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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
Jul 3, 2009 - 7:37:28 PM |
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Arkansas National Guard Soldier funds scholarship in honor of Vietnam Soldier
By Sgt. Sharon Davis, 1038th Engineer Company HCC, Admin NCO, in support of MND-B
May 17, 2008 - 1:10:34 PM
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Blackanthem Military News
 CAMP TAJI, Iraq - In 1966, friends Gale Adams and Teddy G. Talley graduated from a small high school in the town of Marked Tree, Ark., which is located in the northeast corner of the state.
The Vietnam War was expanding at the time and the nation's young men were being pulled into the fight daily, often right out of high school. Adams and Talley volunteered and joined the Army together shortly after leaving school.
On May 26, 1967, just a few months after arriving in theater, Talley became one of more than 58,000 young men who lost their lives in the conflict. While Adams has since passed away, his friend Talley has never been forgotten by Adams' Family.
Ten years ago, Adams' brother, Sgt. 1st Class Dennis Adams, a Marked Tree, Ark., native, and the operations noncommissioned officer for the 1038th Engineer Company, an Arkansas National Guard unit attached to the 165th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 1st Sustainment Brigade, in support of Multi-National Division-Baghdad, along with his brother Danny began holding tailgate parties before every Friday-night hometown football game.
Soon after, they decided to establish a $500 football scholarship in the name of their Family friend, Teddy G. Talley. The tailgate parties became the driving force for raising the funds to cover the scholarship.
While socializing, grilling, and cheering on the home team, the Adams brothers would talk about the scholarship and accept donations from anyone who showed an interest.
This coming Memorial Day, 41 years to the day of Talley's death, the U.S. and Arkansas state flags are slated be posted at Camp Taji, Iraq, where Dennis is currently serving.
These flags, which previously flew over the Arkansas State Capital, will then be sent to Danny for safe keeping. In September 2008, the townsfolk will gather and pay tribute to the fallen Soldiers as they fly those same flags in the memory of his Family's friend, Talley.
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