Michael Terry

Michael Dean Terry (July 25, 1949 – Oct. 12, 1969) was a U.S. Marine from Scott County killed in the Vietnam War.

See Also: Scott Countians killed in war

Biography

Born July 25, 1949 in Oneida, Michael D. Terry was the son of Mitchell L. “Jake” Terry Jr. (1922-1981) and Wanda June Hill (1931-2018). He was an only child.

The Terry family was originally from Oneida. Jake was the son of Mitchell Terry (1887-1960) and Nannie B. Hall (1898-1972), while Wanda was the daughter of Lawrence Hill (1902-1968) and Edna Mae Pennington (1911-1973).

The family later moved to McCordsville, Ind., and Michael graduated from Mt. Vernon High School in 1968.

Vietnam War

PFC Terry enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in February 1969 in Indianapolis, Ind. He completed basic training as a 0311 rifleman and arrived in Vietnam in July 1969, assigned to Co. C, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, III Marine Amphibious Force.

His regiment provided security for the Liberty Bridge over the Son Thu Bon River northeast of the An Hoa Combat Base. It was nicknamed “The Arizona Territory” because it reminded the Marines of the Wild West. During a search-and-destroy mission, PFC Terry was wounded by a booby trap on Oct. 6, 1969. He died on Oct. 12, 1969 at the U.S. Naval NSA Station Hospital in Da Nang.

Aftermath

PFC Terry’s body was returned to the U.S., and he was buried at Washington Park East Cemetery in Indianapolis, Ind., where his father was also buried in 1981.

He received the Purple Heart. His name is listed on the VFW Post 5669 Memorial Wall in Oneida, the East Tennessee Veterans Memorial in Knoxville, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.

His mother returned to Scott County late in life. She died in Oneida on Dec. 23, 2018. She is also buried at the cemetery where her husband and son are buried.