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Submitted: 7/11/21 • Approved: 7/12/21 • Last Updated: 2/24/22 • R435988-G0-S3
Texas
CORPORAL U.S. Army
Vietnam
October 6, 1950 - January 18, 1971
Purple Heart
Born in Alvin, Brazoria County, Texas
Died Thừa Thiên-Huế, Province, Vietnam
SOME GAVE ALL.
He was 20 years old at his time of death.
On February 2, 2011, his mother spoke to both Vietnam Veterans and other veterans, after placing a wreath at the Veteran's Memorial at Alvin City Hall, in honor of Billy Joe. January 26 is the day of the Vietnam Peace Accord, and those killed in action are remembered on that day. The Vietnam Vets in attendance that day posed around the memorial for a photo.
Billy Joe was a kind and beautiful person, who went by the nickname "Snookie" to his friends and family. He is the son of Billy Joe Plaster and Mary Ellen Hornback Plaster Cooper. Joe Ellen Plaster Armstrong and Jeffery Plaster are the siblings Billy Joe Jr. preceded in death. His other sibling Randy Dale Plaster preceded him in death. He grew up in Alvin, Texas with the rest of the very large Plaster family from the Russell Rudolph Plaster branch of the family tree.
Billy Joe Plaster, Jr. is buried in the Field of Honor next to his parents, near his brother Randy, his grandmother Minnie Hornback, and who would have been his future niece, Laura Abigail Plaster.
COMMENDATIONS
★ Purple Heart
★ Combat Infantryman Badge
★ Marksmanship Badge
★ Parachutist Badge
★ National Defense Service Medal
★ Vietnam Campaign Medal
★ Vietnam Service Medal
★ Army Presidential Unit Citation
★ Vietnam Gallantry Cross
★ Army Good Conduct Medal
Billy Joe is honored on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington DC. Name inscribed at VVM Wall, Panel 05w, Line 55.
MILITARY SERVICE:
CASUALTY COUNTRY: Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam)
TOUR START DATE: 22 Oct 1970
SERVICE BRANCH: Department of the Army
COMPONENT: Selective Service
RANK: Corporal
MILITARY GRADE: Corporal
COMPANY: HHC
REGIMENT: 506th Inf
BATALLION: 1st Bn
PROVINCE: Military Region 1 - Thua Thien
CN: Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam)
SERVICE OCCUPATION: Light Weapons Infantry (ARMY)
DATA SOURCE: Coffelt Database/Honorstates.org
CASUALTY DATA
Casualty Date: 01/18/1971
Age at Loss: 20 (based on date declared dead)
Location: Thua Thien Province, South Vietnam
Casualty Type: Hostile, died of wounds; body recovered
Casualty Reason: Ground casualty
Casualty Detail: Other explosive device
Billy Joe is and will continue to be missed by all who knew and loved him.
Contributed on 7/11/21 by deanakh1
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Record #: 435988
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