LAURENS COUNTIANS ON THE VIETNAM WALL

     Inscribed on the black granite panels of the Vietnam Wall are the names of fifteen Laurens Countians.   The typical man was a 26 year old white male, a  Baptist, married and one hundred and sixty one days into his tour.  The average commissioned and non-commissioned officer was a 37 year old white male, a Baptist, married and more than one year into his tour.  The typical private was a 22 year old white male, a Baptist, single and 154 days into his tour.

The oldest Laurens Countian killed in Vietnam was forty four year old Lt. Col, Harlow Gary Clark, Jr.  The youngest was Cpl. David Lee Copeland, some two months short of his 20th birthday.  The first man killed was Sgt. First Class James A. Starley, who was killed in an explosion on Feb. 22, 1965.  The last man killed was PFC George Wayne Baker on June 9, 1970.  Both Specialist Four Bobby Finney and PFC George Baker were killed in action on the 21st day of their tour.

The highest ranking officers killed were Lt. Col. Harlow Gary Clark, Jr., who was killed when his helicopter crashed on March 7, 1966. Lt. Col. William Clyde Stinson, Jr., who was awarded two Silver Star Medals for heroism, was killed in his helicopter while attempting to rescue some of his wounded soldiers.




GEORGE WAYNE BAKER
Panel 09W - Line 31 

(Photo Missing)

Age: 20
Race: Negro
Sex: Male
Date of Birth Apr 30, 1950
Date of Death June 9, 1970
Religion: BAPTIST
Marital Status: Married
PFC - E3 - Army - Regular
USARV

His tour began on May 20, 1970
Casualty was on Jun 9, 1970
In GO CONG, SOUTH VIETNAM
NON-HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
DROWNED, SUFFOCATED
Body was recovered.

Burial:
Robinson Chapel Cemetery
Dublin
Laurens County
Georgia, USA

JIMMY BEDGOOD
Panel 55E - Line 39 

Age: 21
Race: Caucasian
Sex: Male
Date of Birth May 20, 1946
Date of Death May 6, 1968
Religion: BAPTIST
Marital Status: Married
 SSGT - E6 - Army - Regular

Length of service 3 years
His tour began on Mar 24, 1967
Casualty was on May 6, 1968
In GIA DINH, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
OTHER CAUSES
Body was recovered

Graduate of East Laurens High School

United States Army Staff Sergeant. He died while serving in action in Gia Dinh, South Vietnam.

Burial:
Andersonville National Cemetery
Andersonville (Sumter County)
Sumter County
Georgia, USA
Plot: Section P Site 243

HARLOW GARY CLARK JR
Panel 05E - Line 128 

Age: 44
Race: Caucasian
Sex: Male
Date of Birth Jul 4, 1921
Date of Death, May 7, 1 966
From: SAVANNAH, GA
Religion: METHODIST
Marital Status: Married
LTC - O5 - Army - Regular
1st Cav Div

Length of service 22 years
His tour began on Aug 18, 1965
Casualty was on Mar 7, 1966
In , SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, HELICOPTER - PILOT
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was recovered


Family:
 Parents:
  Harlow Gary Clark (1893 - 1964)
  Flora V Clark (1896 - 1978)

 Siblings:
  Clemoth Lamar Clark (1915 - 1984)*
  Pansy Eudora Clark Watts (1919 - 1995)*
  Harlow Gary Clark (1921 - 1966)

Married Mary Y. Clark

Burial:
Jeffersonville Cemetery
Jeffersonville
Twiggs County
Georgia, USA

JAMES EDWARD COOK
Panel 06E - Line 129 

Age: 29
Race: Caucasian
Sex: Male
Date of Birth Sep 4, 1936
Date of Death, April 23, 1966
Religion: BAPTIST
Marital Status: Married
SGT - E5 - Army - Regular
101st ABN Div

Length of service 12 years
His tour began on Dec 31, 1965
Casualty was on Apr 23, 1966
In , SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE
Body was recovered

Burial:
Brewton Cemetery
Laurens County
Georgia, USA

JAMES ENNIS COOPER
Panel 56E - Line 37 

Age: 24
Race: Caucasian
Sex: Male
Date of Birth Feb 10, 1944
From: DUBLIN, GA
Religion: BAPTIST
Marital Status: Married
Graduated East Laurens High School, 1963
SP4 - E4 - Army - Selective Service
1st Infantry Division

Length of service 1 years
His tour began on Aug 10, 1967
Casualty was on May 8, 1968
In BINH DUONG, SOUTH VIETNAM
Hostile, died of wounds, GROUND CASUALTY
MULTIPLE FRAGMENTATION WOUNDS
Body was recovered

DAVID LEE COPELAND
Panel 17W - Line 22 

Age: 19
Race: Negro
Sex: Male
Date of Birth Nov 29, 1949
Date of Death, October 1, 1969
From: DUDLEY, GA
Religion: BAPTIST
Marital Status: Single
CPL - E4 - Army - Regular

Length of service 1 years
His tour began on Apr 4, 1969
Casualty was on Oct 1, 1969
In BA XUGEN, SOUTH VIETNAM
NON-HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
DROWNED, SUFFOCATED
Body was recovered

United States Army Corporal. He was killed in action after he drowned in Ba Xugen, South Vietnam.

Burial:
New Providence Cemetery
Cadwell
Laurens County
Georgia, USA

BOBBY LEE FINNEY
Panel 22E - Line 40 

Age: 21
Race: Negro
Sex: Male
Date of Birth Jul 4, 1945
From: BOSTON, MA
Religion: BAPTIST
Marital Status: Single
SP4 - E4 - Army - Regular
173rd Airborne Brigade
Length of service 1 years
His tour began on Jun 2, 1967
Casualty was on Jun 22, 1967
In KONTUM, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE
Body was recovered

Burial:
Laurens Memorial Gardens
East Dublin
Laurens County
Georgia, USA

JAMES LINDER JR
Panel 19W - Line 17  

(Photo Missing)

Age: 21
Race: Negro
Sex: Male
Date of Birth Jun 6, 1948
From: MIAMI, FL
Religion: PROTESTANT
Marital Status: Single
PFC - E3 - Army - Regular
1st Cav Division (AMBL)

Length of service 0 years
His tour began on Jun 22, 1969
Casualty was on Aug 12, 1969
In QUANG TIN, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
MULTIPLE FRAGMENTATION WOUNDS
Body was recovered

EDWARD BYRON LINDSEY
Panel 54W - Line 17 

Age: 23
Race: Caucasian
Sex: Male
Date of Birth Mar 8, 1945
From: DUBLIN, GA
Religion: BAPTIST
Marital Status: Single
SP4 - E4 - Army - Selective Service
9th Infantry Division

Length of service 0 years
His tour began on Dec 22, 1967
Casualty was on Jun 29, 1968
In GO CONG, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
MISADVENTURE
Body was recovered

Buried in Memorial Gardens, Dublin, Georgia

J.D.  MILLER
Panel 13W - Line 19

(Photo Missing)

 Age: 29
Race: Negro
Sex: Male
Date of Birth May 28, 1940
Date of Death, Feb. 16, 1970
From: MONTROSE, GA
Religion: BAPTIST
Marital Status: Married
SFC - E7 - Army - Regular
101st Airborne Division

Length of service 6 years
His tour began on Jul 17, 1969
In THUA THIEN, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
MULTIPLE FRAGMENTATION WOUNDS
Body was recovered

BILLY (BILLIE)  MIMBS
Panel 23E - Line 82 

Age: 19
Race: Caucasian
Sex: Male
Date of Birth Mar 5, 1948
Date of Death July 18, 1967
From: LOLLIE, GA
Religion: BAPTIST
Marital Status: Single
PFC - E3 - Army - Regular
9th Infantry Division

Length of service 1 years
His tour began on Jan 20, 1967
Casualty was on Jul 17, 1967
In LONG AN, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE
Body was recovered

Birth: Mar. 5, 1948
Death: Jul. 17, 1967
Ha Nam, Vietnam

United States Army Private First Class served with Company B, 47th Infantry, Ninth Infantry Division. He was killed in action from small arms fire while serving in South Vietnam.

Burial:
Union Baptist Cemetery
East Dublin
Laurens County
Georgia, USA

FELTON LEE MIMS
Panel 29W - Line 21 

Age: 22
Race: Caucasian
Sex: Male
Date of Birth Oct 14, 1946
Date of Death, Mar 12, 1969
From: DALLAS, TX
Religion: PROTESTANT
Marital Status: Single
RD3 - E4 - Navy - Regular

Length of service 3 years
Casualty was on Mar 12, 1969
In GO CONG, SOUTH VIETNAM
NON-HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
DROWNED, SUFFOCATED
Body was recovered

Birth: Oct. 14, 1946
Death: Mar. 12, 1969


Burial:
Restland Memorial Park
Dallas
Dallas County
Texas, USA
Plot: Field of Honor

EDDIE LEE SMITH
Panel 22W - Line 8 

Age: 26
Race: Negro
Sex: Male
Date of Birth May 29, 1943
Date of Death, June 9, 1969
From: RENTZ, GA
Religion: BAPTIST
Marital Status: Married
1LT - O2 - Army - Reserve

Length of service 2 years
His tour began on Dec 4, 1968
Casualty was on Jun 9, 1969
In THUA THIEN, SOUTH VIETNAM
Hostile, died of wounds, GROUND CASUALTY
ARTILLERY, ROCKET, or MORTAR
Body was recovered

JAMES ARTHUR STARLEY
Panel 01E - Line 94 

Age: 39
Race: Caucasian
Sex: Male
Date of Birth Aug 1, 1925
Date of Death, Feb. 22, 1965
From: DUBLIN, GA
Religion: PROTESTANT
Marital Status: Married

FC - E7 - Army - Regular
MACV Advisors

Length of service 14 years
Casualty was on Feb 22, 1965
In , SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
BOMB EXPLOSION
Body was recovered

Birth: Wilkinson County
Georgia, USA

Family:
 Parents:
  James Harrison Starley (1880 - 1962)
  Mary Carolyn Elizabeth Daniel Starley (1883 - 1962)

 Spouse:
  Anne Lola Starley (1930 - 2010)

 Siblings:
  Pansy Bell Starley Wheeler (1904 - 1980)*
  Ralph Walter Starley (1905 - 1977)*
  Mills Jackson ''M.J.'' Starley (1910 - 1959)*
  Roy Grady Starley (1912 - 1977)*
  Lillian Starley Tarpley (1916 - 2013)*
  Otis H. Starley (1918 - 1971)*
  James Arthur Starley (1925 - 1965)


Burial:
Northview Cemetery
Dublin
Laurens County
Georgia, USA

William CLYDE IKE STINSON, JR. 
Panel 30W - Line 32 

Age: 40
Race: Caucasian
Sex: Male
Date of Birth Sep 8, 1928
Date of Death May 3, 1969
From: DUBLIN, GA
Religion: BAPTIST
Marital Status: Married
LTC - O5 - Army - Regular
198th Inf Bde

Length of service 18 years
His tour began on Sep 3, 1968
Casualty was on Mar 3, 1969
In , SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, HELICOPTER - NONCREW
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was recovered

Burial:
United States Military Academy Post Cemetery
West Point
Orange County
New York, USA