Charles Ray Hillis, Sr., Command Sergeant Major, U.S. Army, (Retired), age 76 of West Melbourne, Florida (Formerly of McMinnville, Tennessee) died Monday, December 07, 2009. He was born on March 26, 1933, in Campaign, Tennessee.  He attended the Warren County school system prior to entering the army in August of 1948 at 15 years of age.  He was assigned to occupation duty with the 24th Infantry Division in southern Japan. There he attained the rank of Corporal.  He was discharged as a minor in October of 1949. Re-enlisting in the Army in March of 1950, he volunteered for jump school at Fort Benning, Georgia, graduating in June of 1950. He was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. While serving in the 82nd Airborne, he received his high school equivalency.   In December of 1951, he was reassigned for duty with the 2nd Battalion, 187th (Airborne) Regimental Combat Team in Korea. While engaged in hand-to-hand combat during the prison riots on Koeji Do Island in May of 1952, he was seriously injured and was evacuated to a hospital in Japan. Upon recovery and a short leave, he again volunteered to return to his Regiment in Korea, where he served as a Platoon Sergeant on the front line until the war ended.  After the Korea War, he served as Jump School Instructor, Pathfinder Platoon Sergeant and First Sergeant with the 11th Airborne Division and the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.  He volunteered for Special Forces Training in 1958. He then served with the 1^st Special Forces Group stationed on Okinawa until December 1961. After serving in Vietnam with the 1^st SF Group, he returned to Vietnam in August of 1966, where he served two tours of duty with Alpha and Charlie Companies, 1st Battalion, (Airborne) 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division. While with A Company, he participated in more than seventy-five combat air assaults and his company was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for a singular combat operation.

He was honorably retired as a Sergeant Major at Fort Dix, New Jersey in August 1978.  His official awards and decorations include: the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal for Valor with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart, Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, The Army Commendation Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Good Conduct Medal 10th Award, Army Occupation of Japan, National Defense Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Korean Service Medal with 2 Bronze Campaign Stars, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal with 4 Bronze Campaign Stars, Vietnam Medal of Honor 3rd Class, Vietnam Service Medal, United Nations Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Combat Infantry Badge 2nd Award, Master Parachutist Wings, Gilder Badge, Nationalist Chinese Parachutist Badge, Royal Thai Army Parachutist Badge and Fourtagere.

After retirement he attended the Morris College of Business in Melbourne, Florida, and operated a small business until returning to McMinnville in 1982, where he owned and operated a Computer Training Facility. In May 2008, he moved to Melbourne, Florida where he died at home on December 07, 2009.

Charles was preceded in death by his mother, Florence Bain Hillis, his father, Linzie Hillis, and four brothers J. L. Hillis, Earl Hillis, Bill Hillis, and Barry Hillis.

He is survived by his former wife and mother of his children, Shirley F. (Wiggins) Windham of Melbourne, Florida, and their three children, Charles R. Hillis, Jr. of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Brenda F. Cornman and husband Ron of West Melbourne, FL, and Cynthia H. Wheeler and husband Keith of Lake Mills, WI. Charles had six grandchildren, Aimee and Ryan Cornman of West Melbourne, FL, Sophie Carver of Greenfield, WI, Matthew Wheeler of Madison, WI, Chase Wheeler of Mountain, WI, and Vanessa Wheeler of Boston, MA. He is also survived by three great-grandchildren Jayden K. Carver, Madeline E. Carver, and Kyla N. Gress. Charles is also survived by his brother Eddie Hillis and wife Sharon and sisters Marsha Hillis and Linda Durham and husband Terry.

Funeral service is 2 P.M. Saturday, December 12, 2009, in the McMinnville Funeral Home Chapel. Bro. Bob Deason will officiate. Interment will follow at Mt. View Cemetery. Military grave rites will be administered by the American Legion Post 173 and V.F.W. Post 5064. The Hillis Family will receive friends on Friday from 4 P.M. until 8 P.M. and again on Saturday from 11 A.M. until 2 P.M. at the parlors of McMinnville Funeral Home.

Randy Wilson Harwell, Harwell, age 62, of Cornelius, NC died Monday, November 23, 2009 at Levine Dickson Hospice House.  Born September 3, 1947 in Iredell County, he was the son of the late Russell L. Harwell and Kay Mills Harwell. Randy was a US Army veteran of Vietnam, a painting contractor, a member of American Legion #86 and a member of the Veterans of Foreign War #1072.

Memorial services were conducted at 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 25 in the Chapel of Raymer Funeral  Home. He is survived by his wife, Beverly Washam Harwell, son, Joseph Russell 'Russ' Harwell and wife Amy of Cornelius, daughter, Allison Nicole 'Nikki' Harwell and fiance, Dr. Donnie Stewart of Lenior, NC, grandchildren, Abigail Brooke Hege, Kayley Elizabeth Harwell, and Madison Leigh Harwell.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Levine Dickson Hospice House, 11900 Vanstory Dr., Huntersville, NC 28078.

Elmer Davis of Charlie Company writes, “Randy arrived in Viet Nam the first part of December 1967, to the 1st Cav’s Charlie Company, 1/12th, 2nd Platoon, 1st squad.  He was my 'Mother Hen' when I arrived in February of 1968.  He took very good care of me and was always there to do anything for anyone.  He was a very giving person and gave of himself daily.  He would volunteer for the bad details.  He went to the gun squad the last part of May 1968.  He was injured in an ambush on June 23, 1968 receiving severe damage to his right knee and elbow.  His entire right side had taken several bullets.  Later in life he had to have his left knee replaced because of the extra stress caused to it by his injured right knee.  All of his battles were, on the battlefield and in life, fought with bravery, courage and loyalty.”

Harold Heinzeroth, we are saddened to report the death of Harold "Hootie" Heinzeroth. He died on November 13th, 2009 in Wellsburg, West Virginia, when his heart gave out. He served with Bravo Company, 1/12th Cav, 3rd Platoon in 1969-70. He spent virtually all of his tour as a rifleman in the jungles northeast of Tay Ninh and in the Central Highlands near the Cambodian border. He was with the 1/12th into Cambodia and will be remembered with respect and warmth by those he served with.  Our condolences go to his wife, Gwen, and his family.

Gary Lee Uliano, Col. (Ret), 64, of Orlando Florida went home to be with his Lord on March 28, 2009. Gary served as Company Commander of C Co, 1/12 Cav from February 1969 to August 1969. He then served as Assistant G3 with HHC 1st Cav Div (Air Mobile) from September 1969 to February 1970. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his distinguished service. Gary proudly served in the US Army for 26 years in a wide variety of command and staff positions. He has spent the past 17 years in the defense industry managing simulation, training and support programs for Loral and Lockheed Martin. Gary was a member of River Run Christian Church in Orlando Florida. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing with his family and friends. Gary was a Florida Gators fan. He is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Pat Uliano; his daughter Marcia Bayard and his son Peter Uliano. Gary was laid to rest at Bushnell National Cemetery in Florida. He will forever be remembered. He will forever be missed. His son, Peter, can be contacted at peteruliano@msn.com

Ronald “Scott” Taylor 64, on Sunday January 18, 2009 at the Veteran’s Administration Nursing Home in Washington D.C. from complications of diabetes, brought on by his exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. Mr. Taylor, an Arlington, VA native, graduated from Virginia Tech as a member of the Corps of Cadets, and commissioned into the Army as an infantry officer in 1966. He had two combat tours of duty in Vietnam with the 1st Cavalry Division, and the Military Advisory Command, Vietnam. He received numerous decorations, including the Distinguished Service Cross, our country’s second highest award for combat valor after the Medal of Honor. 

At the start of the Tet Offensive in January 1968, Lt Taylor’s unit, C. Co. 2/12th Cavalry was heavily engaged with the enemy in the Que Son Valley.  Lt. Taylor’s platoon was encircled by an NVA regiment that repeatedly tried to overrun his small unit.  During the 26 hour fight, 20 of his 50 men were wounded.  His Distinguished Service Cross citation noted that Lt Taylor rallied his men while constantly exposing himself to the enemy fusillade, moving from position to position, calling for and adjusting a concentrated ring of friendly artillery fire. Charles Krohn wrote in his memoir, The Lost Battalion, that over 7,000 rounds of division artillery were fired on top of and around the besieged men to hold off the NVA.

After leaving active duty, Mr. Taylor served in the Army Reserve, and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.  He graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1975, and later received an MBA from Stanford University. Mr. Taylor spent most of his federal career as a Department of Justice Criminal Division attorney in Washington D.C., prosecuting crimes throughout the country.  He retired on disability in 2001. He leaves his wife, Le Thu Taylor of Falls Church, VA; mother Ruth of Woodstock, VA; two brothers, Robert Parks of Arlington, VA, and Kevin, of Aldie, VA, and six nieces and nephews. His brother, Kevin, can be contacted at  kdtaylor01@aol.com
 

David Carmody, 61, of Kalamazoo, Michigan passed away March 28, 2009. He was the 3rd Platoon Leader of Charlie Company, 1/12th Cavalry during 1968. His military decorations included the Silver Star, awarded for his actions on May 28, 1968. He is survived by his wife and two children. Memorial Contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.
 

Donald Garvin, a rifleman with the 3rd Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 12th Cavalry Regiment from 1966-67, passed away suddenly in December 2008. Donald is survived only by his two sisters from Ridgeland, S.C. He was a wonderful soldier and a friend to the entire platoon.
 

Rutland D. Beard Jr., 84, of Potomac, Maryland passed away on December 21, 2008. He was the Commander of the 1/12th Cavalry from December 1965 to June 1966. His thirty-three years of military service began when he enlisted during World War II and served with the 102nd Infantry Division. Colonel Beard was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Boys Town, 300 Flanagan Blvd., PO Box 7000, Boys Town, NE 68010 or www.boystown.org/donate
    

LeRoy Shabram of Neligh, Nebraska passed away on December 14, 2008. He served  as an assistant gunner for the 2nd platoon, Company C, 1/12th Cavalry in 1968 and in Headquarters Company 1st Brigade in 1969. He was intending to  attend his first Cav reunion in 2008 when he found out that he had cancer and had to have chemo instead.
 

Mike Sinkovits, of Parkton, NC passed away on December 3, 2008. He served in Company C, 1/12th Cavalry for a few months in 1966 he then was transferred  to Company A, 1/12th Cavalry until he was wounded in August, 1966. He was a good Airborne/Ranger soldier with three tours in Nam, visited Arlington cemetery every year on Veterans Day and put flowers on all our 1/12th Cavalry gravesites. He was involved with the establishment of the 1/12th Cavalry Airborne Memorial in the Airborne museum in Fayetteville. He will be laid to rest in Arlington Cemetery on Friday, February 13, 2008, at 3:00 PM.  Anyone wishing to attend should arrive at the main gate one half hour early, in their own vehicles.
 

Kenneth "Dingle F**K"  Walker, 60,  of Somerville, New Jersey died just prior to Veteran's Day, 2008. He would have been 61 on New Year's Eve. He served in Company C, 1/12th Cavalry in 1968 and 1969. He was awarded the Bronze Star with a "V." Ken attended one Cav Reunion in Washington DC in 2004 and enjoyed it greatly.
 

Raymond " Butch" Hawthorne, of Utah passed away on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008. He was in the U.S. Army from 1965 - 1967, during which time he served in Vietnam with the Company D, 2/12th Cavalry as a M-79 Grenadier, a great "Blooper Man.". Butch considered his Vietnam service as one of the finest periods of his life. He cared and appreciated his "brothers."
 

Douglas Carroll Thomas, 82, of Frederick, Maryland died Saturday, May 24, 2008. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the U.S. Army, 12th Calvary, as a medic. He was stationed in the Occupation Force in Japan where he helped to set up a base hospital. He received a World War II Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal/Japan.
 

He was a survivor of the battle for Hue during the TET offensive of 1968. After his battalion was surrounded in a village named Thon La Chu, Tilden escaped certain death, along with the rest of his Battalion, as they made a daring night march through enemy lines to high ground where they were able to continue their fight for Hue.   Tilden was a member of the "Lost Battalion of TET".
 

William "Leroy" LAWSON, 62, of Washington DC., died Thursday, July 10th 2008. Leroy is survived by his wife Morgan Kulla, and son, Travis. "LT" Leroy was a member of DELTA Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry as both a Platoon Leader for the 3rd Platoon and then as Company Executive Officer when DELTA went into Cambodia in May-June 1970. After Viet Nam, Leroy became an accomplished artist, teacher and full time volunteer at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. Our dear friend and comrade will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on Tuesday September 30th 2008.  He was loved by the DELTA soldiers, enlisted and officer alike-we will miss him greatly. He will be remembered by his brothers forever as one of those "...soldiers who cannot get older..." In lieu of flowers, etc., donations should be made to "The YELLOW RIBBON FUND"   http://www.yellowribbonfund.com/ .
 

Clyde "Bill" Kizziar, 60, of Lake Isabella, California passed away November 23, 2006. He served with the 3/12th Cav in Budingen, Germany three times. The most recently being with C Troop from 73-76. He served twice in Viet Nam, one of those tours with 3/5 Cav. Scouts Out!
 

Jackson, Handy of Ellen Woods, Georgia passed away from a fatal stroke April 22, 2008. He was a member of Company C, 1/12th Cavalry. You can send a card to his wife or contact his daughter at : Wife--Annette Jackson, Daughter--Lou Jackson, 135 Bond Lake Dr., Ellen Wood, Ga. 30294.

Fuchs, Gerald C. "Jerry" of Fairport, New York, Suddenly on April 8, 2008. Survived by his loving wife, Jewell "Bunny"; 4 sons, Erich, Karl, Jerry and Michael Fuchs; sister, Deborah Licata. Jerry was a Vietnam Veteran. He was a 1st Sergeant with Company B, 2/12th Cavalry of the U.S. Army's First Calvary Division.
 

Riley Frank Palmer, 62, of Terrell Co., GA., died Saturday February 9, 2008. Survived by his wife, Jane, and son, Jeramy, stepson, Joseph Capogreca, and stepdaughter, Julie Duncan. A member of B 2/12 in his first tour in 1966-67. He was one of the original members of the Bravo212 group. Riley once drove 12 hours to be with us for our reunion banquet, then turned around and drove home. He will be remembered by his brothers at every reunion.

John "Mike" Steel, 63, died October 4, 2007 after losing his nine-month battle with Non-Hodgkin's Mantel Cell Lymphoma, one of the conditions recognized by the Department of Veterans' Affairs as associated with exposure to herbicides in the Republic of Viet Nam, where Mike served as a SPC 4, in D Company, 1/12th Cavalry from October 19, 1967 to September 2, 1969. For 38 years, Mike suffered the torment of Post-traumatic Stress Disease. Since 2001 with the help of the dedicated staff and veterans at the West Haven Veteran's Hospital, Mike received the support he needed to begin to achieve his potential. He became the first chairperson of the PSTD Veterans' Arts Council. Memorial contributions may be made to PTSD Arts Council, c/o VA CT Health Care/ PTSD Arts Council, 950 Campbell Avenue, West Haven CT 06516.
 

Robert "Bobby" Enyeart, 59, died December 24, 2006. He was born in Marion, Indiana and was a 1966 graduate of Marion High School. He married his high school sweetheart, Donna Rice on October 14, 1967; she survives. He was a self-employed carpenter and worked with his father for 30 years at Bob Enyeart and Son before retiring. He was a US Army Vietnam Veteran earning rank of E5 Sergeant, and the Bronze Star, serving in 1st Calvary Division as a radio man with Company C, 1/12th Cavalry in 1968-69. He and his father founded Mississinewa Skyhawks Model Airplane Club. Memorial contributions may be made to Disabled American Veterans.
 

Myron "Mike" Taylor, Captain, died April 18, 2007. He was from Gering, Nebraska and is survived by his wife Marge. Mike served with C Troop, 12th Cavalry Regiment from 1942 to 1946.
 

Marvin Epstein died April 25, 2007 from bone cancer. He was from Southfield, Michigan and is survived by his wife Marilyn, children, and many friends including those in the First Cavalry Division Association. Marvin served in F Troop, 12th Cavalry Regiment from August, 1944 through October, 1946. He and his wife Marilyn were a welcome sight at the annual 1st Cavalry Division Association reunions. He will be missed by all who knew him.
 

Walt Gassman died February 28,  2007. Walt was the Communication RTO and passed away due to cancer at Carnie, Nebraska. Walt was an original member of Company C, 1/12th Cavalry he joined the army from South Dakota where he grew up on the Sioux Indian Reservation. After his army tour of duty he went to work with the Union Pacific Railroad. In April, 1966 he was next to Captain McMillan  and Paul Hattabaugh the day they were killed on "Operation Lincoln" in Western Pleiku Province, Chu Pong Massiff right on the Cambodian Border. 

Thomas M. O'Reilly died December 28 2006. Bravo Company, 1/12th Cavalry '65-'66 Vietnam combat Veteran.  He was from Amityville New York. He was working on a bridge as an iron worker when he received his draft notice and although he was at first dismayed, he went to serve his country without regret and would do it again, if called. He took training at Fort Gordon in Augusta GA before attending jump school at Fort Benning GA and was eventually assigned to the new Air Cavalry Unit with the First Cav Division. He kept in close contact with his buddy, Joe O'Brick (who relayed this information and will miss his friend's letter exchange every year on Saint Patrick's Day). Trooper O'Reilly also worked on Building Number Seven at the World Trade Center and fell off the 11th Floor when it was under construction. When this building fell after the attack of September 11, 2001, Thomas and his son volunteered to go back to help clean up the twisted iron at the site. Trooper O'Reilly's name was ceremoniously entered on a construction beam left there at the site, placed there by his son.
 

Jack Burton Gies, Sr., MSG (R), 80, Died Nov. 28, 2006, at Midland Hospice House. He was born Feb. 7, 1926, at Topeka KS, Jack attended Tecumseh Grade School, Highland Park High School, and received a Bachelors Degree from Washburn University. He received his Masters Degree from the University of Kansas. Jack was a U.S. Army Veteran of World War II (HHT, 12th Cavalry Regiment) and was retired from the Army. He retired in 1988 with 39 years as an educator. Memorial contributions may be made to the Highland Park High School Alumni Scholarship Fund, 2424 S.E. California Ave., Topeka, KS 66605.
 

Daniel Marshall Morris, SSG, 28, of Clinton passed away Saturday November 25 while participating in combat operations in Iraq...His family will receive friends Saturday from 6 to 8 pm at Holley-Gamble Funeral Home in Clinton with funeral services following at 8 pm in the chapel...Interment with full military honors conducted at graveside will be held at 2 pm Sunday at the Oak Ridge Memorial Park...In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials instead be made to a college scholarship fund that has been set up at ORNL Federal Credit Union, PO Box 365, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 for his 10-year-old daughter...Holley-Gamble Funeral Home of Clinton in charge of all arrangements.
 

Mutz, Mitchel, SGT, November 15, 2006 U.S. Army SGT. Mitchel Mutz, 23, a soldier in the First Cavalry Division and a resident of Falls City, died in Iraq Nov. 15. He had been in the Army for three years and three months and was on his second tour of duty in Iraq. His parents are Bobby Mutz, a former Karnes County sheriff, and Dixie Mutz, a librarian at the Falls City Library. His brother, Nathan, is a Department of Public Safety trooper in Wilson County. Shawna Mutz is his sister-in-law. He was born in 1983 on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day. He was returned to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware Nov. 17, and will be returned to San Antonio Nov. 20. Memorials can be made to the Falls City Public Library.
    •Visitation: Friday, Nov. 24, beginning at 5 p.m., Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Falls City.
    •Rosary: Friday, 7 p.m., in the church.
    •Funeral Mass: Saturday, 10 a.m., in the church.
    •Interment: Holy Trinity Catholic Cemetery, Falls City.
Source: Wilsoncountynews.com

Petrovich, Walter D., SGT, July 20, 2006. Army/technician, 52-year Colorado Springs resident, born July 16, 1947. Survived by his wife, Catherine; and two sons, Steven Michael Saleny and Walter Joseph Petrovich. Visitation, 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, Swan Law Funeral Directors. Services, 10 a.m. Tuesday, Swan Law Funeral Directors. Burial, Fairview Cemetery, Colorado Springs.

Valletta, Richard F., SFC, July 14, 2006.  Richard was with Company A, 2/12th Cavalry from 1968 to 1970 and he lost his battle with cancer on July 14th, 2006. His former wife, Isolde Valletta can be contacted at rblackdog1@cox.net
 

Swain, Richard A., MSG (R), December 11, 2005. Honorary Sergeant Major of the Regiment since 1992 and he was a charter member of the Association and served as its President for several years. He was a regular at all the 1st Cavalry Division reunions. Survived by his wife, Erica Swain, 4892 Old Cliff Road, San Diego, CA 92120.
 

He was a survivor of the battle for Hue during the TET offensive of 1968. After his battalion was surrounded in a village named Thon La Chu, Tilden escaped certain death, along with the rest of his Battalion, as they made a daring night march through enemy lines to high ground where they were able to continue their fight for Hue.   Tilden was a member of the "Lost Battalion of TET".