35th Infantry (Cacti) Regiment Association


Back    KIA Index    Search

  SP4 Randy Neal Ward    In memory of our fallen brother

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; for he to-day that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother"



Charlie Company
1st Battalion
35th Infantry Regiment

Vietnam War


"Not For Fame or Reward
Not For Place or For Rank
But In Simple Obedience To
Duty as They Understood It"

National Defense Service Medal Vietnam Service Medal Vietnam Campaign Medal Vietnam Campaign Medal



The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, SP4 Randy Neal Ward, who died in the service of his country on January 27th, 1968 in Quang Nam Province, Vietnam. The cause of death was listed as Friendly Fire. At the time of his death Randy was 20 years of age. He was from Tullahoma, Tennessee. Randy is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Panel 35E, Line 51.

The decorations earned by SP4 Randy Neal Ward include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation.


Martha Sutton
suttonm3@k12.tn.net
friend
383 Seminary Rd
Manchester, Tn.37355 USA
In the hills of Tennessee, in a place called Awalt, was born a son to Mr. &Mrs. Pete Ward. They called him Randy. He gave his all on Jan. 27, 1968 for the country, family and friends he loved so dearly. We miss you and We DO REMEMBER and always will. From Donnie Thomas and other Tullahoma friends.

Burial:Booneville Cemetery, Booneville,Tennessee

From his Obituary:

Specialist Fourth Class Randy Neal Ward, son of Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Ward, Alwat, was killed Saturday in Vietnam when shot by American forces who mistook him for a Communist solider.

The Department of the Army informed his family Sunday that the shooting occurred while Specialist Ward was changing his position. The Franklin County soldier would have been 21 years old May 9, about the time he was scheduled to return to the United States.

A 1965 graduate of Franklin County High School, Winchester, Specialist Ward was employed by Genesco in Tullahoma before entering the Army in November 1966. He was a member of the FFA while in high school.

After entering the Army, he received basic training at Fort Campbell, KY. And AIT at Fort Polk, LA., before going to Vietnam last May.

He earned the Purple Heart last July when wounded in the forearm, for which he was hospitalized two weeks; and later was out of action for another two weeks after contracting malaria.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by two sisters, Miss Dean Ward and Mrs. Jack Ferrell.