Curtis Eidson

(click on pictures to enlarge)

 

EidsonMortarCrew1.jpg (19312 bytes)

1968 mortar crew: Left to Right front row kneeling: Carl Blankenship (PeeWee), Larry Vaught, Hall, Chuck Youngnst

Second row: Mark Handley, Chuck Strong, Jack (Crazy) Miller, Jeff (Ludby) Lundberg

Back row: J.R. Webb, Dansby

 EidsonMortarCrew2.jpg (18433 bytes)

1968 Mortar Crew: Left to Right, front row: Curtis Eidson, Billy Bolton

Second row sitting: Bradford, Jack Miller, Mark Handley, Gary Callahan, Carl Blankenship, in the white T is Hervy Beckham

Back row standing: Edwards, Johnson, B.J. Hilliard

 

ce_Miller1.jpg (53680 bytes)

Curtis Eidson and Jack Miller in Tennessee, June 2000

 

ce_PetersenHillyard1.jpg (30773 bytes) Peterson.jpg (33786 bytes)

B.J. Hillyard and Robert Peterson in left picture.  Peterson with 60mm mortar in the right picture. Hillyard survived Nam but not the World, Peterson was killed during Tet.

 

 

Grave Site.jpg (44031 bytes)

At Tybee Island where I go to there is an old Grave yard that has some very old people in it. Some go back to 18th century maybe. Anyway, I like to go here and kinda talk to this guy. He was a WW1 pfc. His family had his belt and sword bronzed and fixed on his stone. Just kinda neat you know. He's nobody but I just bet one hell've Marine. It's just one of my things to do on V-Day you know. Also I like to go there on Memorial Day and kinda give thanks. Been doing it for some years now. Better than a parade you know.

 

ce_Iron Coffin1x1.jpg (48586 bytes)

The extraction of what was left of 3/5 after Operation Essex, November 1967.  Brad Reynolds of Mike Company says of 140 men only 7 or 8 were not KIA or WIA. India came in because Mike was getting wiped out.  Of the people on our rosters, Curtis, Jerry Bain, Slick Mowery of India and from Mike Co., Brad, and J.C. Bowers were there and Steve Haygood/Walker got hit there.  The next five images are all Essex pictures.

Essex_1.jpg (39223 bytes)  Essex_2.jpg (20451 bytes)  Essex_3.jpg (58972 bytes)  Essex_4.jpg (69079 bytes)  Essex_5.jpg (41719 bytes)

 

bolton1.jpg (42710 bytes)

Curtis Eidson, on left, with one of his best friends, Cpl. Billy Carroll Bolton, January 12, 1968.  Bolton was killed on January 30, on Operation Auburn (Tet) when India came up on a major force of NVA and reinforced VC. (Ed. note: I don't know about you guys but this one hit me sort of hard, the guy looks like an epitome of life. Curtis carried him out....for a look at tributes you can to go to http://thewall-usa.com/index.html...or click on the link. Once there just fill in the first and last name and the service and submit).

More of Curtis' pictures.

ce_Antanna Vally1x1.jpg (33219 bytes) November '67, Antenna Valley, just before Operation Essex.

ce_Bolm1x1.jpg (30943 bytes) January '68, During Operation Auburn, (TET)

ce_Crater1x1.jpg (47992 bytes) January '68, inspecting a crater during Operation Auburn

ce_Morter crew1x1.jpg (55447 bytes) November '67, India 3/5 mortar crew ('60s).

ce_Scan111x1.jpg (46660 bytes) Georgia Flag held by Curtis Eidson, left, and B.J. Hilyard. Hilyard was from Texas, you can see him holding the Texas star. He was killed after he came back from Nam.

 

CD_nam2.jpg (18392 bytes)Curtis Eidson, India 3/5, in Nam.

CE_Davis.jpg (29080 bytes)

In April 1993, Curtis Eidson receiving his medals from Medal of Honor recipient Gen. Ray Davis at a ceremony at the Carrollton Armory in Georgia.

CE_Boot.jpg (12677 bytes)                                                       Curtis1.jpg (13871 bytes)

Curtis Eidson, Parris Island, June 1966, and a few months later. Served with India 3/5 from July 1967 to August 1968, participating in Operations Cochise, Swift, Shelbyville, Baxter, Essex, Auburn, Houston, Houston II, Allen Brook and Mameluke Thrust.