My
brother was HN David Clayton Phelps, killed in action while serving
with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines in Quang Tin, South Viet Nam. While
Dave was really my step Brother, he was my big brother and my friend.
Our oldest brother Bill, was eleven years older than I and had left
home for college when I was seven years old. Therefore, when Dave came
to live with us (my Step Dad, Mom and younger brother Tom), he became
the big Brother that I had missed. Dave lived with us for about 6 years,
in Williamstown, New York when he joined the Navy to become a Navy Hospital
Corpsman. The years he spent with us will never be forgotten. We were
always playing basketball, baseball, football and fooling around with
old cars or chasing girls. Although we did have our fights (more of
a fight for me than him), he would just hold me down until I would give
in. No matter what I did or said to him at the time, he never laid a
hand on me. He would just hold me down and laugh.
I was 15 years old that September when the Naval Officers came to
our home to inform Mom and Dad of Daves' death. I didn't stick around
to hear them....I knew why they were there. Dave had talked to Dad
via radio phone on his birthday in July. During that visit, Dave told
Dad that he knew that he would never make it back from Nam alive.
The news saddened everyone in our small community and school. Dave
had been special to many of our teachers and was a basketball star
for the school. Everyone loses a little piece of themselves when they
lose someone as special as Dave. He will always be dearly missed and
never forgotten in our hearts. I LOVE YOU DAVE. May God forever keep
you and all those you served with.~Your Brother, Jim
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BIG
BROTHER
I'd
like to add more information about our Big Brother Dave. I am the
youngest member of the family, when Dave was killed, I was just starting
6th grade, Dave was the most important person in my life, he was my
Hero! He was so Cool. Dave was ten years older than me but he always
tried to keep me involved with things. My Brother Jim was right when
he said that Dave would just hold him down, I remember many times
when Dave would hold Jimmy down on the couch with his knees in Jimmy's
back bouncing up and down all the while Jimmy would be attempting
to ask me to help him, Yeah, Right, Like I could have ever done anything
to help him. Dave had also attended Camden New York High school for
a few years and made quite a few close friends there. He also set
the Tri-Valley scoring record for basketball.
Dave
was an outstanding basketball player, 6'4" he was just a pleasure
to watch, and while at Altmar-Parish-Williamstown High School he helped
the school take the Oswego County Championship.
David
was the first from Williamstown New York to be killed in Nam, we were
told he was bringing in one of his Men, wounded from the field when
he was hit by sniper fire, the wounded man survived and was able to
tell the story. The Williamstown Legion Post # 1128 dedicated a memorial
to David at their Memorial site on route 13 in Williamstown for all
to see and enjoy. I will take a picture of it to add to the web site.
My
Brother Jim and I have the opportunity to feel pride all the time
because of David, I run into his old friends quite often and they
usually make comments about how much they liked Dave and what a great
guy he was. I don't think he had ANY domestic ememies, everyone liked
him.
Myself,
I spent 4 good years of my life in the Marine Corps and as you could
probably guess, I always had a lot of respect for our Corpsmen. Semper
Fi Big Brother, I love you Man, you have been one of the Best Parts
of my whole life, and counting.~Little Brother Tommy
*****************************************************
(click
to enlarge)
Cartoon
drawing by David Phelps before he went to Vietnam
(Courtesy
of Tom Phelps, younger brother)
Uncle
David
I never knew David as I was born in 1975, but everyone from the area
where he grew up always has nothing but great things to say about
him. We usually converse during St. Patrick’s Day at the Williamstown
Legion with the locals. His name always comes up in conversation.
There is a memorial placed in the center of town in David’s memory.
I live about ten miles from Williamstown, New York. I played basketball
for the same high school that David graduated from (Altmar-Parish-Williamstown).
His coach (Dick Foertch) was my principal for some time. We have a
basketball award at the school now named the David C. Phelps Award.
It is an award handed out to the senior that shows the most improved
skills on the team at the end of the year. I won the Most Improved
Player award as a sophomore. David was highly regarded as one of the
best players in the area in the late 60’s. Some say that he could
have gone far in basketball. He may have touched more lives with his
military duty by the sounds of things!
(click
to enlarge)
I would love to
communicate with anyone who knew David to learn more about his life.
I don’t know why and I’ve never believed in strange happenings but
I have always felt a strong interest towards the Vietnam Era and the
man that I always called Uncle David.~Jim Poindexter, Jr.
****************************************************************
Remembering
HN David Clayton Phelps
This
is posted in honor of David Clayton Phelps, HN, killed 9/5/68. Dave
was one of my corpsmen at the Portsmouth Naval Hospital, Portsmouth,
VA. He became a good friend, and died on my birthday. I still remember
the day I heard the news. I was heartbroken. After so many years,
I still remember the kind, sweet young man he was. His frequent talk
of his family, especially his brother, and his upbringing in New York
State, entertained us all.
I
was unable to make my first visit to the Wall until 1994...I was not
able to make my peace with the War until I went, though. Dave's name
was the first one I searched for. When I saw it, everything came rushing
back...I wondered about his brother...and I see that his brother has
a son. Dave would have liked that...being an uncle. I hope his family
has found peace...with two sons and a daughter of my own in the military,
I wonder how they survived the heartbreak. They must be so proud of
him, and rightly so. While the war was horrible, the men who fought
so bravely were and are my heroes.
The
night before the guys left Portsmouth for their Marine training, we
had a party at my house. I remember hugging Dave and wishing him Vaya
con Dios...he smiled that sweet smile and wished me the same before
he walked out of our lives forever. Vaya con Dios, Dave. I think about
you often.~Scherlie Faulkner Devine
***************************
For
David
I
never knew David Phelps. He was the uncle of my son-in-law. My
son-in-law never knew his uncle either, but there is a very strong
bond between them. David, we are both very proud of you and what
you did for our country. May you rest in peace.~Jackie
Horning
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