Nickname(s) Panther Name Allen Culpepper | Rank Captain, USA Years of service 1966–1969 Died May 18, 1969 | |
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Born July 21, 1944
Tuskegee, Alabama
Reared in Minden
Webster Parish, Louisiana ( 1944-07-21 ) Buried at Allegany Cemetery in Allegany, New York Commands held C Battery, 7-9 Artillery
105mm howitzer battery at Fire Support Base Husky Awards Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Distinguished Service Cross Battles and wars Xuan Loc District, Vietnam War | ||
Place of burial New York, United States Allegiance United States of America Battles/wars Xuan Loc, Vietnam War Service/branch United States Army | ||
Allen Ross Culpepper (July 21, 1944 – May 18, 1969), was a United States Army captain in the Vietnam War. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, Class of 1966, and was posthumously presented the Distinguished Service Cross
Contents
Citation
Presented posthumously for actions during the Vietnam War.
Hometown remembers
The Minden Press-Herald cited Culpepper's heroism in its Memorial Day issue in 2017. Larry K. Madison, who served with Culpepper, wrote on the Virtual Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall that he felt "certain the safety and welfare of his men was his primary concern and his heroic actions saved the lives of many of his men, including, most likely, mine." Philip Owen Benham, Jr., who served in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968, was Culpepper’s roommate at West Point and best man at his wedding. “I pay final tribute to him invoking a refrain from our alma mater, and when our work is done, may it be said ‘well done ... be thou at peace,’” Benham said.
His name is in place on the Washington Vietnam Veterans Memorial (Panel 24W, Row 39) as well as on a plaque on the Veterans Monument at Eagle Park, Minden, Louisiana.