US Navy BM1 Kemper Swanson Billings, Vietnam Veteran, Born July 16, 1938 in Grayson Co., Virginia, he became a Native of Burlington, NC. Died October 29, 1966 in Thua Thien, Vietnam
US Navy Boatswain's Mate First Class Kemper Swanson Billings was a casualty of the Vietnam War. As a member of the Navy, BM1 Billings served our country until October 29th, 1966 in Thua Thien, South Vietnam. He was 28 years old and was married. It was reported that Kemper died from drowning. His body was recovered. BM1 Billings is on panel 11E, line 126 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. He served our country for 10 years.
The mouth of the Hue River is a treacherous place, particularly during the seasons with southeasterly winds. My personal log, dated 30 October 1966, tells of my being directed, in PCF-16, to proceed to the area off the Hue River, and to search for a crewman, BM1 Kemper S. Billings, that had been swept overboard from PCF-56, the night of 29 October, while traversing the river mouth. His unit was PFC-56, PCFDIV-102, TF 115, USNAVFORV.
Billings, Kemper S, Boatswain's Mate First Class, United States Navy drowned on October 29, 1966 while on patrol duty in South Vietnam aboard a patrol craft operating in the mouth of the Hue River. Boatswain Billings, age 28, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Cicero Billings of E. Davis St., Burlington. He was a native of Grayson County, Va. and was educated there before his family moved to Burlington in 1952. Boatswain Billings had served in the Navy for 11 years and had been stationed in Vietnam for the past 9 months. Prior to entering the service, he was employed with Old Dominion Box Company here. Boatswain Billings' body was recovered from the beach on October 31 after 2 days of searching following the time he was reported missing. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his wife, 1 son, and 1 daughter—all of Vallejo, California and by 4 brothers and 3 sisters.
He served with Task Force-115, PCF-56, PCF Division-102, U.S.Naval Forces Vietnam(USNAVFORV).
Some of his Medals included the Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and The Good Conduct Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters.
Burial: Skyview Memorial Lawn, Vallejo. Solano County, California, Plot: Good Shepherd, Lot # 286 B
(source: Reece, Jim & Reece Thomas;NC Vietnam KIA/MIA's gravesites)

SP4 Dennis Clayton Boone, Vietnam Veteran, Native of Burlington, NC. Born November 3, 1947 in Burlington, Alamance Co., NC. Died September 2, 1968 in Hua Nghia, Vietnam
SP4 Dennis Clayton Boone was a member of the Army Selective Service and a Draftee, SP4 Boone served our country until September 2nd, 1968 in Hua Nghia, South Vietnam. He was 20 years old and was not married.It was reported that Dennis died from artillery fire. His body was recovered. SP4 Boone is on panel 45W, line 023 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. He served our country for less than a year.
Boone, Dennis Clayton, Specialist 4, U.S. Army, was killed in action in Vietnam on September 2, 1968 from injuries sustained in combat in a defensive position. Sp4 Boone, age 20, was the son of Lonnie and Pearl Graves Boone of Route 5, Burlington. He was a native of Alamance County and a graduate of Jordan Sellers High School, where he played football and was a member of the tennis and track teams. Before entering the service in October 1967, Sp4 Boone was employed by the Home Fabrics Division of Burlington Industries.
Survivors in addition to his parents include brothers Ronald and Huntz Boone, sister Miss Phyllis Boone, maternal grandmother Mrs. Effie Graves of Burlington, maternal grandfather Mr. Albert Graves of Sedalia, and paternal grandfather Walter Boone of Burlington. Spec.4 Boone was a member of Queens Chapel A.M.E. Church and burial took place at Northlawn Cemetery in Burlington with full military honors. Source: Times-News September 6, 1968 and September 11, 1968.
He served with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, "Golden Dragons", 25th Infantry Division, "Tropic Lightning", USARV.
He was awarded The Combat Infantryman's Badge(CIB), The Bronze Star Medal, The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and The Good Conduct Medal.
Burial: Northlawn Cemetery, Burlington, Alamance Co., NC.
(source: Reece, Jim & Reece Thomas;NC Vietnam KIA/MIA's gravesites)

William Gaston Bradshaw
THE Bradshaws are of English descent. One branch of the Bradshaw family emigrated from England and located more than two centuries ago in Pennsylvania. The first ancestor of this family who figures in history was Chief Justice Bradshaw of England. Later a branch of this in North Carolina, more than a century ago, and bought a part of the old Burrington Haw field lands, then in Orange County, and intermarried with the Albrights and Stockards, who settled on those rich lands many years before the Revolution.
The life of William Gaston Bradshaw spans nearly the half of the last hundred years. History will pronounce these the most pregnant years in the annals of this country. It was in the historic county of Alamance, on the 23d day of February, 1856, that it commenced. The first distinct impression outside of his unpretentious home which lodged itself in his plastic mind was the rumbling of the distant thunder of the fratricidal conflict, whose clouds were gathering thick and fast over the path in which the feet of his tender boyhood strayed and played. No boy of that awful time will ever forget the scenes of his childhood.
His mother was Margaret Stockard, a daughter of Colonel John Stockard, who for years represented the old county of Orange in the General Assembly, and a sweeter, gentler, more angelic spirit never passed through this world. When the storm of 1861 broke in its fury and engulfed the country in the fathomless depths of war, this queenly mother, bereft of a husband, gathered into her arms of love this boy and four more of her own offspring and tenderly nursed them through the long days and dark nights of that bloody drama of four years.
Her husband, William Saurin Bradshaw, the father of the subject of this sketch, had been summoned to the fields of carnage, where, as captain of the Senior Reserves of Alamance County, he fought and bled and suffered until the echo of the last gun of that deadly conflict at Bennettsville, North Carolina, in April, 1865, had died away. In this last battle Captain Bradshaw, after the death of his colonel, was promoted for gallantry and placed in charge of his regiment, which he commanded during this engagement.
After the war, Captain Bradshaw, like the average Southerner, .had nothing left save his lands, on which he placed himself and surviving boys, and out of which, by strenuous toil, he accumulated in a few short years a surplus sufficient to enable him to give to each of his children a collegiate education. In 1872 the father of our subject moved to old Trinity College, in Randolph County, where William Gaston Bradshaw was graduated in 1877 with distinction.
The habits of work and the training on the farm were potent factors in the development of his future life and in the achievements which have marked his successful career. Not less potential were the uplifting influences of a saintly mother and the fine traits which marked the sturdy manhood and the exalted character of a noble father. This was the rich fountain from which came the guiding forces in his life.
It was partly in deference to his father's preference that Dr. Bradshaw chose a professional career and entered on the study of medicine. After the completion of his course of study in medicine, he was graduated and granted a diploma in 1881 by the Baltimore College of Physicians and Surgeon's. The practice of his profession did not prove attractive, for the reason largely that in this country at that time its emoluments were not commensurate with its exactions.
When the Commercial National Bank of High Point was organized in 1890, Dr. Bradshaw was unanimously elected cashier of the same, which position he held for seven years, and during these years his cool head, clear judgment and diligent attention to duty contributed greatly to the strength and success of this institution, of which he is still vice-president. It was the clean record of his success in this institution which induced the Globe-Home Furniture Company, the largest furniture company in the South, to tender to him its management at a greatly increased salary. The real work of his life has been with these two institutions, and their history comprises no small part of the history of the Grand Rapids of the South. In the wondrous strides of High Point since 1889 along industrial and manufacturing lines and in the marvelous thrift which has transformed a hamlet of a few hundred into a city of several thousand he has been one of the sturdiest and steadiest spirits.
While eschewing politics, and steadfastly rejecting the proffer of political honors, his public spirit has twice asserted itself in the acceptance of the office of mayor for two terms. It is needless to write that his administrations were conservative and progressive. Neither the false idea of the old fogy nor the wild fancy of the visionary swept him from the course of stern duty and strenuous work in the promotion of all movements projected for the upbuilding of his town.
His marriage in 1884 to Miss Sarah B. Johnson, a daughter of Mr. J. H. Johnson, one of the foremost and best citizens of Guilford County, was the crowning event of his life and the crowning evidence of his sound sense and good taste. The issue of this marriage was six children, and of this number only two survived.
His fine record as a successful business man has subjected him to calls other than those in the legitimate line of his business. In the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, whose creed was law under his parental roof, he has been honored with various positions of trust and honor. He is now and has been for many years one of the trustees of Trinity College, North Carolina. He is also president of the Alumni Association of his alma mater. No draft upon his high character has ever been dishonored. His resources have been equal to every obligation imposed by position or sense of duty. Safety and sanity spell the strength of his leadership in every field of activity in which he has been engaged. No reverses have ever curbed or checked the daring spirit of his ambition.
In the brilliant galaxy of the young industrial and commercial leaders who have wrought so wondrously and so well along all lines in this goodly Southland for two decades, he has won a place in the forefront. He has had no small part in the upbuilding of his section of this State and in the making of High Point the most genuinely enterprising, progressive and substantial city of its size between the Potomac and the Rio Grande. With its growth he has grown and with its thrift he has prospered until to-day he ranks in all circles as one of its most trusted and respected leaders. He, too is a typical representative of that type of coatless Carolinians of this generation who, by dint of their matchless grit and dauntless pluck, are creating and making out of the bounteous materials of this old commonwealth in name and in fact one of the greatest States of the American Union.
S. A. Ashe.
(Source: Biographical History of North Carolina from Colonial Times to Present, By Samuel A. Ashe, Vol. III, published 1906. Contributed by Linda Rodriguez)

2LT William Robert Bray, Vietnam Veteran, Native of Burlington, NC. He was born May 10, 1942 in Burlington, Alamance Co., NC. Died October 9, 1967 in Quang Tin, Vietnam.
Second Lieutenant William Robert Bray was a casualty of the Vietnam War. As a member of the Army Reserve, 2LT Bray served our country until October 9th, 1967 in Quang Tin, South Vietnam. He was 25 years old and was married. It was reported that William died from small arms fire or grenade. His body was recovered. 2LT Bray is on panel 27E, line 079 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. He served our country for less than a year.
Bray, William Robert, Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, was killed in action in Vietnam on October 9, 1967 while on a search and destroy mission near Phuoc Son. Lt Bray, age 25, had been in South Vietnam for less than a month at the time of his death. He was a native of Burlington and the son of Mrs. Ethel Whitt Bray of Trail 2 and the late Mr. William Herbert Bray, Jr.
He was the husband of Mrs. Marcia Leypoldt Bray of Nashua, New Hampshire.
Lt. Bray was a 1960 graduate of Walter Williams High School here and a 1964 graduate of Elon College. He entered the service in April 1966 and received his commission as a second lieutenant. Lt. Bray was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action. Serving as platoon leader of Co. A 1st Battalion 35th Infantry, Bray was killed while moving to assist men in his platoon who had been pinned down by enemy fire. He was cited for personally eliminating 3 North Vietnamese enemy soldiers and silencing a concealed automatic weapon position with a hand grenade. In addition to his wife and his mother, Lt. Bray is survived by 3 sisters—Mrs. J.I. White III, Mrs. Ronald William Smith, and Miss Marion Faye Bray. Lt. Bray was a member of the First Baptist Church of Burlington. No burial details were available. Source: Times-News October 12, 1967 and March 26, 1968.
He served with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, "Cacti Forever", 4th Infantry Division, USARV.
He was awarded The Combat Infantryman's Badge(CIB), The Silver Star Medal for Gallantry in Action, The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and The Good Conduct Medal.
Burial: Person Memorial Cemetery, Roxboro, Person County, North Carolina. Plot: Bray, A-1, Plot # 123
(source: Reece, Jim & Reece Thomas; NC Vietnam KIA/MIA's gravesites)