Bernice Historical Society

People and Places

Vietnam Memorial

This past week the Traveling Vietnam Memorial made a 4 day stop in Ruston and a special program honoring those who lost their life in Vietnam was held. There are two names on that wall that everyone in our small town should know and never forget.

The first is that of PORTER EARL CALLOWAY who joined the Army in 1964 and lost his life in Vietnam in 1968 at the young age of 21 years. Calloway was taken prisoner by the Vietnamese Army in on March 11, 1968, just a month before he was scheduled to leave South Vietnam. He was injured in an ambush and captured along with two other soldiers. Those two soldiers were released from captivity in 1973 and upon their return reported that they were witness to the fact that Calloway died from his injuries while in captivity. Because his body was never recovered, the Department of Defense stills carries him on its “Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel,” list. During the period he was maintained missing; he was advanced in rank to Staff Sergeant.

The second is that of DONALD LYNN EVANS, United States Army SP4 who was born in Bernice in 1950 and died in Vietnam July 3, 1971 also at the age of 21 years.  Evans enlisted in the Army in July of 1970 and was assigned as a Heavy Vehicle driver.  Evans death was due to an accident while on duty.  His body was returned to his family and he is buried in the Pine Grove Cemetery.

The motto “You Are Not Forgotten” graces the POW/MIA flag, forcing us all to remember why we should never forget the men and women who fought and who are still fighting for the many freedoms we take for granted.  May we in Bernice never forget your sacrifice.

Pictures of these two heroes are in the Bernice Depot Museum along with information on others from Bernice who died in service to our country.

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