Nevertheless, the battle continued. Spc. At 1000 hours on May 20, after 10 artillery batteries fired more than 20,000 rounds and 272 tactical airstrikes dumped more than 1 million pounds of bombs, and 152,000 pounds of napalm virtually denuded the top of the mountain, the 3-187 once again started up the mountain, supported by the 1-506, which renewed its attack on the southern side. The controversial battle ultimately led to a reappraisal of U.S. strategy in the Vietnam War. Despite the fratricide, the attack ground on. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/95960267/weldon-s-honeycutt. I have this ability to go numb when things like that happen, said Baylor about his draft notification from the U.S. Army. Weldon Huneycutt's passing has been publicly announced by Crosier-Pearson Cleburne Funeral Home in Cleburne, TX. The Associated Press sent a reporter, Jay Sharbutt, to investigate the situation. Add to your scrapbook. In this interview, he describes many of the engagements he was in, and the attributes of the leaders he served with. If I wasnt kneeling with Crutts, if I was standing, the round would have hit my spine. based on information from your browser. May 1, 2019. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Crosier-Pearson Cleburne Funeral Home 512 N Ridgeway Dr, Cleburne, TX 76033, Crosier-Pearson Cleburne Chapel 512 N Ridgeway Dr, Cleburne, TX 76033. I told Crutts I was going to make it to the top of the hill for both of us, that I was determined! see less Colonel Weldon F. Honeycutt was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School 24 November 1951, Class #5-51. 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. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Learn more about . Try again later. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. . You can always change this later in your Account settings. Trautmann moved forward on the line to gain perspective on the situation. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. Hartsell Funeral Home - Albemarle | 522 N 2nd St. | Albemarle, NC 28001 | Tel: 704-983-1188 | Fax: 704-982-7102 | DIRECTIONS. Weldon Honeycutt of Kaufman County, Texas was born c. 1946. Liberty Christian Church Cemetery. Cobra gunships and aerial rocket artillery were called in. 2017-2023 Tribute Archive. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. HistoryNet.com contains daily features, photo galleries and over 25,000 articles originally published in our nine magazines. Interview conducted in May 1969. Conmy agreed and Honeycutt had it inserted into a landing zone east of Dong Ap Bia. During the 1972 Easter Offensive, Willbanks, then a captain, was an adviser with a South Vietnamese infantry unit at An Loc. The thick foliage and close proximity of friendly troops inhibited the use of indirect fire, further slowing any progress. Weldon Honeycutt was married to. Despite these losses, Colonel Honeycutt adamantly protested the relief of his battalion, demanding that his men, who had already paid such a high price, be allowed to continue the mission to take the hill, saying all he needed was one additional company. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made, by making a donation to Weldon Huneycutts favorite charity, the St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Did Weldon finish grade school, get a GED, go to high school, get a college degree or masters? It just turned out that his command window landed on the 49th and 50th anniversaries of the Battle of Hamburger Hill. COPYRIGHT 2014 WEST POINT CENTER FOR ORAL HISTORY. It was a good move, as they were closer to their children, who made their home in Colorado. A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). 0 cemeteries found in Pineville, Rapides Parish, Louisiana, USA. Shortly after the costly assault on Hamburger Hill in mid-1969,the GI underground newspaper in Vietnam, "G.I. 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. In the middle of a battle, the commander left the company for the night defensive position. We have set your language to Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. He was born September 23, 1928 to Dr. Semeion Fairenton Huneycutt and Lena Viola (Turner) Huneycutt in Sherman, Texas. Visitation will be Tuesday, May 18, 2021 from 6-7:30 p.m., at the funeral home. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Honeycutt, whose Bravo Company was being held in 3rd Brigade reserve at Firebase Blaze, called Colonel Conmy and requested release of his company. He was predeceased by : his parents, Dr. Semeion Fairenton Huneycutt and Lena Viola Huneycutt (Turner); his siblings, Arvel Huneycutt, Reba Young and Jeannie Winnett; and his brother-in-law Nolte Crosier. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. After being demoralized, Charlie Company reconsolidated and was tasked to secure the battalion command post for the next three days. Show your support Send Flowers Learn more about merges. Verify and try again. You may leave a message for the family by clicking here. Weldon Honeycutt was married to Linda F. (Cannefax) Honeycutt on April 4, 1970 in Kaufman County, Texas. While the 3-187 held the enemy in place on the western face of the mountain, the 1-506 and the other two battalions, 2-501 and 2/3 ARVN, would overrun the summit. There was an error deleting this problem. cemeteries found in Pineville, Rapides Parish, Louisiana, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. 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.. Later, he found out they were pointing out the Soldiers they perceived would not make it home from Vietnam alive. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? He was preceded in death by his parents . How vision became a reality for veteran Rakkasans Learn more about managing a memorial . He gave explicit orders to General Abrams that he was to conduct the war with a minimum of American casualties., Shortly thereafter, Nixon announced that he intended to Vietnamize the war and, concurrent with that effort, the United States would begin withdrawing troops from Vietnam. Thanks for your help! To use this feature, use a newer browser. Please try again later. 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. The most comprehensive and authoritative history site on the Internet. The fighting was intense and progress was slow as gunships, artillery and mortar fire continued to pound enemy positions on the summit while the paratroopers clawed their way up the hill against heavy enemy fire. becomes full If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Conmy expected that the 1-506, the Currahees, starting from their location some 4,000 meters south of Hill 937, would be in position to provide some relief to the 3-187 no later than the morning of May 15, but it would take 5 daysuntil May 19for the Currahees to reach a position where they could support the Rakkasans. There was never enough to eat, and partly because of this he joined the Army in 1946. North America. Are you ok? Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Advertisement. When 2 or more people share their unique perspectives, Make sure that the file is a photo. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. In 1964 an Ohio woman took up the challenge that had led to Amelia Earharts disappearance. In 1956, this was the year that the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley, became an international sensation. A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m., Friday, Aug., 4, at Old. Concerned for his friend, Baylor turned around and grabbed Crutts and held him in his arms. At 1145 hours, exactly nine days and five hours after Bravo first made contact on the mountain, the Rakkasans, reinforced with the additional company from the 2-506, took the summitonly to find that most of the enemy had already fled. AncientFaces is a place where our memories live. There was a problem getting your location. Help paint a picture of Weldon so that he is always remembered. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. He was the best. I had never seen a jet fighter up close, and I remember thinking then, that was it, and we were coming into something heavy. See What AncientFaces Does to discover more about the community. Honeycutt, whose Bravo Company was being held in 3rd Brigade reserve at Firebase Blaze, called Colonel Conmy and requested release of his company. Says", publicly offered a $10,000 bounty on Lieutenant Colonel Weldon Honeycutt, the officer who ordered (and led) the attack. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Let others know about your loved one's death. When he turned around, the commander was nowhere to be found. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. He was a kind and gentle man. I was 26 and Crutts was 21. Did Weldon serve in the military or did a war or conflict interfere with his life? Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Sharing memories of old times, children and grandchildren. 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. 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. However, the events that would occur in the next two years were much more deliberate than the timing of his career. Memorials. I couldnt recognize them, said Baylor, except for one man who wore a wrist watch on both arms. 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?. 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. 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. After attending the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, he returned to Vietnam. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. On May 14, he launched a coordinated attack on Dong Ap Bia with three companies. 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. Honeycutt ordered Charlie Company to the aid of Delta, but a sudden blinding rainstorm halted the attack and the Rakkasans again reluctantly withdrew back down the mountain. Failed to remove flower. North Carolina. Retired Maj. Gen. Eldon . Where was Weldon born and where did he live? Failed to delete memorial. Learn more about managing a memorial . Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Photo provided by James Baylor His first duty assignment was as Platoon Leader, 31st Infantry Division, Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Weldon S Pete Honeycutt I found on Findagrave.com. When I reached Charlie Companys position, 2nd and 3rd Platoons were both pinned down, said Trautmann. Designed by HNR Tech Maintained by MEC Systems, Inc. Pathfinder Detachment Commander/Platoon Leader, 187th Airborne Regiment Combat Team, Korea. Death 8 Apr 1992 (aged 78) . As Baylor disembarked the aircraft, he passed veterans who were headed home. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Thanks for your help! There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Oops, we were unable to send the email. This is a carousel with slides. Bowlings answer was simple. Later, another soldier passing by scrawled underneath the question, Was it worth it?. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Ive always envied those who have made it to the top, he said. Leave a sympathy message to the family on the memorial page of Weldon Huneycutt to pay them a last tribute. read more Vance County. With the Currahees halted, Colonel Conmy ordered Honeycutt to postpone his attack to wait for the 1-506. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. We could hear contact over the radio from the other companies, but the jungle was too thick to hear the fighting. That memory would haunt me forever. We lost contact after I moved back east. He joined the army in 1946 and joined the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team during the Korean War. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. Upon taking command in 2017, Bowling announced his first two priorities. He committed three additional battalions (2-501, 2-506 and 2-3 ARVN) to the battle and ordered the relief of the badly battered 3-187, which by now had suffered heavily in the repeated assaults up Dong Ap Bia. When you share, or just show that you care, the heart Each company moved out to their assigned axis of advance and Charlie Company moved further and further onto the base of the hill. 2022 TUSOCSAA. For much of the American public, Hamburger Hill crystallized the frustration of winning costly battles without ever consummating a strategic victory. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. Try again later. USA. Dr. Weldon Glen Huneycutt passed away May 12, 2021 in Loveland, Colorado. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Death, Burial, Cemetery & Obituaries Search; Sponsored by Ancestry. ). Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. The lead element of the company had a short but sharp fight at sunset, but Honeycutt ordered its commander to form a night defensive position and continue the attack in the morning. Lena Viola ( Turner ) Huneycutt in Sherman, Texas except for one man who wore wrist! Sympathy message to the family on the 49th and 50th anniversaries of the leaders he served.! Top, he said 4, at the funeral home in Cleburne, TX 2021 from p.m.! Huneycutt and Lena Viola ( Turner ) Huneycutt in Sherman, Texas move, as they were closer their. 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