Lonnie Lowell Gibson

PFC – U.S. Army
4th Inf Division, 1st Bde LRRP –   Company K (Ranger), 75th Infantry
05 February 1949 – 28 September 1969
Jellico, Tennessee
Panel 17W, Line 16

MILITARY DATA

Service:               Army (Selective Service)

Grade at loss:   E3

Rank:                     Private First Class

ID Number:           409825900

MOS:                       11B10: Infantryman

Len Svc:               1 year

Unit:                     4 INF DIV, 1st BDE LRRP, K/75 REGIMENT

CASUALTY DATA

Start Tour:         07/06/1969

Cas Date:             09/28/1969

Age at Loss:       21

Remains:               Body recovered

Location:             Binh Dinh, South Vietnam

Type:                     Hostile, died outright, ground casualty

Reason:                 Multiple fragmentation wounds

AWARDS

Silver Star, Bronze Star, Combat Infantryman Badge, Vietnam Campaign

Medal, Vietnam Service Medal

GRAVESITE

Jellico Cemetery, Jellico, Tennessee

Link to Remembrances:

https://www.thewall-usa.com/guest.asp?recid=18454

https://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/18443/LONNIE-L-GIBSON

From the LaFollette Press, Thursday, October 9, 1969:

Army PFC Lonnie L. Gibson, of Jellico, has been killed in action while serving with the 4th Infantry Division near Pleiku, South Vietnam. He had been in the service since last February and in Vietnam for less than three months.

Gibson was a graduate of Jellico High School and was employed by the Chrysler Corporation in Dayton before his induction into the Army.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret D. Gibson, Jellico; mother, Mrs. Edith Smith, Louisville, Ky.; two sisters, Mrs. Glenn Douglas, Dayton, Ohio and Mrs. Steve Adams, Cincinnati.

The family received friends on Tuesday evening and the funeral was Wednesday afternoon at the First Baptist Church in Jellico with the Rev. Richard Allison officiating. Burial was in Jellico Cemetery.

Inscription:
KENTUCKY PFC 1 BDE 4 INF DIV VIETNAM SS-BM-PH

* * *

From “Never Forgotten” by Mike Lapolla, (4thdivrangers.com) –

Lonnie Gibson was a good soldier and also friendly kid that always had a big smile on his face. We didn`t know him all that long before he was taken away, but Lonnie’s quick smile and friendly, warm personality made him a favorite of everyone that was lucky enough to have known him.

I remember the day he died, I was on the chopper pad when they brought his body in. I remember how stunned everyone was, when the word got around that Lonnie was gone. I saw the tears in the eyes of his teammates, the particulars of the mission I never knew, and didn`t want to. It didn`t matter to me, all I cared about was that we had lost another brother. He was lost but he is not forgotten, he lives on in our memories, with all the others. Larry Flanagan

From Bill Filippini:   winter 2011

During the August, 2011, reunion of the K 75th   4th Division Rangers/LRRPs, in   Dearborn, MI, it was learned that Lonnie Gibson   of   Jellico, TN, who lost   his   life on   Sept. 28, 1969, in   Binh Dinh Provence during his tour in Country, had a military plague   marking   his   gravesite   but   no   headstone.   Also   that  his   classmates were taking donations to purchase a headstone. There was no explanation for the lack of a headstone, but the Rangers/LRRPs graciously turned out their pockets to contribute.

On Oct. 9, 2011, some of the Rangers/LRRPs who became acquainted with Lonnie during his 84-day tour of duty, attended the dedication of the headstone   at   the Jellico Cemetery, Jellico, TN. They were asked to unveil the headstone, speak and make their presentation from the Rangers/LRRPs, in   memory   of   Lonnie. Those attending, especially Lonnie’s family   members, were very grateful to learn what Lonnie’s LRRP duties were during his service and at the time his life was lost. Those   representing the Rangers/LRRPs were Stan Craig, Gary Shellenbarger, Emmett Mulroney, Calvin Gotts, Denny Ferguson and Roy Simpson.

calvin   gotts Sep 21, 2008
cgotts@aol.com

fellow, k-75, Ranger, LLRP., 4th, inf., div.

1252, Lalonde rd., east jordan, me., 49727, USA

you, are not forgotten, you will always, be remembered by me, a friend

Lonnie was, a great llrp., ranger, he was, a very young man, who gave his life, to our country, I wish, I could contact his family, in Jellico, Tenn., I have tried, but no go. I visited his town, war memorial, in the town square, when I go south, on I-75. he was 20 and I was 27. I remember, his memorial service in VietNam, I still have a copy, of the service bulletin. May God, be with you and all, vietnam vets. Your friend
Your Dear Friend Pete Never Forgot You

1/28/12 – by Susan Spencer Lasky  –   SuBee618@yahoo.com

I was Pete’s wife and never had the chance to meet his friend Lonnie. But I do remember him always talking about him and I remember him finding out that Lonnie was killed as he was in NCO school getting ready to go to Viet Nam himself. He came home in December upset that his friend was gone and made a promise that he would continue the fight Lonnie was involved in. Unfortunately on May 15th 1970 Pete also lost his life in battle in Cambodia. Somehow I always felt that the two of them were once again joined together and that they look over us knowing that they served proudly and did the best they could to help our country and their brothers and sisters at war. Lonnie you are never forgotten. You were too young to go, but we the Spencer family will keep your memory and dedication of your service to your country alive.