Newspaper article from the Thomasville N.C. Times, October 10, 1969, sent in by John Craven

Neither the de-escalation nor the troop withdrawal came in time for a Thomasville soldier, Spec. 4 George Clayton Davenport Jr. The Fisher Ferry Street resident, 1967 graduate of Senior High, died of injuries near Ban Me Thuot in South Vietnam’s Central Highlands on Oct. 4– the day he turned 21.

His death was announced here Thursday after his family had been notified by telegram Wednesday. The Army said Davenport was helping to dismantle a bunker, presumably an enemy fortification. “He moved the side bracing and the bunker collapsed,” according to the only details furnished by the Army.

The youth had volunteered for Army duty after working briefly at Dillard Plastics here. He trained at Ft. Bragg and then was sent to Germany. His family said that he volunteered once again—this time for service in Vietnam, because, according to a relative, “George just felt it was his place to go and do his part.”

Last July he arrived in Vietnam and was assigned to Co. A of the 70th combat engineering battalion at Ban Me Thuot. Relatives said he was anxious to return home so he could continue his education, possibly at some area college. The body will be sent to Siler Funeral Home for completion of funeral arrangements.

He was a son of Dorothy Latham Davenport and the late George Clayton Davenport. Surviving in addition to his mother are one sister, Mrs. Amanda Childress of Fisher Ferry Street; brothers Keith and Randy Davenport, both of Holly Hill Road; and his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Ethel Latham of Thomasville.