Gastonia North Carolina

Starnes, James Cecil
Air Force Staff sergeant

James Cecil Starnes, age 31, from Gastonia, North Carolina, Gaston county.

Spouse: Jonnie
Children: James Vonzeli, 8; Paul, 5

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, November 29, 1970
Death details: Ten minutes after his departure from Phan Rang Air Base, the pilot started the descent to Cam Ranh Bay via a steep valley (3 km wide and 15 km long) at an altitude of 2,700 feet via heading 30°. Shortly later, ATC instructed the crew to change heading to 100° when contact was lost. The airplane struck trees with its both wings, stalled and crashed in flames in a dense wooded area located few km from Cam Ranh Bay Airport. Rescuers arrived on the scene five days later and found two men still alive while 42 other occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was nil due to low clouds. James was on his way home after one year in Vietnam

Source: National Archives, Gastonia Gazette (1970)

Carroll, Max Edward
Army Specialist 4

Max Edward Carroll, age 21, from Gastonia, North Carolina, Gaston county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, October 25, 1970
Cemetery: Gaston Memorial Park

Source: National Archives, Gastonia Gazette (1970)

Foster, Larry Austin
Army Private 1st class

Larry Austin Foster, age 20, from Gastonia, North Carolina, Gaston county.

Spouse: Judy K. Foster

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Friday, May 8, 1970
Death details: Killed in action in Southeast Asia

Source: National Archives, Associated Press (1970)

Floyd, Robert Wilson
Marines 1st sergeant

Robert Wilson Floyd, age 49, from Gastonia, North Carolina, Gaston county.

Spouse: Viola V. Floyd

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Thursday, January 29, 1970

Source: National Archives, Raleigh News and Observer (1970)

Prutt, Carl Duane
Army Private 1st class

Carl Duane Prutt, age 20,  from Gastonia, North Carolina, Gaston county.

Service era: Vietnam

Death details: Died in Khanh Hoa, Vietnam

Date of death: Friday, November 4, 1966

Source: National Archives, 35th Infantry Regiment Association

Howe, Edwin Yates Jr.
Navy Seaman

Edwin Yates Jr. Howe, age 20, from Gastonia, North Carolina, Gaston county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Tuesday, June 12, 1951
Death details: Killed aboard the destroyer USS Walke which was was providing anti-submarine protection to carriers from Task Force 77 off the east coast of Wonsan, North Korea, when it was struck on the port side by an enemy mine or torpedo. The force of the explosion tossed many sailors into the water, and those who were injured had a difficult time staying afloat while they waited for rescue. Twenty-six sailors were killed in the explosion and forty were wounded.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Granby, Haywood
Navy Reserves Cook 3rd class

Haywood Granby from Gastonia, North Carolina, Chowan county.

Spouse: Mary F. Belk

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Monday, December 18, 1944
Death details: He was aboard the destroyer USS Hull as it operated as part of the Fast Carrier Strike Force in the Philippine Sea. On December 17, 1944, the Hull was participating in refueling operations when the ships of its fueling group were engulfed by Typhoon Cobra. The Hull lost its ability to steer amid the enormous waves and began taking on water. The Hull eventually took on too much water to stay afloat and rolled and sank shortly before noon, on December 18. Sixty-two crew members were rescued, but a little more than two-hundred crew members were lost in the sinking.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Back To Top