SPC 4 Randall W. Arbogast Memorial Road - Valley Head, West Virginia (Photo by Gary Channell)
U.S. Army SPC 4 Randall W. Arbogast
Family, friends, classmates and many upper valley
residents gathered on May 28, at the Valley Head Methodist Church to dedicate a
section of U.S. Route 219 to honor U.S. Army Spc 4 Randall Warren Arbogast who
lost his life while serving his country in the Vietnam War.
Spc 4 Arbogast, the eldest son of Warren and Arizona
Arbogast, was born February 12, 1945. He grew up in the Valley Head community
and graduated from Tygarts Valley High School with the class of 1964. After
graduation he was employed by Pioneer Lumber Company until entering the U.S. Army on September 29, 1965.
Arbogast was one of 4,000 soldiers assigned to the elements
of the 196th Light Infantry Brigade, the first “light” infantry
brigade in U.S. military history. He served with B Company 4th
Battalion 31 Infantry from September 29, 1965 through February 11, 1967. On his
22nd birthday, February 12, 1967, he was transferred to B Company 1st
Battalion Mechanized 5th Infantry 25th Infantry Division
where he was assigned as an 11C10 Indirect Fire Infantryman M-60 Machine
Gunner.
On May 3, 1967, Arbogast’s squad was engaged in
hostile action with the enemy in Hu Nghia Province when he was hit with a blast
from a white phosphorous grenade. Arbogast suffered sixty-eight percent total
body burns with forty-seven percent being third degree burns. He was evacuated
from the field and transferred to Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston,
San Antonio, Texas for treatment of his injuries. Arbogast’s mother, Arizona,
was by his side when on May 31, 1967, he died of septicemia due to the burns
received in combat.
SPC 4 Arbogast
Spc 4 Arbogast was awarded the Republic of Vietnam
Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the National Defense Medal, and the Purple
Heart. He was also awarded the Bronze Star for Meritorious Military Service and
the Combat Infantry Badge, two medals that every soldier honors and respects
very highly. His name is listed on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington,
D.C.
The ceremony to dedicate the U.S. Army Spc 4 Randall
W. Arbogast Memorial Road was conducted by three of Arbogast’s classmates: Fred
L. Ware, Jr., George Coussoule and Larry See. All three grew up with Arbogast
in the Valley Head area, all three are veterans, and all three were Arbogast’s
friends. Ware had served in Vietnam during the same time period as Arbogast. In
March of 1967 they chanced upon one another in the mess hall at Tan Son Nhut
Air Base in Saigon. After spending the day together, Arbogast returned to his
company. Consequently, Ware was one of the last friends from “back home” to
have shared time with Arbogast before the serious injuries that returned him to
the U.S.
As the Master of Ceremony, Ware welcomed all attendees
to the Memorial Road dedication ceremony. George Coussoule led the recitation
of the pledge of allegiance, and the invocation was given by Larry See. After
the invocation Ware recognized the honored guests, siblings of Spc 4 Arbogast:
Janice Arbogast Hadley, Kayleen Arbogast Dunsmoor, Steve Arbogast and Stanley
Arbogast.
George Coussoule presented the history of Spc 4
Arbogast’s military career from the beginning of his service until his return
to the United States at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, San
Antonio, Texas.
Larry See, a former military officer, as spokesman for
the Arbogast family, described Arbogast as a son, a brother, an uncle, a
classmate, a friend and a soldier. As observed by See, Arbogast’s hopes and
ambitions went unfulfilled as he honorably chose to do his duty when called into
service for his country. See spoke of the trust placed in Arbogast when on his
arrival in Vietnam he was given the responsibility of the M-60 machine gun, the
most effective weapon in the infantry platoon. Weighing 21 pounds, combat
loaded, and difficult to carry, See proudly asserted that Arbogast was able to
handle it. That weapon, See continued, is only entrusted to a good, dependable
soldier. Arbogast was a good soldier, he was a good friend and he is greatly missed,
stated See. In conclusion, he remarked that U.S. Army Spc 4 Randall W. Arbogast
would always be more than a name on a road sign or a name on a black wall inWashington, D.C.
Janice Hadley, Stan Arbogast, Kayleen Arbogast, Steve Arbogast (Photo by Gary Channell)
The Senate Resolution to honor U.S. Army Spc 4 Randall
W. Arbogast with a memorial road, which was sponsored by Senator Greg Boso and
cosponsored by Senator Robert Karnes and Senator Robert Beach, was read by Fred
L. Ware, Jr. Representing the TVHS Class of 1964 and the Arbogast family, Ware
had been the moving force and spearheaded the effort to honor Spc 4 Arbogast
with the memorial road. Presentation of personal copies of the Senate Resolution
was made to the family by George Coussoule.
Unveiling of the highway memorial sign was conducted
by Ware. Steve and Stanley Arbogast, the two brothers of Spc 4 Arbogast,
participated in the unveiling. A standing ovation was led by an enthusiastic Joe
Arbogast of Valley Head after the sign was unveiled. George Coussoule presented
each Arbogast sibling with a replica of the original memorial signs which are placed
prominently at the Valley Head intersection of Route 15 and Route 219 and on
the Pocahontas County line. The signs were contributed by the West Virginia Department
of Highways.
At the end of the program, Amazing Grace and Taps were
played. Spokesman Ware thanked all those who came out for the dedication and
all friends, family and classmates who had participated or helped with the
dedication in any way. A special thanks was given to Roger Ware of the Marine
Corps League of Elkins, and his wife Judy, for their assistance in preparing
the program for the dedication. Refreshments were served to family and friends
in the church social room.
Stan Arbogast, Jr. - Nephew
Stephanie Hadley - Niece
(behind Stephanie) Randy Gifford - Nephew
Janice Hadley - Sister
Melissa Williams - Niece
(behind Melissa) Stan Arbogast - Brother
Kayleen Dunsmoor - Sister
Steve Arbogast - Brother (Photo by Gary Channell)
The U.S. Army Spc 4 Randall W. Arbogast Memorial Road
and dedication ceremony were sponsored by the Arbogast family and the Tygarts
Valley High School Class of 1964.
James Galway & Phil Coulter - Ashokan Farewell
AULD LANG SYNE ~ Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
Farewell! a word that must be, and hath been— A sound which makes us linger;—yet—farewell! Lord Byron
