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Remember...Edward Cody Adams
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Edward Cody Adams was born February 20, 1945, in Tollgate, West Virginia, the son of Edward L. and Milgrum Drake Adams. Edward called "Cody" had three brothers and two sisters.
Cody attended elementary and high school in Pennsboro. While a student he was involved in the Future Farmers of America Club and was selected chapter farmer. In addition Cody was on their public speaking team. Active in 4-H, he won six first-place ribbons at the Ritchie County Fair. Cody was also a member of the Cub Scouts and the Boy Scouts. He participated in the Discoverers and the Ground Observers Clubs. Cody graduated from Pennsboro High School in 1963 and from Lincoln Welding School in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1964. A certified welder, Cody was employed by Ravens Metals before entering the Navy in December of 1965.
Steel Worker-Fabricator Second Class Edward Cody Adams began his tour of duty in Vietnam on November 1, 1967. He was a member of CBM Unit 301 Detail Bravo-Branch Seabees. During the Siege of Khe Sanh, Cody was one of a small group of Seabees whose duty was the maintenance of this base. His letters home gave a vivid description of Khe Sanh at the time. "Our living quarters are below ground," he wrote at one point. "Right now we are in the process of putting our steel shop and other shops, equipment and generators underground." Though infested with rats, these underground bunkers were necessary in order to escape bombardment from enemy artillery that came from Laos. Cody's job, keeping the Khe Sanh base and its airstrip open, was a dangerous one and he once wrote that they coped with this through humor.
On April 16, 1968, SWF2 Cody Adams was killed while repairing equipment in the Seabee area which had been damaged in a previous attack. His body was returned to the United States and burial was in Hardman cemetery in Pennsboro. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Commendation Medal.
West Virginia Archives and History welcomes any additional information that can be provided about these veterans, including photographs, family names, letters and other relevant personal history.
