Bray, Ervil Thomas, CPL

Order of the Spur

This Military Service Page was created/owned by MAJ John Moore (SaberAlpha 10) to remember Bray, Ervil Thomas, CPL.

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Home Town Somerset	Last Address Somerset
Casualty Date Jul 29, 1967
Cause Hostile, Died	Reason Artillery, Rocket, Mortar
Location Hau Nghia	Conflict Vietnam War
Location of Interment Clay Hill Cemetery - Ruth, Kentucky	Wall/Plot Coordinates 24E 017

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Pulaski County, Ky: 20th Century War Veterans
By Turner Publishing Company
 

Bray, Ervil, T.  Vietnam War letter to mother, Matilda Phelps, from Department of the Army 20 Oct. 1967.  Dear Mrs. Phelps:  President Johnson has asked that I reply to your recent letter concerning your son, Private First Class Ervil T. Bray.  I can readily understand your desire to obtain more details of the circumstances attending your sons death.  Reports received in the Department of the Army indicate that, on 29 July 1967, Ervil was with his squad in an armored personnel carrier on a combat operations in Vietnam.  This is a light-weight vehicle which moves on tracks rather than wheels and has armored protection on all sides.  It is operational on both land and water and is primarily to transport infantry personnel from one point to another.  Your sons work was that of a rifleman in armored cavalry.  At 11:00 A.M., the vehicle was struck by an enemy rocket with a high explosive charge designed to penetrate armored vehicles.  Ervil incurred fatal wounds and died before he could be removed to a hospital.  Casualty messages from Vietnam are forwarded by electrical means and are necessarily brief.  I regret that there is no information as to whether or not your son died instantly or whether he spoke after he was wounded.
     Your son was a brave and dedicated soldier and I am enclosing a statement of Honorable Service which you may appreciate.  On behalf of the President, may I extend my deepest symphathy to you in the great loss you have suffered.  Sincerely Yours,  C.A. Stanfiel Colonel, AGC  Acting the Adjutant General.