“He’d been in Vietnam less than a month. He never came home.”


 On July 19, 1969, Private First Class James Robert Devney lost his life while serving in the Vietnam War.


James was from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and only 20 years old when he joined the U.S. Army. He became a Light Weapons Infantryman with Delta Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry, 11th Light Infantry Brigade. He was sent to Quang Ngai Province, one of the most dangerous areas in Vietnam.


He arrived in Vietnam on June 28. Just three weeks later, he was killed in action during a combat mission when he was hit by enemy gunfire.


The war moved fast, and so did the danger. But James faced it bravely and stood strong, even when the enemy tried to take American lives.


His time in Vietnam was far too short, but his bravery and sacrifice will always be remembered.

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