US Navy BM1 Kemper Swanson Billings, Vietnam Veteran, Born in Virginia, he became a resident of Burlington, NC.
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.
Thirty four years have passed and I still remember the smells and too much of what we saw. Thank you for what you did and you will be remembered then, now, and forever. Walter Weddell.
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.
During our patrol, in that area, we had a UDT sailor from the USS Thomaston (LSD 29) on board to assist in recovery of the lost crewman if we found him. We never did find him, but my log also notes that I entered the Hue River the next day, to make a delivery of some materials to the Hue Swift Detachment. I can see that surf run, into that river, to this very day. Anthony R. Taylor, LTJG, Officer in Charge, PCF-16. Fellow 'Swift Boat' sailor, Terry Boone, [email protected].
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.
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.
Thirty four years have passed and I still remember the smells and too much of what we saw. Thank you for what you did and you will be remembered then, now, and forever. Walter Weddell.
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.
During our patrol, in that area, we had a UDT sailor from the USS Thomaston (LSD 29) on board to assist in recovery of the lost crewman if we found him. We never did find him, but my log also notes that I entered the Hue River the next day, to make a delivery of some materials to the Hue Swift Detachment. I can see that surf run, into that river, to this very day. Anthony R. Taylor, LTJG, Officer in Charge, PCF-16. Fellow 'Swift Boat' sailor, Terry Boone, [email protected].
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.
US Navy BM1 Kemper Swanson Billings, Vietnam Veteran, Born in Virginia, he became a resident of Burlington, NC.
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.
Thirty four years have passed and I still remember the smells and too much of what we saw. Thank you for what you did and you will be remembered then, now, and forever. Walter Weddell.
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.
During our patrol, in that area, we had a UDT sailor from the USS Thomaston (LSD 29) on board to assist in recovery of the lost crewman if we found him. We never did find him, but my log also notes that I entered the Hue River the next day, to make a delivery of some materials to the Hue Swift Detachment. I can see that surf run, into that river, to this very day. Anthony R. Taylor, LTJG, Officer in Charge, PCF-16. Fellow 'Swift Boat' sailor, Terry Boone, [email protected].
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.
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.
Thirty four years have passed and I still remember the smells and too much of what we saw. Thank you for what you did and you will be remembered then, now, and forever. Walter Weddell.
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.
During our patrol, in that area, we had a UDT sailor from the USS Thomaston (LSD 29) on board to assist in recovery of the lost crewman if we found him. We never did find him, but my log also notes that I entered the Hue River the next day, to make a delivery of some materials to the Hue Swift Detachment. I can see that surf run, into that river, to this very day. Anthony R. Taylor, LTJG, Officer in Charge, PCF-16. Fellow 'Swift Boat' sailor, Terry Boone, [email protected].
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.
Family Members
Parents
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
