Harry Edward Stephens

Specialist Four
D CO, 2ND BN, 503RD INFANTRY, 173 ABN BDE
Army of the United States
29 October 1945 - 19 November 1967
Richmond, Virginia
Panel 30E Line 034

173 ABN BDE

503RD INF RGT
Combat Infantry

Purple Heart, National Defense, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign

Airborne!

The database page for Harry Edward Stephens

19 Jul 2007

We called him "Skinny Eddie" because he was just that - skinny as a weed. Eddie was one of the guys in my dad's Scout Troop when we lived in Virginia. We had some great times and more fun than you could believe possible. In 1967 while eating dinner we got the call about Eddie getting killed in Nam. My Dad left the table and sat on the front porch and cried, one of the few times I saw him cry. His only words were "It's just not fair ... Eddie was so young." No one ever talked about it again and Dad remained a strong supporter of the war.

"Only The Good Die Young" would fit so many of the Vietnam War dead and Eddie was one of them.

From a boyhood friend,
Charles W. Echols
311 Hendry Cemetery Road, Ochlocknee, Ga 31773
lifer93@bellsouth.net



Skinny Eddie at Scout Camp in the early 60's.
This is the way I will always remember Eddie,
with a big smile and looking for fun.

A Note from The Virtual Wall

"Skinny Eddie" Stephens died in the bitter fighting for Hill 875. Two Medals of Honor, three Distinguished Service Crosses, and numerous Silver and Bronze Stars were awarded the men who fought there between 19 and 23 November 1967 - but at least 127 Americans died there as well, with hundreds more wounded.

A summary of the battle and a listing of the men who died
during the fighting may be found on The Virtual Wall's
Hill 875 Memorial





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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 19 Jul 2007
Last updated 08/10/2009