In Memory

Edward Southern

Article from Newton Kansan

Bullet Ricochets in South Vietnam
Newton Marine Killed in Accidental Shooting
    A Newton Marine, Pvt. 1-C Edward Charles Southern, 18, has been killed in South Vietnam.

    His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. Southern, 1501 E. 9th, were notified Sunday of their son’s death in Wednesday at Danang Quang Nam Province.

    He was a victim of a bullet fired by one of t his own men that ricocheted on a rifle range, information from the Defense Department revealed.

   Pvt. Southern had been in South Vietnam since July of last year.  He was a member  of t he 1st Marine Division, 2nd Battalion H&S Co., 106th Platoon.

    He took is boot training at Camp Pendleton, San Diego Calif., before going overseas.

    He was the second Newton casualty of the Vietnam War.

    Pvt. Southern was born March 28, 1950 in Crawfordsville, Ind.

    He was a member of Bible Baptist Church in Newton.

    In addition to the parents, survivors include 1 brother, Adrian W. of the home; 2 sisters, Mrs. Dan (Louise) Chaffee of Ferguson, Mo., and Terry Ann Southern of the home; grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. McCulloch of Wichita and Mrs. Henry H. Anduss of Newton; and a great-grandmother, Mrs. Henry Akers of Newton.

    Funeral arraignments will be announced by Draper’s Funeral Home

Newton Marine’s Rites Arraigned
    Funeral services for Pvt. 1-C Edward C. Southern, 18, Newton Marine who was killed Feb. 26 in South Vietnam, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Newton Bible Baptist Church.

    The Rev. Boyd White will officiate and burial will be in the Greenwood Cemetery.

    Military graveside rites will be conducted.

    Pvt. Southern was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. Southern, 1501 E. 9th.

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Dennis Schmidt took this photo of Ed's name at the Vietnam memorial on the Mall in Washington D.C.

 

 



 
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09/17/08 07:44 PM #1    

Dennis Schmidt

I remember when Eddie announced in my government class taught by Mr. Triggs that he had joined the Marines. It seems like he left immediately after graduation. He was killed in Vietnam only seven months later. His name is on the Vietnam memorial. This is the information in the wall's database:


EDWARD CHARLES SOUTHERN


PFC - E2 - Marine Corps - Regular

Length of service 1 years
His tour began on Jul 26, 1968
Casualty was on Feb 26, 1969
In QUANG NAM, SOUTH VIETNAM
NON-HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
ACCIDENTAL HOMICIDE
Body was recovered

Panel 31W - Line 73

11/12/08 11:13 AM #2    

Vickie Yotter (Moore)

Even though Eddie died way too young, he will never be gone forever because of the place he holds in my heart and mind. Eddie was a gentle soul and we had many great conversations in Vocational Education class in our senior year. He was always willing to listen to any bad or good event going on in my life at the time. I, in turn, treasured his friendship. Eddie did not finish high school, but joined the military to escape peer pressure. Ed was not the brightest light bulb in the pack (as he used to say), but he will always be my shining light. While practicing on the firing range, his weapon misfired and ended his life. Thank you Eddie for being my friend and confidant. You will never be forgotten.

07/24/09 04:04 PM #3    

Bill Boyd

I didn't know Ed well. I didn't know he died in Vietnam. Somehow that kind of news escaped me (or I escaped it) until spring of 1970 when I became a soldier. I can't relate any memories of Eddie, nor do I really remember communicating with him, nor do I remember much about him at all. I feel a kinship with him, now, though. I represent veterans in a troubled employment environment, and I see many VN vets who struggled through years of being ignored and even chastised. Even as they are recognized more openly for their service, they are not recognized for their worth in the workplace. I hesitate to say that Eddie might be counted a lucky one among them, now. Regardless. He is a brother, a fellow soldier, a soul we miss, and I salute him. Thanks Eddie. I love you.

11/03/09 11:34 PM #4    

Ric Terrones

I have been prompted by my older age (wisdom & experience is a much preferable explanation)to write about Eddie.
I played a lot of baseball with Eddie in our formative years...for those of you who didn't know, he was a competetive ball player and a hell of a catcher! I cherished that time on the field with him. But, Eddie was more than that...he was down to earth, he had a great laugh & loved to smile, and he was one of the most unpretentious persons I knew. As his USMC background testifies, he was a giving person in search of something greater than himself.
Now that I appreciate what authenticity and substance really mean, I count myself lucky having Eddie as a friend.

SEMPER FI Eddie!!!

07/10/14 03:30 PM #5    

Beverly Roberson (Jackson)

Prompted by age as well as Connie; I feel the need to write about my friend Eddie. We were friends throughout elementary school and high school.  I talked with him after he joined the Marines. His sense of patriotism was awe inspiring. I know that he left Newton with a purpose.  His passing still hurts and decades out; I have still not been able to visit the Vietnam Memorial.  I did not take my sons and my grand children will have to visit the Memorial with others.  I took my children to all other memorials and we have family at Arlington.  Thanks for posting a picture of his name on the Wall.

 

Bev


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