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Casualty Info
Home Town St Albans, NY
Last Address St Albans, NY
Casualty Date Aug 14, 1966
Cause KIA-Died of Wounds
Reason Gun, Small Arms Fire
Location Vietnam, South (Vietnam)
Conflict Vietnam War
Location of Interment Jones Cemetery - Clarkton, North Carolina
Wall/Plot Coordinates 10E 003
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Casualty Occurrence: This Soldier was killed by Hostile Small Arms fire during a Combat Operation. No other details available.
PFC William McKinley Baldwin, Vietnam Veteran, native of Clarkton, North Carolina. He joined the United States Army in St Albans, New York. PFC William McKinley Baldwin was a casualty of the Vietnam War. As a member of the Army, PFC Baldwin served our country until August 14th, 1966 in South Vietnam. He was 20 years old and wasn't married. It was reported that he was killed by small arms fire. His body was recovered. He was born in Clarkton, North Carolina, on September 27th, 1945. PFC Baldwin is on panel 10E, line 003 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. He served our country 7 days short of 2 years. PFC Baldwin is the Son of Mr Robert Baldwin, Route 4, Box 135A, Nichols, South Carolina & Mrs Geneva Shaw of St Albans, New York. PFC Baldwin served as a Infantryman with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 45th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, USARV. He was awarded The Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Service, The Purple Heart Medal for his combat wounds, The National Defense Service Medal, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Vietnam Campaign Medal and The Vietnamese Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.
Maureen Verdura, A Pen Pal Remembers You, Sir. William Baldwin's Captain was my minister's son-in-law. I was in college at the time, and requested a list of names for me and my friends to write letters of encouragement to soldiers. William Baldwin's name was on the list, and we exchanged probably 10-15 letters over several months' time. One day, one of the letters I had written him arrived back in my college mailbox. It was stamped with large, colored letters and several different phrases that indicated he had been killed in action. Over the next month, 3 or 4 more of my letters were returned, and then one day, I rec'd a note from William, sent shortly before he died. It had a wonderful photo of Bill in it I hadn't seen him before, and it was very sad looking into those warm eyes, knowing he had given his all in service to America. I have often wished I had contact information for his family. I wanted to thank THEM, too, for raising such a fine young man. We visited the Wall a couple of decades ago, and I etched his name to keep. It was a very sad, but significant, moment for me. I have his letters and will keep them, eventually giving them to an American Legion post. My own father was in his 50s when I was born he was born in 1895 and was a wounded vet of WW ONE The Argonne Forest, so I have a patriotic connection to these precious soldiers who have given their all. I thank you, William Baldwin, for your supreme sacrifice. I hope to meet you again in Heaven someday, where we will finish our conversation...Rest in Peace, young soldier.
Comments/Citation:
POSTED ON 4.24.2003, POSTED BY: RICK BALDWIN FROM NEPHEW TO UNCLE. To an uncle that I know only through pictures, I am truly sorry your young life was taken from you. Know that your family will never forget you as long as we shall live. I also sorry that you never got to see your only daughter, Sernita.
POSTED ON 11.3.2016, POSTED BY: LUCY CONTE MICIK. REMEMBERED, DEAR SPEC 4 BALDWIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A GRUNT. I VISITED ST. ALBANS NAVAL HOSPITAL AS A TEEN. TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY, AND I FEEL IT IS IMPORTANT TO HONOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DIED IN SERVICE TO THIS NATION. AND VETERANS' DAY IS APPROACHING, MAY THE SAINTS AND ANGELS GUIDE YOU. REST IN PEACE.
Description This campaign was 8 March to 24 December 1965. During this campaign the U.S. objective was to hold off the enemy while gaining time needed to build base camps and logistical facilities. The U.S. also attempted to consolidate its ground operations more efficiently. For this purpose, it organized the U.S. Army Vietnam (USARV). U.S. support in the I Corps tactical zone, composed of five northernmost provinces, was to be primarily a Marine Corps responsibility; the U.S. Army was to operate mainly in the II and III Corps tactical zones which comprised the Central highlands, adjacent coastal regions, and the area around Saigon; and ARVN troops were to retain primary responsibility for the Delta region of the IV Corps.
On 19 October 1965. three VC regiments totaling 6,000 men attacked a Civil Irregular Defense Group (CIDG) - U.S. Special Forces at Plei Me, near the entrance to the Ia Drang Valley, in what purported to be the start of a thrust to cut the country in half.
With the assistance of massive air strikes, elements of the newly arrived 1st Cavalry Division thwarted the enemy in a battle that lasted nearly a month and included several engagements. The Ia Drang Valley action was the costliest in terms of casualties to date. The successful defense of the region improved security in and around the Central Highlands and raised the morale of the soldiers involved.
