Individual Details

Death

L-Cpl. James H. Furr of 16 Barbee Rd., Concord, has become Cabarrus County's first fatality in Viet Nam. The 20-year-old Marine died Saturday in combat near Phu-Bai. His wife, Mrs. Vickie Morrison Furr, Sunday night received this telegram from Lt. Gen. R. C. Mangrum, acting commander of the U. S. Marine Corps: “I deeply regret to confirm that your husband, L-Cpl. James H. Furr, USMC, died 21st May 1966 in the vicinity of Phu-Bai, Republic of Viet Nam. He sustained fragmentation wounds to the head and body while engaged in action against hostile forces. He was the son of Jiles H. Furr of Harrisburg and Mrs. Christine Sutton of Florida. Cpl. Furr entered service in March 1964, while attending Harrisburg High School. He went to Viet Nam last summer and was scheduled to return home in July. He was a life-long resident of Cabarrus County and was a member of Roberta Methodist Church. The body will be returned to Whitley’s Funeral Home here. Surviving, in addition to his wife and parents, are his step-mother, Mrs. Sandra Furr; two half-brothers, Jeffrey R. Furr and Randy C. Furr of Harrisburg.

The Daily Independent, Kannapolis, North Carolina, May 23, 1966

CONCORD — The funeral for Lance Cpl. James H. Furr, 20, a Concord Marine killed in Vietnam, will be at 4 p.m. Sunday at Rocky Ridge Methodist Church. Burial will be in Carolina Memorial Park. Furr was killed on May 21 in Vietnam. Survivors include his wife;his father and stepmother, Mr. and Mrs. Jiles Furr of Harrisburg: his mother, Mrs. Christine Sutton of Florida: and two half-brothers, Jeffery Furr and Randy Furr, both of Harrisbury.
The Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, North Carolina, June 4, 1966

US Marine Lance Corporal James Henry Furr was a casualty of the Vietnam War. As a member of the Marine Corps, LCPL Furr served our country until May 21st, 1966 in Thua Thien, South Vietnam. He was 20 years old and was married. It was reported that James died from multiple fragmentation wounds from a mine. His body was recovered. LCPL Furr is on panel 07E, line 095 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. He served our country for 2 years.

On 15 May 1966 a combined armor/infantry force made up of C Company, 3rd Tanks; A and C Companies, 1/4 Marines; and a platoon of ONTOS (a light tracked 105mm gun platform) were dispatched to provide protection for Vietnamese villagers while they harvested rice and evacuated from the Co Bi Than Tan area. The protecting force had no contact during this operation. On 19 May the force withdrew. Alpha 1/4 returned to base, but one of the ONTOS tracks sheared a sprocket and delayed return of Charlie 3rd Tanks, Charlie 1/4, and the ONTOS platoon. The 3rd Tanks Command Chronology describes what occurred next: 

"19 May - C 1/4 was attached to Company "C". Moved section of 3d Platoon tanks and one platoon of C 1/4 to position YD534265. The remaining tanks of Company "C", the platoon of ONTOS, and C (-) 1/4 set up defensive positions at YD545266. "20 May - At 0450 VC initiated mortar attacks on both defensive positions located at YD525264 and YD545266. The mortar attack lasted about twenty minutes with no casualties at Company "C" position. The VC followed the mortar attack at platoon position YD525264 with an infantry assault by an estimated VC company supported by 81mm and 60mm mortars, 57mm recoilless rifles and numerous RPG-2 anti-tank assault weapons. Intense fire was delivered on the attacking VC by the section of tanks, infantry platoon, and artillery, which was called on the VC assault position and avenues of escape, resulting in 11 VC KIA (BC), estimated 30 VC KIA (POSS), and an estimated 30 VC WIA(POSS). The tank section sustained 7 penetrations from RPG-2 rockets but continued in action. Friendly casualties for the tank section were 1 KIA, 4 WIA (one later died of wounds). The infantry platoon and attached engineers sustained 3 KIA and 8 WIA." The 3rd Tanks account understates US casualties. The 3rd Engineers lost two men in the attack, as did Charlie 1/4. When the wounded tanker died the following day, the casualty count rose to six Marines: LCpl James H. Furr, Concord, NC was one of those deaths.

Cousin: YOU WILL ALWAYS BE MY BEST COUSIN IN AND AROUND. REST IN PEACE. Ann Baucom, 4910 Charmwood Court, Concord NC 28027.

A native of Cabarrus County, Cpl. Furr attended Harrisburg High School and volunteered for military service in March of 1964. He later volunteered for duty in Viet Nam and had been serving on the battlefront since June 19, 1965. According to his widow, Mrs. Vickie Morrison Furr, Cpl. Furr was to have returned home in July of this year. Mrs. Furr said that she received a letter last week from her husband explaining that he would be engaged in a new military operation called "Operation Cherokee" and would not be able to write for some time. That was his last letter. Mrs Furr was first informed of her husband's death about 8 a.m. Sunday by Marine Maj. E. L. Dickson of the Charlotte Reserve Training Center. The major told the family that a telegram would follow his visit to the home. Mrs. Furr said her husband was a combination driver and gunner on a Marine tank. "He was very proud of what he was doing in Vietnam," she explained, "and he volunteered for service there more than a month before his unit was moved to Viet Nam." Cpl. and Mrs. Furr were married just three weeks prior to his departure for Viet Nam. Concord Independent Tribune: May 21, 1966.

He was the husband of Mrs Vicki E Furr, 18 Barbee Road, Concord, NC. He served with Charlie Company, 3rd Tank Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, 3rd MAF. He was awarded The Combat Action Ribbon(CAR), The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and The Good Conduct Medal.