CPL Herman Allen Clay Jr (KIA)

 

 

Date of Birth: 2/6/1950
Tour began: 2/12/70
Date of Casualty: 4/9/1970
Age at time of death: 20
Race: Negro
Religion: Methodist
Marital Status: Single
Home of Record: RICHMOND TX
Branch of Service: ARMY
Rank: CPL E-4
Casualty Country: SOUTH VIETNAM
Casualty Province: THUA THIEN
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
MULTIPLE FRAGMENTATION WOUNDS
Body was recovered

 

Herman is honored on Panel 12W, Row 112 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC and is buried at Houston Memorial Gardens in Pearland TX

 

“Herman Allen Clay was a very nice person. Everyone that got to know him, liked him. He saved our lives while pulling security for Blachly’s squad that had been shot to pieces at first light. Clay shot the NVA that shot him. They killed each other instantaneously. Thomas Gates was shot that day; was a quadriplegic until he was 48 years old. His family petitioned and got his name put on the Wall. A new guy, James Mace was also killed that day. Herman saved our lives, but it cost him his. Herman, I will always remember you as the person that saved my life and the life of those around me.”

~John Marks

 

“I was in the squad that John (Doc) Marks was talking about. This was in the Ashau Valley. Did not know this grunt all that well but he was a good combat soldier. Everyone in the squad had been hit; he gave his life to protect us all.”

~From a former grunt, Lenard Blachly

 

 

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