Virgil Jay Bates, Jr., of Coal Valley, IL, died on August 23rd, 1971 at Thua Thien, Viet Nam.
He was born on June 26, 1950 to Virgil Jay and Jessie Myrtice Youmans Bates, Sr. He was a graduate of Moline High School, Class of 1968.
He was a Sergeant in the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry, 101st Airborn Division.
Burial was at the Rock Island National Cemetery. He is survived by his parents, two sisters, Nancy and Joyce, and his brother Daniel. Virgil is honored on Panel 3W, Row 128 of the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial.
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SGT Virgil J. Bates Jr. was an Indirect Fire Infantryman serving with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. On August 23, 1971, SGT Bates was at Firebase Birmingham, a U.S. Army base southwest of Hue in Thua Thien Province, RVN. During the late afternoon hour, when it was almost dark, most of the U.S. personnel there were relaxing and preparing for the night. Present on the hill that evening was the Battalion Commander, conducting routine administrative duties. Suddenly, a gunshot rang out, breaking the silence at the base and getting everyone moving. Soldiers scrambled to find the source of the shooting. Outside the sandbags at one of the mortar pits Bates was found critically wounded. Apparently, another soldier’s M16 rifle accidentally discharged at close range, striking Bates. Medics quickly arrived as their aid station was just a few yards away. A medivac chopper arrived after dark and several soldiers loaded Bates on a stretcher and put him in the helicopter. He was still alive when he left Birmingham, and was taken to the medical unit at Camp Eagle where he succumbed to his injury. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]
This information provided by FindAGrave Contributor: D.C. Adams (47244039)
He was born on June 26, 1950 to Virgil Jay and Jessie Myrtice Youmans Bates, Sr. He was a graduate of Moline High School, Class of 1968.
He was a Sergeant in the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry, 101st Airborn Division.
Burial was at the Rock Island National Cemetery. He is survived by his parents, two sisters, Nancy and Joyce, and his brother Daniel. Virgil is honored on Panel 3W, Row 128 of the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial.
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SGT Virgil J. Bates Jr. was an Indirect Fire Infantryman serving with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. On August 23, 1971, SGT Bates was at Firebase Birmingham, a U.S. Army base southwest of Hue in Thua Thien Province, RVN. During the late afternoon hour, when it was almost dark, most of the U.S. personnel there were relaxing and preparing for the night. Present on the hill that evening was the Battalion Commander, conducting routine administrative duties. Suddenly, a gunshot rang out, breaking the silence at the base and getting everyone moving. Soldiers scrambled to find the source of the shooting. Outside the sandbags at one of the mortar pits Bates was found critically wounded. Apparently, another soldier’s M16 rifle accidentally discharged at close range, striking Bates. Medics quickly arrived as their aid station was just a few yards away. A medivac chopper arrived after dark and several soldiers loaded Bates on a stretcher and put him in the helicopter. He was still alive when he left Birmingham, and was taken to the medical unit at Camp Eagle where he succumbed to his injury. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]
This information provided by FindAGrave Contributor: D.C. Adams (47244039)
Virgil Jay Bates, Jr., of Coal Valley, IL, died on August 23rd, 1971 at Thua Thien, Viet Nam.
He was born on June 26, 1950 to Virgil Jay and Jessie Myrtice Youmans Bates, Sr. He was a graduate of Moline High School, Class of 1968.
He was a Sergeant in the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry, 101st Airborn Division.
Burial was at the Rock Island National Cemetery. He is survived by his parents, two sisters, Nancy and Joyce, and his brother Daniel. Virgil is honored on Panel 3W, Row 128 of the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial.
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SGT Virgil J. Bates Jr. was an Indirect Fire Infantryman serving with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. On August 23, 1971, SGT Bates was at Firebase Birmingham, a U.S. Army base southwest of Hue in Thua Thien Province, RVN. During the late afternoon hour, when it was almost dark, most of the U.S. personnel there were relaxing and preparing for the night. Present on the hill that evening was the Battalion Commander, conducting routine administrative duties. Suddenly, a gunshot rang out, breaking the silence at the base and getting everyone moving. Soldiers scrambled to find the source of the shooting. Outside the sandbags at one of the mortar pits Bates was found critically wounded. Apparently, another soldier’s M16 rifle accidentally discharged at close range, striking Bates. Medics quickly arrived as their aid station was just a few yards away. A medivac chopper arrived after dark and several soldiers loaded Bates on a stretcher and put him in the helicopter. He was still alive when he left Birmingham, and was taken to the medical unit at Camp Eagle where he succumbed to his injury. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]
This information provided by FindAGrave Contributor: D.C. Adams (47244039)
He was born on June 26, 1950 to Virgil Jay and Jessie Myrtice Youmans Bates, Sr. He was a graduate of Moline High School, Class of 1968.
He was a Sergeant in the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry, 101st Airborn Division.
Burial was at the Rock Island National Cemetery. He is survived by his parents, two sisters, Nancy and Joyce, and his brother Daniel. Virgil is honored on Panel 3W, Row 128 of the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial.
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SGT Virgil J. Bates Jr. was an Indirect Fire Infantryman serving with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. On August 23, 1971, SGT Bates was at Firebase Birmingham, a U.S. Army base southwest of Hue in Thua Thien Province, RVN. During the late afternoon hour, when it was almost dark, most of the U.S. personnel there were relaxing and preparing for the night. Present on the hill that evening was the Battalion Commander, conducting routine administrative duties. Suddenly, a gunshot rang out, breaking the silence at the base and getting everyone moving. Soldiers scrambled to find the source of the shooting. Outside the sandbags at one of the mortar pits Bates was found critically wounded. Apparently, another soldier’s M16 rifle accidentally discharged at close range, striking Bates. Medics quickly arrived as their aid station was just a few yards away. A medivac chopper arrived after dark and several soldiers loaded Bates on a stretcher and put him in the helicopter. He was still alive when he left Birmingham, and was taken to the medical unit at Camp Eagle where he succumbed to his injury. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]
This information provided by FindAGrave Contributor: D.C. Adams (47244039)
Inscription
Illinois, Sgt 2 Bn 327 Inf, 101 Abn Div, Vietnam
ARCOM
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