Paul William III Thomason, age 37, from Talbott, Tennessee, Jefferson county.
Service era: Iraq
Spouse: Amanda Thomason
Children: Ages 10, 7, 4, 2
Military history: G Troop, 2D Squadron, 278Th Armored Cav, (42D Inf Div), Greenville, Tennessee
Date of death: Sunday, March 20, 2005
Death details: Killed in Kirkuk, Iraq when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.
Source: Department of Defense, Military Times
Mack Lemul Jr. France, age 18, from Jefferson County Dandridge, Tennessee .
Parents: Mack L. France Sr.
Spouse: Maury High
Service era: Vietnam
Military history: 7th Cavalry Division (Airmobile)
Date of death: Friday, May 6, 1966
Death details: Died of gunshot wounds received in combat operation in Vietnam.
Source: National Archives, Standard Banner 91966)
John William Watkins, age 21, from Jefferson County Jefferson City, Tennessee .
Parents: Hugh Watkins
Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Jefferson High
Date of death: Monday, April 11, 1966
Death details: Killed in Vietnam when the Viet Cong launched a surprise attack on his company in the jungle.
Source: National Archives, Grainger County News (1966)
William F. Repass, age 30, from Jefferson County Tennessee.
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Saturday, August 7, 1943
Death details: Killed in an airplane crash in New Guinea. He was aboard C-47-DL “Eagle Beaver” when it crashed into Cleveland Bay about 20 minutes after takeoff.
Source: National Archives, Standard Banner (1946)
John Carol Jr. Owen from Jefferson County Jefferson City, Tennessee .
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
Marshall French from New Market, Tennessee, Jefferson county.
Service era: World War I
Date of death: Thursday, November 7, 1918
Death details: Killed in action
Cemetery: Knoxville National
Source: Soldiers of the Great War, findagrave.com
William N. Woods, age 23, from Jefferson County Dandrige, Tennessee .
Service era: World War I
Date of death: Wednesday, October 16, 1918
Death details: Died of wounds
Source: Soldiers of the Great War