Benny Ray Halstead was born 15 March 1950 in Raleigh County, W.Va., a son of Charles L. Halstead and wife Zella Reed Halstead.
He was a member of the Tilden Community Church and a 1968 graduate of Shady Spring High School in Raleigh County. Benny was a funny guy and talked about making comedy tapes with his family.
Spec. 5 Halstead was the 42nd Raleigh Countian to die in the Vietnam War. He was killed on 26 Aug 1970 at Doc To, Vietnam, after the helicopter on which he served as door-gunner was shot down and burned by hostile forces during combat.
Benny was survived by his parents; two brothers and a sister; paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Lester C. Halstead; maternal grandmother, Mrs. Arvada Sammons; and maternal grandfather George Reed.
Funeral services were held in the Keyser-Bryant Funeral Home Chapel in Beckley, W.Va. Interment was in Sunset Memorial Park, Beckley.
Benny was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star, his second and third Air medals, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Purple Heart. The medals were presented to his family during a ceremony in February 1971 at the Beckley Army Recruiting Main Station.
Vietnam War Veterans Memorial
BENNY RAY HALSTEAD
SP5 - E5 - Army - Regular
1st AVN BDE
His tour began on Jan 24, 1970
Casualty was on Aug 26, 1970
In BA XUGEN, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, HELICOPTER - CREW
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was recovered
Panel 07W - Line 9
Sources: "42nd Countian Dies In Viet," Post-Herald, Beckley, W.Va., 31 Aug 1970, Page 1; Halstead, funeral notice, Post-Herald, 04 Sep 1970; and "Five Medals Awarded Posthumously To Raleigh County Vietnam Combat Victim," Post-Herald/Raleigh Register, 28 Feb 1971, Page 3.
He was a member of the Tilden Community Church and a 1968 graduate of Shady Spring High School in Raleigh County. Benny was a funny guy and talked about making comedy tapes with his family.
Spec. 5 Halstead was the 42nd Raleigh Countian to die in the Vietnam War. He was killed on 26 Aug 1970 at Doc To, Vietnam, after the helicopter on which he served as door-gunner was shot down and burned by hostile forces during combat.
Benny was survived by his parents; two brothers and a sister; paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Lester C. Halstead; maternal grandmother, Mrs. Arvada Sammons; and maternal grandfather George Reed.
Funeral services were held in the Keyser-Bryant Funeral Home Chapel in Beckley, W.Va. Interment was in Sunset Memorial Park, Beckley.
Benny was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star, his second and third Air medals, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Purple Heart. The medals were presented to his family during a ceremony in February 1971 at the Beckley Army Recruiting Main Station.
Vietnam War Veterans Memorial
BENNY RAY HALSTEAD
SP5 - E5 - Army - Regular
1st AVN BDE
His tour began on Jan 24, 1970
Casualty was on Aug 26, 1970
In BA XUGEN, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, HELICOPTER - CREW
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was recovered
Panel 07W - Line 9
Sources: "42nd Countian Dies In Viet," Post-Herald, Beckley, W.Va., 31 Aug 1970, Page 1; Halstead, funeral notice, Post-Herald, 04 Sep 1970; and "Five Medals Awarded Posthumously To Raleigh County Vietnam Combat Victim," Post-Herald/Raleigh Register, 28 Feb 1971, Page 3.
Benny Ray Halstead was born 15 March 1950 in Raleigh County, W.Va., a son of Charles L. Halstead and wife Zella Reed Halstead.
He was a member of the Tilden Community Church and a 1968 graduate of Shady Spring High School in Raleigh County. Benny was a funny guy and talked about making comedy tapes with his family.
Spec. 5 Halstead was the 42nd Raleigh Countian to die in the Vietnam War. He was killed on 26 Aug 1970 at Doc To, Vietnam, after the helicopter on which he served as door-gunner was shot down and burned by hostile forces during combat.
Benny was survived by his parents; two brothers and a sister; paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Lester C. Halstead; maternal grandmother, Mrs. Arvada Sammons; and maternal grandfather George Reed.
Funeral services were held in the Keyser-Bryant Funeral Home Chapel in Beckley, W.Va. Interment was in Sunset Memorial Park, Beckley.
Benny was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star, his second and third Air medals, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Purple Heart. The medals were presented to his family during a ceremony in February 1971 at the Beckley Army Recruiting Main Station.
Vietnam War Veterans Memorial
BENNY RAY HALSTEAD
SP5 - E5 - Army - Regular
1st AVN BDE
His tour began on Jan 24, 1970
Casualty was on Aug 26, 1970
In BA XUGEN, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, HELICOPTER - CREW
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was recovered
Panel 07W - Line 9
Sources: "42nd Countian Dies In Viet," Post-Herald, Beckley, W.Va., 31 Aug 1970, Page 1; Halstead, funeral notice, Post-Herald, 04 Sep 1970; and "Five Medals Awarded Posthumously To Raleigh County Vietnam Combat Victim," Post-Herald/Raleigh Register, 28 Feb 1971, Page 3.
He was a member of the Tilden Community Church and a 1968 graduate of Shady Spring High School in Raleigh County. Benny was a funny guy and talked about making comedy tapes with his family.
Spec. 5 Halstead was the 42nd Raleigh Countian to die in the Vietnam War. He was killed on 26 Aug 1970 at Doc To, Vietnam, after the helicopter on which he served as door-gunner was shot down and burned by hostile forces during combat.
Benny was survived by his parents; two brothers and a sister; paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Lester C. Halstead; maternal grandmother, Mrs. Arvada Sammons; and maternal grandfather George Reed.
Funeral services were held in the Keyser-Bryant Funeral Home Chapel in Beckley, W.Va. Interment was in Sunset Memorial Park, Beckley.
Benny was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star, his second and third Air medals, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Purple Heart. The medals were presented to his family during a ceremony in February 1971 at the Beckley Army Recruiting Main Station.
Vietnam War Veterans Memorial
BENNY RAY HALSTEAD
SP5 - E5 - Army - Regular
1st AVN BDE
His tour began on Jan 24, 1970
Casualty was on Aug 26, 1970
In BA XUGEN, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, HELICOPTER - CREW
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was recovered
Panel 07W - Line 9
Sources: "42nd Countian Dies In Viet," Post-Herald, Beckley, W.Va., 31 Aug 1970, Page 1; Halstead, funeral notice, Post-Herald, 04 Sep 1970; and "Five Medals Awarded Posthumously To Raleigh County Vietnam Combat Victim," Post-Herald/Raleigh Register, 28 Feb 1971, Page 3.
Inscription
West Virginia SP5 162 Aviation
Co Vietnam BSM-AM & 30 LC
AR COM - PH
