Danny Lynn Stephens

Born on May 18, 1949.

                                                      Danny Lynn Stephens
   Born May 18, 1949     Killed in Combat on March 31, 1968 in Hai Lang cemetery in Thua Thien, Vietnam on the DMZ. Danny is survived by his parents, Melvin and Hazel Stephens of Logansport, Louisiana, by his sisters Lucille Blount, and Melba Stephens, by his brothers Jimmy Stephens and wife Sandra, Wallace and Jack Stephens, and by two neices, Tammy Ann Stephens of Logansport, La. and Kimberly Shae Blount of Joaquin, Texas.   Danny graduated from Stanley High School, Logansport in May 1967. Knowing that he would soon be drafted, he volunteered for the Army and left in June of 1967 to Ft. Polk for basic training. The only thing he asked for was to be in an Airborne Infantry Unit. He left Ft Polk and headed to Ft Gordon, Ga. for his advanced infantry training. Then on to Ft Benning, Ga for his paratrooper jump school.

   Danny finished his jump school about mid December, 1967 and came home for just a few days before leaving for Vietnam. He left for Vietnam on Dec 20, 1967. His paper work was lost, then found, and he was put in an airborne infantry unit. On Jan 5, 1968 he joined the
2nd brigade, Delta co, 1/501, 101st airborne. He went to Cu Chi first and then the whole 1/501 was sent up north to I Corp, Thua Thien in early January 1968.

   Danny was an expert rifleman, and qualified with the M79 grenade launcher  and the M60 machine gun. He was well liked and did a good job. When Tet started on Jan 31, 1968 Danny's unit was under constant fire from the Vietcong enemy. From one of his last letters home, he said they had been in the field under constant combat for 50 something days.

After action report researched and written by David A Lamenzo (former 1st lt and former D company XO, and former Third Platoon Leader)
   It was during the mid-morning period of the battle among the cemetery's masonry structures that Danny Stephens, while providing intense suppressing fire on the NVA, received an instantly fatal single shot to his upper chest.
   Danny had taken cover  in one of the grave site positions. Lying prone , he was covered on most sides by the stone posts and railings of the low enclosures that defined the borders of this particular grave site. Enemy forces were within 30 to 50 yards of the Second Platoon Line. As the squad on his right engaged the enemy by throwing hand grenades at enemy positions to their front, Danny provided effective suppressive fire on the enemy while his comrades were throwing the grenades. He was doing everything correctly; prone, not exposing himself unnecessarily, shielding himself behind available cover, and firing at the enemy. Unfortunately, an enemy rifleman was able to engage his position through a very narrow field of fire and by firing only inches above the ground.

   It took guts and courage to handle this job, and Danny Stephens had both. He was a true American Hero and his spirit lives on today in the memories to his family.


 

Passed away on March 31, 1968.