lest we forget

JERNIGAN, RICHARD LEE

Rank / Branch:

STAFF SERGEANT (POSTHUMOUS), U.S. ARMY

Date Of Birth:

1942-12-02

Country Of Loss:

SOUTH VIETNAM

Status:

NON HOSTILE OTHER ILLNESS

Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground:

GROUND

Other:

NOT MARRIED

Unit:

ARMY SECURITY AGENCY WITH THE AMERICAL DIVISION

Date Of Loss:

1968-09-10

Loss Coordinates:

CHU LAI

Catagory:

BODY RETURNED

Awards & Decorations:

SEE BIO

VETERAN HAGI0GRAPHY

JERNIGAN, RICHARD LEE, STAFF SERGEANT, U.S. ARMY, PECOS, REEVES COUNTY, TEXAS

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

BRONZE STAR MEDAL WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER, GOOD CONDUCT WITH ONE BRONZE LOOPS, NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL, VIETNAM CROSS OF GALLANTRY WITH PALM, VIETNAM CAMPAIGN MEDAL

BIOGRAPHY

Richard was born in Elkins, West Virginia. He was the oldest of three children born to Virginia Gilbert and Jerome Ellis Jernigan. The family moved to Pecos, Texas when Richard was in elementary school. He attended Pecos High School and dropped out his junior year to join the Army in February 1960 at age 17.
He completed basic training at Fort Bliss, Texas and then completed a Vehicle Maintenace Course at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. He was a mechanic in the Army working on trucks and small vehicles. He received his GED while in the Army. He had a tour of duty in Germany, was stationed at Fort Richardson, Alaska and Fort Bliss, Texas. He had served two previous tours in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division.
At Fort Hood, Texas in 1969, he joined a Flying Club and was getting his pilot's license. He was at Fort Hood, Texas when he volunteered for his third tour of duty in Vietnam after his second re-enlistment. His tour date began on July 12, 196At Fort Hood, Texas in 1969, he joined a Flying Club and was getting his pilot's license. He was at Fort Hood, Texas when he volunteered for his third tour of duty in Vietnam after his second re-enlistment. His tour date began on July 12, 1968, and he was assigned as a vehicle mechanic with the 415th Radio and Relay Detachment, 328th Radio and Relay Company, 509th Army Security Agency Group, United States Army-Vietnam. His unit was supporting the Americal Division.
Richard became ill the first week of September 1968 and was hospitalized at the 2nd Surgical Hospital in Vietnam. He expired on September 10, 1968, from viral pneumonia. He was buried with full military honors at Fort Richardson, Alaska. His younger brother Fred had acted as a body escort and was stationed at Fort Richardson. His parents were residing with his younger brother. He was survived by his parents, his younger brother, Sgt Fred Jernigan and sister Mary Lu who was residing in New York. He was posthumously promoted to Staff Sergeant and was also posthumously awarded the Bronze Star.