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Howard
Petty
Petty
LTC · HQ · 1542 · Infantry Unit Commander
KIA
In-Country Service
1967-07-20 –
Home of Record
Pulaski, Giles County, TN
Character of Service
Honorable
Archive Status
Active
Service timeline drawn from Virtual Wall and Honor States records. If you served with or knew LTC Howard Petty, please use the contribute form to share what you remember.
1967-07-20
Arrived
Arrived in Vietnam — July 20, 1967
LTC Howard Petty began his tour with the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry (Airmobile), 1st Cavalry Division, Republic of Vietnam.
1968-02
Command
Assumed command of 2/8 Cavalry — February 1968
LTC Petty assumed command of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry, succeeding LTC John Stannard, who was promoted to Colonel and took command of the 1st Brigade. The battalion was operating in Quang Tri Province during the Tet Offensive period.
1968-03-15
KIA
Killed in action — LZ Betty, March 15, 1968
During the night of March 15, the enemy attacked LZ Betty with mortars and rockets. A mortar round struck the tent occupied by LTC Petty and his Battalion Operations Officer, Major Barney Darby. LTC Petty was killed immediately; Major Darby was evacuated with serious wounds. LTC John V. Gibney assumed command of the battalion the following day. LTC Petty was 37 years old. He is buried at Maplewood Cemetery, Pulaski, Giles County, Tennessee, and is memorialized on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall at Panel 44E, Line 61.
Did You Know Howard, or Serve Alongside Howard?
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