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Date Posted: Wed, May 24 2006, 15:42:43
Author: Jeff Northridge
Author Host/IP: 4.131.208.102
Subject: Re: Harold C Hedden Jr
In reply to: Tamara Hedden 's message, "Harold C Hedden Jr" on Wed, May 24 2006, 11:02:24

Howdy Tamara;

SP4 Harold C. Hedden, Jr.'s Army Serial Number is US 53759630 (which means that he was drafted) and his MOS was 11B20 (Light Weapons Infantryman). He was born on 11/14/45 and his hometown of record is Chattanooga, TN. His tour of duty in Vietnam commenced on 1/20/69 and he was assigned to D Company, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. He was KIA on 5/18/69 in Thua Thien Province due to "Hostile, Ground Casualty, Gun, Small Arms Fire". SP4 Hedden was married, his religious preference was Protestant (no denomination), and his body was recovered.

The nickname of the 187th Inf. Rgt. is "Rakkasans" which is a Japanese word for "falling down umbrellas" and the regimental motto is "Ne Desit Virtus" (Let valor not fail). The 3rd/187th was one of the battalions in the 3rd Brigade of the 101st Abn. Div. which took part in Operation Apache Snow which included the famous Battle of Hamburger Hill between May 10th and 20th, 1969. Hamburger Hill is also called Dong Ap Bia or Hill 937 and is located near the Laotian border just to the west of the A Shau Valley in southwestern Thua Thien Province. See http://www.historynet.com/vn/blhamburgerhill/ for an account (especially page 3).

There is a tribute to SP4 Hedden posted by his neice, Shani Hedden on the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Wall page at http://thewall-usa.com/ . I don't think that it was legally possible to draft foreign nationals into the U.S. Armed Forces even if they resided in the U.S. However, it was possible for foreign nationals to enlist (3 or 4 years) or "volunteer" for the draft (2 years). My battalion had several foreign nationals in it (it's a quick route to U.S. citizenship).

The place of burial of SP4 Hedden depends on the wishes of his next-of-kin. The U.S. Armed Forces will honor any such request and if there is none, then the individual will be buried (regardless of nationality) in a National Cemetery with full military honors on sovereign U.S. territory. To us Vietnam Vets, your cousin is a hero because he wore the same uniform that we did, did his job, and was unfortunately KIA and we don't care what nationality, race, or religion he was.

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