 Wahama High School, Class of 1962. Courtesy Steve Halstead |
Remember...Danny Joe Dodd
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Danny Joe Dodd was born on October 20, 1944, in Clifton Forge, Virginia. His father was Charles T. Dodd (1920 -1997), a Navy veteran of World War II. His mother was Lalie Virginia "Ginny" Dodd (1920-2003), who was a homemaker taking care of the children. Danny was the middle child as he had one older sister, Barbara "Bobbi" Dodd Hylton (1938-2017) and one younger sister, Charlene Dodd (1950-1989). At some point in his childhood the family moved from Virginia to New Haven, Mason County, West Virginia, where they lived in Haven Heights. Danny's father was a welder who worked for Kaiser Aluminum Corporation for 25 years in Ravenswood, West Virginia.
According to Steve Halstead, who knew Danny growing up as they attended the same high school, "Life in New Haven in the 50s and 60s was a time when you did not have to lock your car or your home. The small town offered residents a movie theater, roller skating rink, gymnasium, community pool, and ball fields. [It was] a great community to grow up in, families looking after families."
| Danny attended Wahama High School in Mason, West Virginia, where he was an excellent student and was the valedictorian of his graduating class of 1962. During his high school years, he played basketball and baseball and was on student council. After high school, Danny attended West Virginia University in Morgantown from August 1962 to May 1964. He then transferred to West Virginia Institute of Technology in August of 1964. He earned an Associate of Science degree in Civil Engineering Technology on May 19, 1968. |  Danny Dodd as valedictorian of his high school class. Courtesy Steve Halstead |
At some point in Danny's life, he married Carol S. Davis. They lived in St. Albans, Kanawha County, West Virginia. According to documents found during the research for this biography, this is where he was drafted into the U.S. Army in the summer of 1968, as he was one of almost 300,000 that were selected for service that year. ("Induction Statistics," Selective Service System, accessed 16 July 2021, https://www.sss.gov/history-and-records/induction/.)
 Danny Dodd in Vietnam. Courtesy Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund |
By 1968, the Vietnam War was entering its seventh year, and U.S. troop numbers peaked that year, with President Johnson approving an increased maximum number of U.S. troops in Vietnam at 549,500. The year was the most expensive in the Vietnam War with the U.S. spending $77.4 billion on the war effort. The year also became the deadliest of the Vietnam War for America and its allies, with 27,915 Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) soldiers killed and the Americans suffering 16,592 killed compared to around 200,000 People's Army of Vietnam/Viet Cong (PAVN/VC) killed. The deadliest day of the Vietnam War for the U.S. was 31 January at the start of the Tet Offensive, when 246 Americans were killed in action." |
Danny's Military Occupation Skill (MOS) was 11B-Infantryman, and his service number was 51647697. After his initial training and other preparations for his deployment to Vietnam, he began his tour on December 1, 1968. His rank was private first class, and he was assigned to Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Calvary Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, U.S. Army Vietnam.
The beginning of 1969 found the 1st Cavalry Division and the ARVN forces engaged in Operation Toan Thang II. In the first three weeks of the operation, the skytroopers netted one of the largest caches of munitions ever found in the Vietnam War. The spoils included more than 100,000 AK-47 rounds; 643 mortar rounds; 35,000 heavy machine guns rounds; and over a ton of explosives.
In February 1969, Operation Cheyenne Sabre began in areas northeast of Bien Hoa with the mission to straddle and cut enemy infiltration routes. Most of the contact was light, but the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, engaged the enemy netting more than 600 enemy killed. The spring and summer actions were punctuated by many North Vietnamese and Viet Cong attempts to overrun 1st Cavalry Division's firebases. ("Vietnam War: 1965-1972," 1st Cavalry Division, 1996, revised 20 January 2013, accessed 16 July 2021, http://www.first-team.us/tableaux/chapt_08.)
On February 11, 1969, members of Charlie and Delta Companies of 2/7 Cavalry Regiment were on a combat patrol when they came under intense enemy fire some 16 kilometers northwest of Xa Gia Tan on Highway QL-20 in the Long Khanh Province of South Vietnam. After the firefight, the U.S. sustained four killed in action and one wounded in action. Those killed in the firefight from Charlie Company were Pfc. Danny Dodd, Sgt. Ronald Groves, Sgt. Russell Woollard, and Cpl. Joel Gabriel from Delta Company.
| Pfc. Danny Dodd's remains were recovered and returned to the U.S. After his death, Danny was posthumously promoted from private first class to corporal. A memorial service was held at Foglesong Funeral Home in Mason, West Virginia, and Cpl. Danny Dodd was buried at Kirkland Memorial Gardens in Lakin, Mason County, West Virginia with full military honors. After his parents passed away, they were buried beside him in the same cemetery. |  Military grave marker for Cpl. Danny Joe Dodd. Courtesy Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund |
For his service and heroic actions in the Vietnam War, these are some of the awards and decorations that he earned: the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal, the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Marksmanship Badge, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Army Presidential Unit Citation, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross, and the Army Good Conduct Medal. ("Danny Joe Dodd," HonorStates.org, accessed 16 July 2021, https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=270201.)
Cpl. Danny Joe Dodd will always be remembered for his sacrifice to our country as he is memorialized on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall on Panel 32W, Line 12, located in Washington, D.C., as well as on the West Virginia Veterans Memorial located in Charleston, West Virginia.
Danny's father was a member of the American Legion Post #140 and at some point was the commander of the post. Danny's mother was designated as a Gold Star mother and was active in the American Legion Post #140 Ladies' Auxiliary. I can only assume that they wanted to support the veterans and family members within the surrounding community as it probably aided them in the healing process of losing their son to the Vietnam War.
Article prepared MAJ (Ret) T. Brad McGee, who gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Steve Halstead in its preparation, George Washington High School JROTC
July 2021
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.
