James Edward Self

 

A BTRY, 2ND BN, 13TH ARTILLERY, 2 FIELD FORCE

 

Corporal
A BTRY, 2ND BN, 13TH ARTILLERY, 2 FIELD FORCE
Army of the United States
04 October 1947 - 22 August 1968
Madisonville, Tennessee

Sunset Cem.

Son of George Washington and Ophia King Self. He dropped out of Vonore High School  in 1966 and later received his high school diploma in the service.   Husband of former Maudie Evelyn Mitchell at the time of his death.  He was an employee of Hiwassee Furniture Co., Inc. before entering the army Aug. 1967.  He was killed while serving with a gun crew in an artillery firing position while engaged with hostile forces, the notice of his death stated.  Gr.parent: Henderson King of Vonore.

 

23 Jan 2006

Corporal James Self was a draftee who started his tour of duty with A Battery on February 9, 1968. He was a assigned as a cannon crew non-commissioned officer, which would have him performing duties as gunner, assistant gunner, or section chief. As the unit had 24 hour firing responsibility, SP4 Self would have found himself performing any of these interchangeable responsibilities.

A Battery operated out of the many fire support bases in Tay Ninh Province during 1968. No matter which base they were occupying, the sight of Nui Ba Dinh, the Black Virgin Mountain, was always present. No matter which fire support base they occupied near Nui Ba Dinh, A Battery received random sniper, mortar, and rocket fire.

Corporal James Self was killed by small arms fire, presumably sniper rounds, six months into his tour with A Battery. Exact circumstances need to be explained by another individual.

Unit veterans from Service Battery always commented that resupplying A Battery with ammunition, rations, and equipment was a dangerous task. A Battery seemed to be assigned to the most dangerous locations in III Corps during 1968-1970. They comment A Battery seemed to be located in the center of a bullseye target in the middle of Indian Country. Resupply of A Battery was always a dicey assignment, because of the fire support missions A Battery drew during those years.

Corporal James Self was assigned to a unit accustomed to dangerous assignments. He served in a leadership role with a 105mm howitzer crew for six months. Our veterans speak highly of the gun crew leaders, many of whom were drafted into the Army like James Self. Life at the fire support bases in Tay Ninh Province was filled with ever-present danger of shelling and ground attack. Leaders like Corporal Jim Self set the example for the men in their crews. The gun crews of A Battery, B Battery, and C Battery all had men like Jim Self leading by example. Small wonder why the Red Dragon Clan earned the reputation of being General Ewell's Fire Brigade in II Field Force Artillery.

Rest in Peace, Corporal James Self. You are honored, respected, and remembered by the Red Dragon Clan. LTC William Miracle, currently commanding 3rd Battalion 13th Artillery on active duty in Iraq, comments that his men are continually inspired by the performance, duty, and devotion of the 2nd and 3rd Battalions 13th Artillery in Vietnam. They frequent The Virtual Wall site pages for the 13th Artillery Regiment in Vietnam. Thus, Corporal James Self and the 27 other members of 2nd Battalion 13th Artillery who died in Vietnam are still remembered by Active Duty personnel. LTC Miracle assures us their memories are still honored by today's Red Dragon Clan.

Corporal

PERSONAL DATA
  Home of Record: Madisonville, Tennessee
  Date of birth:  Saturday, 10/04/1947
 
MILITARY DATA
  Service:        Army  (Selective Service)
  Grade at loss:  E4
  Rank:           Corporal
  ID No:          53756612 
  MOS:            13B40 Cannon Crewmember
  LenSvc:         Between 1 and 2 years
  Unit:           A BTRY, 2ND BN, 13TH ARTILLERY, 2 FIELD FORCE
 
CASUALTY DATA
  Start Tour:     Friday, 02/09/1968
  Cas Date:       Thursday, 08/22/1968
  Age at Loss:    20
  Remains:        Body Recovered
  Location:       Tay Ninh, South Vietnam
  Type:           Hostile, Died
  Reason:         Gun, Small Arms Fire - Ground Casualty
 
 

                

        

 

Researcher and Designer

Joy Locke & Joe Irons