Jim Ballowe emailed me this morning with the following (flowers will be sent on behalf of NDQSA):
Just wanted to let everyone know that Horace Humphries passed away yesterday morning. He died in the Rutherfordton Hospital in Rutherford County, NC.
Horace served on Dusters with D-1/44 in RVN from Summer 1969 to April 1970. He was my gunner and best friend in Vietnam. He received a Silver Star for his actions at FSB Anzio (located just south of Phu Bai) on the night of April 7, 1970. Horace was seriously injured that night but continued to direct his track’s fire at the enemy. Horace and the other squad members of D-222 (along with the ARVNS stationed at Anzio) successfully repelled two major ground and mortar attacks from an estimated 100-150 NVA & VC. He was med-evaced the next morning. They collected 39 NVA/VC KIAs the next morning. Several were located in the wire just in front of the duster (D-222). I revisited the Anzio site in 2003 and talked to a local man who lived in the village next to Anzio when he was a boy. He remembered that night and remembered that the next day the bodies were piled as high as his hooch.
Prior to becoming Squad leader of D-222, when I left Anzio at the end of March, Horace was my gunner on D-222 for 5 months and prior to that served with me at Hai Van Pass on tracks D-231 and D-232.
Horace leaves a wonderful wife (Nancy), two daughters and four grand children. He was a great friend and will be missed by everyone that he touched!
The funeral will be Monday Jan 11 at the, Harrelson Funeral Home in Forest City, NC. Viewing is tentatively planned for Sunday Jan 10 at the funeral home.
Local florists: (Forest City, NC)
Bosic Florist 828-245-2884
Cliffside Florist 828-675-5144
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