GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Roger Ray Kerns & The Wolfhounds
BY WILLIAM RICKETTS
SPECIAL TO THE EXAMINER
Roger Ray Kerns was born in Kenton at San Antonio hospital on May 6, 1948, to Clarence and Eloise Kerns. The second born, the first son, his sister LaVone born 1946. His younger siblings are Marlene, Gregory, Marilyn, and Carol. The family lived in a house on State Route 31.
In 1955, 56 they would move into the kid’s grandparents’ house in Byhalia, on Rural Route 1 West Mansfield. Life could be tough at times for the family as the kids grew up, also the house they were living in didn’t have running water or indoor plumbing, water was retrieved from an outside pump and heated on the stove. The house also had an outhouse. They got by the best they could.
Growing up, Roger was an all-American boy, he was a great person who everyone liked he was a bit on the shy side, and he had a great smile he loved sports playing basketball, he played little league baseball in Byhalia, he was a southpaw 2nd baseman in school, he loved to read about nutrition, work out and body building. He also loved baseball cards, collecting coins, and playing his blue guitar with amplifier.
Roger would also work on farms, bailing straw and hay; he also did odd jobs for people. He would save money to buy his first car, a used 1955 Chevy Bel Air. He attended Byhalia-York Schools where he loved shop class. His senior year the schools consolidated; Roger graduated from North Union High School in 1966.
After graduation, Roger would get a job at Whirlpool in Marion and bought a brand new 1965 Ford Mustang, He also helped his parents out, paying bills or buying Christmas gifts for the family. His mother had been diagnosed with leukemia and given 10 years to live, his father had health problems as well.
On Dec. 16, 1967, a letter was sent from the Selective Service System to Roger Ray Kerns RFD 1 West Mansfield. It was an order to report to Local Board 119, Union County, 113 West Sixth Street, Marysville, for an armed forces physical examination on Jan. 2, 1968. Roger didn’t want to get drafted because of everything he did for his family, but he felt it was his duty to serve.
Andy Applefeller from Marion recalled Roger’s last day at Whirlpool.
“I worked with him at Whirlpool. We sat in the lunchroom together on his last day. We left that day, and I wished him well and would see him when he returned. Whirlpool held a job for those drafted. I even remember the shirt he wore his last day, a Bold stripped dark blue and white T-shirt.”
Drafted in the United States Army, entering the service Feb. 20, 1968, he would report to Fort Jackson, South Carolina, for basic training. After completing basic training, he would report to Fort Benning Georgia. Roger then came home on leave.
My father remembers leaving work one day, he saw Roger riding a motorcycle he borrowed into Marion, so my dad followed him to a bar known to the Whirlpool workers as the Bank-o bar, that they used to visit during lunch breaks when they worked together, they could cash their check and get lunch.
Having a few drinks together and talking, my father said that Roger kept going to the jukebox, playing Pop a Top by Jim Ed Brown or Nat Stuckey repeatedly. After a couple hours dad told him he would see him when he got back. Roger said he wouldn’t be coming back. Dad told him to think positive, stay down and come back home.
Roger would give his siblings a kiss on the cheek, Greg, his brother, still remembers this. Before he left, he told his parents he probably wouldn’t be coming back. After his good-byes to his family, Roger would leave for Oakland, Calif., for a couple months before shipping out to Vietnam.
While in Oakland, the family tried to get Roger a hardship discharge because of his parents’ physical problems and needing help. Roger’s Whirlpool pay was more than Army pay, people in the town of Byhalia even wrote letters but it didn’t help it was turned down while he was in Vietnam.
Roger started his tour on Oct. 23, 1968, assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry, known as the Wolfhounds. 25th Infantry Division the Tropic Lightning.
He wrote letters home; his mother would write him a letter about every day. Roger was getting acclimated to Vietnam. He attended church services on base, writing about coming home, taking care of his mom, fixing up the house, spending time with his father and having a drink with him as he didn’t drink in Vietnam. Roger would write a letter home Nov. 26, 1968:
“Dear family, I really feel happy today. I took a cool shower today and am sitting and drinking ice-cold Kool-Aid. I just got a letter from you mom and one from LaVone and also some letters from our church, the Emanuel Lutheran. For the last couple of days our company has been resting and getting a chance to write letters home. We must have a big mission ahead of us because they have been too nice to us lately. Mom, I just love to get letters from you. You write to me day, night, after dad leaves for work. And I can just picture you sitting at home and spending so much time thinking about me. “
The 27th had been providing cover to Engineers and bulldozer crews for a few days to cut down jungle for road convoy security before being sent to conduct a bomb damage assessment for damage from air force bombing missions the previous days in the Binh Duong Province, Republic of Vietnam. It was Nov. 30, 1968, which was also their commanding officer Capt. Charles P. Ervin Jr.’s 26th birthday. Capt. Ervin spread his platoons out to begin the search around the bomb crater area. 3rd platoon with Lt. Zglenski was on the left of the 2nd platoon, 1st platoon led by SFC Jarvis was in the rear.
The jungle was thick ahead and they spotted an archway in the forest with a clearing behind it. As the 2nd moved towards the crater a Vietnamese guide noticed a bobby trap of claymore mines. The 2nd backed away, artillery and helicopter gunships were used to clear the area. The 2nd then went up to the archway into the clearing suddenly there was an explosion, screaming and gunfire followed.
The enemy had set off more claymores on purpose killing 6 men instantly. Sgt. Wayne Curtis, who had been behind Roger all day with the M-79 grenade launcher had rotated to second from last in line, Roger had an M-16 machine gun. Sgt. Curtis told me the order of the 2nd platoon lost and injured.
On point 1st Lt. William Thomas Damron 21 from Pensacola, Florida, KIA, he would receive his 2nd silver star for valor from this day. SP4 Prez who was Damron’s radio operator, survived uninjured. PFC Roger R. Kerns 20 was KIA. Sgt .Curtis’s M-79 replacement was shot in the shoulders. Sargent Donald Chester Lepak 25 from Amherst, Wisconsin, KIA. PFC James Edward Cherry 20 years old from Scooba Mississippi, KIA. PFC King David Washington 20 from Abbeville Louisiana, KIA. PFC Bruce Jun Mori 20, from Los Angeles California, KIA. Capt. Ervin took cover behind a large anthill when the battle started with his radio operators and there were two more explosions and gunfire coming from underground tunnels, Sgt. Curtis stated they would pull back and call-in air strikes.
The five injured were flown out on medevac choppers. The six killed were picked up afterwards by the re-supply helicopters after dropping off supplies at the back of the crater an hour or so after the fight began. The 6 men’s bodies were transported to the quartermasters for ID and to be taken care of.
The battle lasted until 8:00 am the next day. The Viet Cong gorillas and North Vietnam Army Regulars retreated in the middle of the night. It was discovered in the morning that Roger and the 2nd stumbled upon an underground hospital and supply compound. Capt. Ervin called it the battle of the bomb crater.
On 12-4-1968 at 10:04 pm a Western Union Telegram was sent from D.C. to Roger’s father about Roger being MIA. On 12-9-1968 at 5:39 pm another Telegram from D.C. was sent to the family this one Roger was KIA. On 12-14-1968 sent to Lima, from Oakland, Calif. A telegram was sent to Clarence about Roger’s body being escorted home.
TWA Flight 106 would depart San Francisco. Roger’s body would arrive in Columbus on TWA Flight 20 at 6:50 am Dec. 15, 1968. He was then transported to Ballinger Funeral home in Richwood. Lt. G. W. Furrow would be Rogers Escort, while staying with his parents, the Lt. took the family out to eat at a restaurant, Greg, who was 13 at the time, said it was the first time in his life that he ate in a restaurant. Terry McGinnis Roger’s best friend would return home on leave not knowing he would be attending his best friend’s funeral. Many would show up for his funeral, his boss, and some coworkers from Whirlpool.
The funeral route went through Byhalia, those not attending the funeral lined the streets. Roger was buried with full military honors and color guard on a cold snowy December day at Wolf Creek Cemetery near Mt. Victory.
Sadly, when Terry McGinnis was discharged from the service, after arriving home he bought a new 1970 Pontiac firebird and was killed that night when he failed to negotiate a curve. A few others who attended North Union schools would also be killed in Vietnam.
In the days and some months after Roger’s passing, his mother would write him a letter even dating them every day and keep them in a blue notebook. Some of the insurance money would buy new carpet, fix the house up some, it would buy Christmas for the family.
His mom told the kids Roger would want us to have a good Christmas. Rogers Father Clarence accepted the following awards at Fort Hayes in Columbus from Lt. G. W. Furrow: Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Nation Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Ribbon with battle star, Expert Badge for rifle, automatic rifle and machine gun, Roger also received the Sharpshooter Badge with Machine Gun and Rifle Bars, Vietnam Military Merit, Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm.
Roger’s name is on panel 37W. Line 12 of the Vietnam Wall in Washington DC. The traveling wall also Bellefontaine High Schools on the WAR Memorial and the Bellefontaine Vietnam Memorial Marker at 601 Allison Road.
Roger’s dad would pass on Oct. 12, 1972, at the age of 64. His mom would follow on Nov. 5, 1972, at the age of 46. The little house still stands in Byhalia behind bushes along what is now 311 on Treaty Line Road. I believe Roger would be very proud of his siblings and the lives they have lived, also of the family that has come to be since his passing.
Roger’s brother Greg has done an amazing job keeping the flag from the casket safe and on display at his house as well as ribbons and medals and uniforms. Greg loves and misses his big brother. He also has fond memories of whiffle ball games in the back yard with Roger and their friends. Roger’s younger sisters have fond memories of their big brother, even remembering how Roger used to tease them, also how he worked out with weights and had big muscles, Mary and Carol remember having fun swinging from his arms. LaVone has his picture in a frame, she remembers her brother every day, she also has his Gideons International Bible, with a purple color on the bottom corner that would have been from the purple smoke grenades that Roger had on him and were set off when the claymores exploded. The name Roger R. Kerns, date 9-12-1968 and below, Matthew 27; 50-54 are on the inside of the back cover, he was saved by the Lord on that date, which is something his mom hoped would happen, the family was Lutheran, it did happen.
On Nov. 30, 2024, it will be 56 years to the day. People still remember a 20-year-old man, loved very much by his family and well-liked by his classmates, teammates, friends, and coworkers and veterans.
To the Kerns family thank you for letting me tell your brother’s story, I hope this story honors his memory and allows others to learn his story. Also, to those missing and those lost you are not forgotten. To those who made it home from Vietnam, thank you and welcome home!