This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. The next day, Honeycutt ordered his battalion to renew the attack. Be the first to know! Try again later. Bravo arrived at about 1600 and moved out toward the mountain. As dusk arrived on May 14, the survivors of the days fight assumed night defensive positions. Later, another soldier passing by scrawled underneath the question, Was it worth it?. Learn more about merges. You may leave a message for the family by clicking here. 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. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Suggested donation : St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Funeral arrangement under the care ofCrosier - Pearson Cleburne Funeral Home. Try again later. The steep slopes of Dong Ap Bia were cloaked by a heavy undergrowth of sawtooth elephant grass, thick stands of bamboo, and double-and-triple canopy jungle. One of those killed and three of the wounded were victims of friendly fire, hit by helicopter gunships that mistook them for enemy soldiers. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Weldon had 3 siblings: Juanita Honeycutt and 2 other siblings. Bowlings answer was simple. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. 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. Please try again later. Oops, something didn't work. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Charlie Company initially made rapid progress toward its objective, but the North Vietnamese counterattacked and in the ensuing fight, the unit lost its first sergeant, two of its three platoon leaders, the company executive officer, two platoon sergeants, six squad leaders and 40 enlisted men. Hartsell Funeral Home - Concord Biographies are our place to remember and discover more about the people important to us. 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. There is a Memorial Donation Fund in the name of Weldon Huneycutt set up. On the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Hamburger Hill, hundreds of Screaming Eagle Soldiers and local citizens welcomed home 87 Hamburger Hill veterans for the first time at Fort Campbell. He lives in Georgetown, Texas. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Weldon lived in 1930, at address, Mississippi. There was a problem getting your location. Failed to delete memorial. James Baylor, 1st Platoon, Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, poses for a photo on a hill in Vietnam. The importance of saying "I love you" during COVID-19, Effective ways of dealing with the grieving process, Solutions to show your sympathy safely during the Covid-19 pandemic. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Discover how our Uncovering Our Shared Memories: An Introduction to the Community Standards at AncientFaces While navigating the steep jungle terrain of the A Shau Valley and passing over the first moments of what would eventually culminate in a grueling 11 day battle, Baylor took guidance and direction from his platoon leader Lt. Joel Tautmann. Help paint a picture of Weldon so that he is always remembered. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? As they assaulted up the hill, they opened fire, and within moments one of the men yelled out, Crutts is hit! On the 18th, with the 1-506 still some 500 meters from Hill 900 and nearly twice that distance from Hill 937, the brigade commander, not wanting to postpone the attack again, ordered a coordinated two-battalion assault with the 3-187 attacking from the north and 1-506 attacking from the south. He and Billie Jean traveled to 35 countries after retiring, in addition to many fun camping trips in the U.S.A. Weldon Shelton Honeycutt was born on month day 1925. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current. With heavy hearts, we announce the death of Weldon Huneycutt of Berthoud, Colorado, who passed away on May 12, 2021 at the age of 92. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Knowing the state of morale of the platoon Trautmann knew of only one thing to do. Later, he found out they were pointing out the Soldiers they perceived would not make it home from Vietnam alive. In 1983, "crack" cocaine was developed in the Bahamas and spread to the United States. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Graveside service for Dr. Weldon Glen Huneycutt, 92, of Berthoud, Colorado, will be conducted at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 19, 2021 in Rosehill Cemetery. He married Billie Jean Matthews on August 3, 1947 in Cleburne. Upon taking command in 2017, Bowling announced his first two priorities. To use this feature, use a newer browser. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. On May 10, 1969, the battalion was dropped on the landing zone at the base of the hill. Mr. Honeycutt was the son of the late Blake and Margaret Honeycutt. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. There was only light contact throughout the first day. In 1956, this was the year that the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley, became an international sensation. Justin Wright | Spc. When we share what we know, together we discover more. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. See What AncientFaces Does to discover more about the community. By this time, both Honeycutt and Conmy realized that the North Vietnamese, who usually fought hard for a while before quitting the battlefield, were going to stand and fight on Dong Ap Bia. Please try again later. He is preceded in death by his three siblings, Arvel Huneycutt, Reba Young and Jeannie Winnett; brother-in-law, Nolte Crosier. ). HistoryNet.com is brought to you by HistoryNet LLC, the worlds largest publisher of history magazines. Born in 14 Feb 1915 and died in 18 Aug 1975 Kemp, Texas Weldon Elias Honeycutt This work, How a 76-year-old Vietnam Veteran was able to carry a fallen friend to the top of Hamburger Hill, by Member: 1555015, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. I was 26 and Crutts was 21. Melvin was born in Charleston, South Carolina on September 26, 1929. Those that have come before us earned that reputation in blood, sweat, and tears, and it is our duty to honor them for their sacrifices, and recognize them for their valor. One thing I remember about that experience is that when we started out, the flight attendants were young and attractive, and as we got closer and closer, they got older and older, Baylor laughs as he recalls his deployment process. Please accept Echovita's sincere condolences. Legacy invites you to offer condolences and share memories of Weldon in the. The Associated Press sent a reporter, Jay Sharbutt, to investigate the situation. Liberty Christian Church Cemetery. 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. When I heard members of the battalion were making a trip back to Vietnam with veterans, it was a no brainer for me. At that moment the weight of the world was on my shoulders, Trautmann recalls. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Weldon S Pete Honeycutt I found on Findagrave.com. After basic training, he was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, and there his association with General William Westmoreland began. He is the author or editor of 21 books on the Vietnam War and other aspects of military history. He distinctly remembers the battle hardened Soldiers looking at the inbound Soldiers and saying Theres one, theres one. Theres one what? Failed to remove flower. Mystery surrounds the infamous burning of the Reichstag in 1933. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. The operation began on May 10 with a 74-minute prep of 30 potential landing zones in the A Shau by artillery, Cobra attack helicopters and close air support. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Join the West Point Center for Oral History's Pipeline Alert. In 1946, in the year that Weldon Honeycutt was born, on July 4th, the Philippines gained independence from the United States. read more Sign up now to get updates and email alerts when new interviews are released. I couldnt recognize them, said Baylor, except for one man who wore a wrist watch on both arms. I would relax a little bit, truly read a book in the boonies because I knew Crutts was always watching. As the attack commenced, Bravo Company ran into heavy enemy fire from automatic weapons and Claymore mines. He succeeded in securing the thill after a 6 10-day long battle but he made numerous blunders that cost the lives of numerous soldiers. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. It all started with a commanders vision. Drag images here or select from your computer for Weldon Elias Honeycutt memorial. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. Not wanting to give the enemy a chance to reinforce and strengthen his position on the mountain, Honeycutt decided he could not wait for his sister battalion to arrive. He was also preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Shelby Jean Rice Honeycutt who died May 19, 2019; sisters, Bleaka. Did Weldon serve in the military or did a war or conflict interfere with his life? Thanks for your help! A native of Yancey County, he was a son of the late Ed and Ruth Howell Adkins. Photo By Capt. In the Senate on May 20, Edward Kennedy of New York angrily denounced the attack on Ap Bia, charging that it was both senseless and irresponsible to continue to send our young men to their deaths to capture hills and positions that have no relation to this conflict. He proclaimed it madnesssymptomatic of a mentality and a policy that requires immediate attention. facebook. 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. We will bring them in, execute a physical challenge that represents the sacrifices they made, wrap our arms around them, and welcome them home, said Bowling. Dr. Weldon Glen Huneycutt passed away May 12, 2021 in Loveland, Colorado. With the battalion CP in disarray, command and control in 3-187 broke down. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. Ill say to myself, Ok, thats what it is, and Ill go numb. Still, Conmy knew that the North Vietnamese were in the area in force and spoiling for a fight; he was eager to oblige them. Josephine Honeycutt Weldon; 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. He was a frequent McDonalds breakfast attendee with his buddies. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. There was never enough to eat, and partly because of this he joined the Army in 1946. Melvin H Honeycutt Obituary. Add to your scrapbook. He was very alert and always looking to see what was going on, said Baylor. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Honeycutt, whose Bravo Company was being held in 3rd Brigade reserve at Firebase Blaze, called Colonel Conmy and requested release of his company. I asked my commander for guidance, for a task and purpose, but he did not respond. Sorry! Select the pencil to add details. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. This new enemy presence posed a significant threat to Hue, Quang Tri and the other major I Corps cities and towns. 3 birth, 486 death, 1 marriage, 40 divorce, View All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. 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. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Cobra gunships and aerial rocket artillery were called in. If I wasnt kneeling with Crutts, if I was standing, the round would have hit my spine. 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. see less Shortly after the costly assault on Hamburger Hill in mid-1969,the GI underground newspaper in Vietnam, "G.I. In their flak jackets and heavily laden with grenades and extra rifle ammunition, Honeycutts men moved up for yet another attempt. Please reset your password. The contained information on Weldon F Honeycutt is gathered and extracted . Oh yeah, and were going to take them back to Vietnam. Subscribe to receive our weekly newsletter with top stories from master historians. Photo provided by James Baylor we begin to Show & Tell who they were during particular moments in their lives. Accordingly, Lt. Gen. Richard G. Stillwell, commander of XXIV Corps, ordered a campaign to eliminate the North Vietnamese in the area. The 11-day battle resulted in 70 percent of the formation wounded or killed in. Failed to delete memorial. Baylor attended basic training and advanced individual training at Fort Ord, California. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. On May 16, the plan called for the 3-187 to continue its attack as before up the two ridges, but to hold short of the summit to exert pressure on the enemy defenses while the 1-506 assaulted from the west and south to sweep across the top of Hill 900 toward Hill 937. 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. Then, Lt. Col. Weldon Honeycutt would command these brave Soldiers through the most trying times of their lives. The personnel officer quickly replied that he was airborne now and to lace his boots tight. In a subsequent newspaper account, Sharbutt described the bloody battle to the American public, writing, The paratroopers came down the mountain, their green shirts darkened with sweat, their weapons gone, their bandages stained brown and redwith mud and blood. He reported that one of the paratroopers said, That damn Blackjack (Honeycutt) wont stop until he kills every one of us. Sharbutts gripping description of the meatgrinder battle horrified readers and set off a firestorm of protest that spread all the way to the floor of Congress. It took until late afternoon for its troopers just to get off the ridgeline where they had spent the previous evening. Media reaction was likewise sharp. This browser does not support getting your location. He married Billie Jean Matthews on August 3, 1947 in Cleburne. Epsom. We became Facebook pals. Experiences, organizations, & how he spent his time. He was preceded in death by his parents . This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Soon, plans were announced to reduce U.S. troop strength. Apache Snow called for the insertion of 10 battalions of American and South Vietnamese troops into the valley to disrupt the Communist buildup and destroy enemy forces. A few weeks after he received his orders, Baylor was on a commercial flight to war. Add Weldon's family friends, and his friends from childhood through adulthood. I have this ability to go numb when things like that happen, said Baylor about his draft notification from the U.S. Army. Johnson was sworn in on the plane carrying Kennedy's body back to Washington D.C. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. James Baylor, by returning to that hallowed battlefield in the A Shau Valley for on the battles 50th anniversary. Elvis scandalized adults and thrilled teens. Click here to see a TIMELINE of the Hamburger Hill battle, from the June 2009 Vietnam magazine. Each company moved out to their assigned axis of advance and Charlie Company moved further and further onto the base of the hill. Reverend John Glover will officiate. | His subsequent duty assignments include:Pathfinder Detachment Commander/Platoon Leader, 187th Airborne Regiment Combat Team, Korea; Company Commander, I Company, 3d Bn, Korea; Instructor, Staff & Faculty, U.S. Army Signal, Fort Monomouth, New Jersey; Operations Officer, 3rd Aviation Co, 3d Div, Fort Benning, Georgia; Aide-de-Camp to General Westmoreland, 101st Airborne Division; Battalion Executive Officer and Battalion Commander, 24th Inf Div; Company Commander, 67th Aviation Company, Headquarters 7th Corps; Company Commander, 68th Aviation Company, Vietnam; Staff Officer and Secretary to the General Staff, Headquarters 3rd Army; Battalion Commander, 187th Airborne Inf and Staff Officer, 101st Airborne Division, Vietnam; Deputy Director and Director, Leader Department, The Infantry School; Executive Officer, Deputy Chief of Staff for Military Operations, Headquarters DA, Washington, D.C.; Deputy Chief, Troop Operations & Readiness Div, ODCSOPS, Headquarters DA, Washington, D.C. | Colonel Honeycutt's awards and decorations include: Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star w/2 Oak Leaf Cluster, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross w/2 Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star Medal w/V 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal w/V and 26 Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal w/3 Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart w/4 Oak Leaf Cluster, Good Conduct Medal /clasp, Army of Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal; Korean Service Medal, Armed Forces Expedition Medal, Vietnam Service, United Nations Service Medal, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry w/palm and star, Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal 1st Class, Vietnam Staff Service Medal 1st Class, Vietnamese Civic Actions Medal 1st Class, Vietnamese Campaign Medal w/1960 Device, Presidential Unit Citation w/2 Oak Leaf Cluster, Valor Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Citation, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry w/palm, Vietnam Civic Actions Medal 1st Class, Combat Infantryman Badge w/star, Master Parachutist Badge, Glider Badge, Master Army Aviator Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Vietnamese Parachutist Badge, General Staff Identification Badge. 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