lest we forget

DALTON, JAMES GILBERT

Rank / Branch:

  • PRIVATE FIRST CLASS U.S. ARMY

Date Of Birth:

  • 1950-02-01

Country Of Loss:

  • SOUTH VIETNAM

Status:

  • NON HOSTILE-SWIMMING ACCIDENT

Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground:​

  • GROUND

Other:

  • SINGLE

Unit:

  • FIRST LOG COMMAND

Date Of Loss:

  • 1970-01-12

Loss Coordinates:

  • KHANH HOA

Catagory:

  • BODY RETURNED

Awards & Decorations:

  • SEE BIO

VETERAN HAGI0GRAPHY

  • DALTON, JAMES GILBERT, PRIVATE FIRST CLASS, U.S. ARMY, ODESSA, ECTOR COUNTY, TEXAS

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

  • PURPLE HEART, NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL, VIETNAM MILITARY MEDAL, VIETNAM CROSS OF GALLANTRY WITH PALM, VIETNAM CAMPAIGN MEDAL

BIOGRAPHY

  • James was born in Odessa and his birth name was James Gilbert Barnhill. His mother Betty Joe Montgomery married Louie J. Dalton. James' last name was changed to Dalton. James attended Odessa schools living with his aunts and grandparents while his father was working all over the U.S. and overseas. He dropped out of school at Sawyer High School in Sawyer, Oklahoma. He enlisted in the Army and was inducted on July 25, 1967, when he was 17 years old in Eugene, Oregon. He used his father's parents address in Sawyer, Oklahoma as his home or record.
  • He completed basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington. He then started Advanced Training (AIT) at Fort Ord, California as a wireman and was injured one week later. He was a patient at the Army Hospital at Fort Ord from late October 1967 until he started Heavy Truck Driving Training at Fort Ord in February 1968. He completed Heavy Truck Driving training in May, 1968. He departed for Germany in June 1968 and was assigned as a driver for the 68th Transportation Company (MT) and six months later as a driver for the Detachment G, 37th Transporation Group until April 18, 1969 when he was reassigned to Vietnam.
  • He was began his tour in Vietnam May 26, 1969. He was assigned as a dispatcher/driver with A Company, Support Bn, 1st Log Command, USARV. He had been lightly wounded and earned a Purple Heart. He was injured in a swimming accident and fractured his spine on December 20, 1969. He was medevaced to the 249th General Hospital at Camp Drake, Japan where he died from pneumonia and kidney failure on January 12, 1970.
  • He was buried with full military honors in the Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Odessa. He was survived by his parents of Houston, and two maternal aunts, Mrs. M. D. Lynn and Mrs O.R. O'Neal both of Odessa. He was also survived by his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Dalton of Sawyer, Oklahoma and Mrs. Inez Montgomery of Houston. His parents are now buried next to him.
  • SUNSET MEMORIAL GARDEN'S CEMETERY, ODESSA