weldon born and where did he live? In 1964 an Ohio woman took up the challenge that had led to Amelia Earharts disappearance. When 2 or more people share their unique perspectives, I thought you might like to see a memorial for Weldon Elias Honeycutt I found on Findagrave.com. I told Crutts I was going to make it to the top of the hill for both of us, that I was determined! Subscribe to our HistoryNet Now! Hamburger Hill, where Col. Weldon Honeycutt led a controversial 10-day meatgrinder battle to secure Hill 937 only to abandon it a week later, Americans questioned the senseless slaughter. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. With the Currahees halted, Colonel Conmy ordered Honeycutt to postpone his attack to wait for the 1-506. No services are scheduled at this time. And while I was hiking, I said a little prayer. Weldon graduated from Cleburne High School, Tarleton College, San Jacinto College, and earned his doctorate at the Texas Chiropractic College. Upon course completion the senior drill sergeant called a formation for the trainees to notify them of their duty assignments. On the 18th of May, the men of 1st Platoon would yet again face another test of courage. Make Sure To Check All Parts Of Your Operation: Leadership Lessons From A West Point Commandant, All I Ever Wanted To Be: A Soldiers Story Of WWII And Korea, Pride In America: Defending Freedom And Protecting People. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. Dr. Weldon Huneycutt is survived by his wife of 73 years, Billie Jean Huneycutt; daughter, Linda Vick Tarrant and husband Larry; son, Steven G. Huneycutt and wife Wanda; three grandchildren, Angela Vick, Bradley Huneycutt, Abbey Dowdy and husband Ryan; great-grandchild, Harper Rose Dowdy; sister-in-law, Sue Crosier of Arlington; brother, Cecil Huneycutt and wife Betty of Cleburne; sister, Leta George of Weatherford. Verify and try again. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. (92 years old). Oops, we were unable to send the email. Despite several attempts, however, Honeycutt managed to live out his tour and return Stateside. They found themselves in a battle every bit as brutal as the one for Hill 875 at Dak To in 1967, but unlike the 4/503rd PIR that fought that battle, these guys didn't have a unit made up of professional regulars led by old pro squad and platoon sergeants. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. It was becoming clear that the Americans had grossly underestimated the enemys strength on the hill; it was much more than company strength, and was getting stronger every day as additional reinforcements arrived from Laos. So vigilant that Baylor would often times read a book while their platoon was stationary because he knew he could count on his best friend to look out for them both. Rapides Parish. The 3-187 suffered 39 killed and 290 wounded; the total casualties for the mountain were 70 killed and 372 wounded. Weldon Honeycutt grew up in a large family in North Carolina during the Great Depression. Weldon Honeycutt was married to. Legacy invites you to offer condolences and share memories of Vickie in the Guest Book below. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Biographies are our place to remember and discover more about the people important to us. During the entire operation, Colonel Honeycutt was constantly leading his battalion and inspiring his men through his personal courage and fearless actions, resulting in over five hundred North. Learn more about . What is without doubt, however, is that the 7th and 8th battalions of the 29th NVA Regiment had been virtually wiped out. Edit your search or learn more U.S., Cemetery and Funeral Home Collection, 1847-Current Death, Burial, Cemetery & Obituaries Name Upon taking command in 2017, Bowling announced his first two priorities. Lieutenant Colonel Weldon F Honeycutt was assigned to the .. Weldon received the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) while serving during Please contact us with any biographical data, pictures or other information regarding the service and life of Weldon Honeycutt, Distinguished Service Cross recipient.. Recommend Dr. Weldon's obituary to your friends. COPYRIGHT 2014 WEST POINT CENTER FOR ORAL HISTORY. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. It will never be known just how many NVA were killed and wounded and were carried into Laos or were buried in collapsed bunkers and tunnels on the mountain, but a Special Forces patrol on the Laotian side of the border reported that some 1,100 enemy dead and wounded had been removed from the hill during the battle. Verify and try again. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Further incensed, Sen. Kennedy asked from the Senate floor, How can we justify sending our boys against a hill a dozen times, finally taking it, and then withdrawing a week later?. Let others know about your loved one's death. An article in The New York Times declared the public is certainly entitled to raise questions about the current aggressive posture of the United States military in South Vietnam. The June 27, 1969, issue of Life magazine ran the photos of 241 servicemen killed in Vietnam the previous week, including five who had died in the assault on Hill 937. The U.S. forces had learned some from captured documents and equipment and the occasional prisoner, but the enemy was heavily camouflaged and conducted most major movements at night under radio silence and thus had not been detected. There is no photo or video of Weldon Huneycutt.Be the first to share a memory to pay tribute. Delta Company almost made it to the top of the hill as the battle degenerated into a close-quarters fight, with friendly and enemy troops separated by only a few meters. After returning from Vietnam, he eventually commanded 3rd Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division. Friends can be as close as family. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Billie, I pray for God to take care of you. Weldon Honeycutt 1946 Born c. 1946 Last Known Residence Kaufman County, Texas Summary Weldon Honeycutt of Kaufman County, Texas was born c. 1946. Retired Army officer James H. Willbanks is the director of the Department of Military History, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan. A Vietnam veteran, he is also the author of several books including The Tet Offensive: A Concise History, Abandoning Vietnam, and the forthcoming work to be published by Facts on File,Vietnam War Almanac. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Click here to learn how he came to write it. This account has been disabled. He was initially assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division, but requested reassignment to the 101st Airborne Division, where he assumed command of 3-187 Infantry after being originally slotted into an aviation unit. Share memories and family stories, photos, or ask questions. GET OBITUARY ALERTS. Shortly after the costly assault on Hamburger Hill in mid-1969,the GI underground newspaper in Vietnam, "G.I. At that moment the weight of the world was on my shoulders, Trautmann recalls. The battle for Dong Ap Bia came at a time when support for the war was on a steeply downward path. That is exactly what Lt. Col. Martin Bowling facilitated during his command of the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, Iron Rakkasans. However, it would be difficult going for the American troops as they trudged through heavy jungle and rugged terrain. I have this ability to go numb when things like that happen, said Baylor about his draft notification from the U.S. Army. It was an area long occupied by the NVA and it was fortified with bunkers, spider holes, deep tunnels and trenches. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. Advertisement. Crack was 80% pure and therefore was more addictive. He lives in Georgetown, Texas. He joined the army in 1946 and joined the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team during the Korean War. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Resend Activation Email. Even though the valiant effort of U.S. troops was, in the end, successful in taking the hill and inflicting heavy enemy losses, the terrible price of the drawn-out fight and its seeming senselessness among both troops on the ground and the general public made this one battle an enduring symbol of the overall futility of Americas war in Vietnam. In this interview, he describes many of the engagements he was in, and the attributes of the leaders he served with. Failed to delete memorial. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Learn more about merges. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. The public had turned against the war a year and a half earlier, and it was their intense reaction to the cost of the battle in American lives, inflamed by sensationalist media reporting, that forced the Nixon administration to order the end of major tactical ground operations.. The battle had been won but at a very high pricethen only to be abandoned for the Communists to reoccupy. Major General Weldon F. Honeycutt, US Army (Ret), pictured in 2011 at a reunion in Fort Campbell. When you click on the link below, you will be taken to the West Point Association of Graduates website and instructions on how to give to the Center. I spent many times in his office, with him getting me ready for a golf tournament. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? From May 10 to May 20 1969, the men of the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment would assault up a massive hill in the A Shau Valley of Vietnam known as Dong Ap Bia or the Crouching Beast. Then, Lt. Col. Weldon Honeycutt would command these brave Soldiers through the most trying times of their lives. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. He was born September 23, 1928 to Dr. Semeion Fairenton Huneycutt and Lena Viola (Turner) Huneycutt in Sherman, Texas. He and Billie Jean traveled to 35 countries after retiring, in addition to many fun camping trips in the U.S.A. Several large ridges and fingers ran out from its summit, one of the largest extending southeast to a height of 900 meters and another reaching south to a 916-meter peak. The valleys formidable terrain was dominated at its northern end by what local Montagnard tribesmen called the mountain of the crouching beast, Dong Ap Bia. Try again. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Lieutenant Colonel Weldon F. Honeycutt, commander of the 3-187 Rakkasans, still was not sure what his battalion was facing, but it was clear that it had landed in an active NVA base area and that the enemy was in the area in significant numbers.