Gallatin Tennessee

Grinder, Billie J.
Army Chief warrant officer

Billie J. Grinder, age 25, from Gallatin, Tennessee, Sumner county.

Parents: Harold William Smith (deceased) and Roxanne Davenport
Spouse: Samuel W. Grinder
Children: Step daughters Megan Grinder and Makayla Grinder

Service era: Iraq
Schools: Smyran High (2002)
Military history: 1st Squadron, 230th Cavalry Regiment, Louisville, Tennessee.

Date of death: Sunday, February 21, 2010
Death details: Died in Qayyarah, Iraq of wounds suffered when their OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter had a hard landing. Capt. Marcus R. Alford also died in the incident.

Source: Department of Defense, Tennessean, Military Times 

Overstreet, Tyler Ray
Marines Lance corporal

Tyler Ray Overstreet, age 22, from Gallatin, Tennessee, Sumner county.

Parents: Jana Mertens and Wendell Overstreet

Service era: Iraq
Schools: Gallatin High (2004)
Military history: Det A, I Co, 3D Bn, 24Th Mar, 4Th Mar Div, Nashville, Tn

Date of death: Monday, October 23, 2006
Death details: Hostile; Fallujah, Iraq
Cemetery: Crestview Memory Gardens in Gallatin

Source: Department of Defense, findagrave.com, Military Times

Cross, Alvin Euclid
Army Chief warrant officer 2

Alvin Euclid Cross, age 34, from Gallatin, Tennessee, Sumner county.

Parents: Odessa Cross
Spouse: Claudette Cross
Children: Dawnette,, Almuriel, Alvin, Derek Cross

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Friday, April 17, 1970
Death details: Killed in a plane crash in Vietnam

Source: National Archives, The Tennessean (1970)

Trisdale, Robert Lee
Army Sergeant 1st class

Robert Lee Trisdale, age 38, from Gallatin, Tennessee, Sumner county.

Service era: Vietnam
Military history: Company A, 16th Infantry Division; Bronze Star and Purple Heart

Date of death: Saturday, April 26, 1969
Cemetery: Nashville National

Source: National Archives, grave marker

Petty, John Robert Jr.
Marines Chief warrant officer 2

John Robert Jr. Petty, age 35, from Sumner County Gallatin, Tennessee .

Parents: John R. Petty Sr. and preceded in death by Jessie K. Petty
Spouse: Peggy Finimore Petty
Children: Virginia Petty, 2

Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Gallatin High (1948)
Military history: Korean Conflict veteran

Date of death: Tuesday, October 26, 1965
Death details: Killed in a plane crash in South Vietnam.
Cemetery: Crestview Memorial Park

Source: National Archives, The Tennessean (1965)

Troutt, William Smith
Navy Reserves Fire controlman 3rd class

William Smith Troutt from Sumner County Gallatin, Tennessee .

Parents: James Robert Troutt

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Thursday, October 15, 1942
Death details: On October 15, 1942, he was in a U.S. convoy of six ships that was towing barges loaded with urgently needed supplies toward Guadalcanal. The American forces on that island were in dire need of resupply. When the convoy was spotted by enemy aircraft, all but two ships withdrew from the area. The two ships that pressed on were the USS Meredith (DD-434,) a destroyer, and the USS Vireo (AM-54,) a lightly armed towing vessel. Upon receiving word that Japanese surface warships were operating in the area, both ships were forced to turn back from their mission. Because of its age and slow speed, Vireo was abandoned, and the crew taken aboard the Meredith. Within minutes, the Meredith was attacked by a large force of enemy aircraft. The destroyer sustained multiple bomb and torpedo hits and quickly sank. The survivors spent three days at sea before being rescued. The majority of the crews of both ships was killed in the incident.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, The Tennessean (1942)

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