Darren Dale Vankomen, age 33, from Beckley, West Virginia, Raleigh county.
Service era: Iraq
Military history: A Troop, 2D Squadron, 14Th Cavalry, 25Th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wa
Date of death: Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Death details: Hostile; Mosul, Iraq
Source: Department of Defense, Military Times
James Alexander Pemberton, age 22, from Beckley, West Virginia, Raleigh county.
Service era: Vietnam
Military history: 35th Infantry Regiment
Date of death: Friday, April 5, 1968
Death details: Bronze Star citation: On April 5 1968, Specialist Five Pemberton, was attached to Company A, 1/35th conducting a search and destroy operation near Kontum City. As the unit cautiously moved through dense jungle undergrowth toward a known enemy location, it was subjected to an intense barrage of hostile fire. In the initial volley, several men were injured. Despite the intense hostile fire, Specialist Five Pemberton rushed forward to administer first aid to the injured. Moving from one position to another through the hostile fire, Specialist Five Pemberton calmly administered first-aid and offered words of encouragement. As he again exposed himself to reach still another injured man, he was mortally wounded by the intense hostile fire. His courageous determination clearly prevented more serious casualties and greatly aided and inspired his comrades in successfully defeating the hostile assault. Specialist Five Pemberton’s exceptional courage, preserving concern for the welfare of his comrades, and exemplary devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Source: National Archives, 35th Infantry Regiment Association
Lewis Charles Rollins, age 20, from Raleigh County Beckley, West Virginia .
Parents: Silas Rollins
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Tuesday, May 31, 1966
Death details: Killed in action in Vietnam
Source: National Archives, Raleigh Register (1966)
George Winton Thompson, age 25, from Raleigh County Beckley, West Virginia .
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Sunday, May 15, 1966
Death details: On November 24, 1999, Joint Task Force-Full Accounting (JTF-FA, now DPAA) identified the remains of Major George Winton Thompson, missing from the Vietnam War. Major Thompson entered the U.S. Air Force from West Virginia and was a member of the 4th Air Commando Squadron. He served as the navigator on board an AC-47D Spooky (serial number 43-49546) on an armed reconnaissance mission departing from Da Nang Air Base in South Vietnam. While operating over Laos, the Spooky was shot down by enemy forces and Major Thompson was killed. Hostile presence in the area prevented immediate recovery efforts. In 1997, a joint investigative team recovered remains which were later identified as those of Major Thompson. Major Thompson is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. His name is also inscribed along with all his fallen comrades on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Associated Press (1999)
Shirley Wayne O’boyle, age 21, from Raleigh County Beckley, West Virginia .
Parents: Myrtle S. O’Boyle
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Friday, March 25, 1966
Death details: Died of wounds received in Vietnam
Source: National Archives, Associated Press (1966)