Vian man recalls his friend’s sacrifice
A Vian man said he wants to make tribute to a good friend and Vietnam veteran who sacrificed his life for his country.
Vietnam Veteran Ronnie Courtney remembered
A Vian man said he wants to make tribute to a good friend and Vietnam veteran who sacrificed his life for his country.
Louie Wells said he will never forget his good friend, Ronnie Courtney. Wells d e s c r i b e s Courtney as being small in stature but having a big heart.
“Ronnie was a unique guy,” Wells remembers. “There was lots of laughs when he was around. He was a small guy but he wasn’t one to back down. He loved horseback riding and woodworking.”
Wells said Ronnie was born and raised in Vian, and graduated from Vian High School in 1966. His parents were the late George and Wilma (Carroll) Courtney and he was one of 10 children.
“Ronnie was in the U.S. Army and his four brothers also served,” Wells said. “Clyde Courtney was in the Army and served in the Korean War, James Courtney was in the U.S. Air Force, Jerry Courtney was also in the Army, and Johnny Courtney was in the U.S. Navy,” he said. “Ronnie also had a twin sister, Connie, and four other sisters, Dorethy, Louise, Cariah and Patsy.”
Army Specialist Four Courtney was drafted into the U.S. Army, entering on Oct. 19, 1967, taking his basic training at Fort Hood, Texas.
“He was sent to Vietnam on April 1, 1968, with the ranking of Specialist Four. His military occupation or specialty was Field Artillery Basic,” Wells said.
Courtney was mortally wounded in battle on Nov. 1, 1968, near Loc Ninh, while serving with the Battery C Eighth Battalion Sixth Artillery in the 1st Infantry Division. He died at Fire Support Base Rita, located near the Cambodian border, from injuries received while at a night defensive when he engaged hostile force in a firefight. The base was located near the Cambodian border, which was reportedly part of the U.S. strategy to deprive the North Vietnamese Army from being resupplied from Cambodia on its way to Saigon.
“He was said to be the brave soldier who volunteered to man a M2 .50 caliber machine gun,” Wells said. “And the North Vietnamese regulators attacked the perimeter defense where he was manning the machine gun.”
Courtney placed effective fire on the enemy before his death by shrapnel from an enemy motor round. During the battle, U.S. forces suffered 14 casualties.
Courtney received the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Ribbon.
His body was returned to Cherokee County on Nov. 11, 1968, where he was buried in the Tahlequah City Cemetery with full military honors. Other commendations include Combat Infantry Badge, Marksmanship Badge, Army Presidential Unit Citation, and Vietnam Gallantry Cross.
He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart and Good Conduct Medal at the home of his mother, Wilma Courtney in Tahlequah, by First Lieutenant Kenneth Wrede, U.S. Army Advisor Group of McAlester.
“I just wanted to pay tribute to him and the Courtney family this Veterans Day,” Wells concluded. “Ronnie, we haven’t forgot your sacrifice. Thank you, buddy.”
