Military Records: Pfc. Ted Dewaine Broomfield-KIA, 1966, Winn Parish, LA.
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: November 17 & 24, 1966 Winn Parish Enterprise News-American

Killed In Vietnam, Dodson Marine Winn's First Combat Casualty

Article No. 1

Nineteen year old Ted Dewaine Broomfield of Dodson was killed in Viet Nam
November 12 while defending his position with the 1st Marine Division's Third
Battalion, in which he served as a machine gunner.

He is the first casualty of the war from Winn Parish.

Young Broomfield gave up his life as a power-saw dealer in Dodson six months
ago and joined the Marine Corps.

Broomfield's parents are Mr. and Mrs. N. A. Broomfield, Dodson, and his wife
of about two years is the former Melba Weeks, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd
Weeks of Dodson.

His career in Viet Nam began in August when he arrived from the States.  Not
long afterwards, he wrote home evidently in high spirits.  He said of a
picture showing him perched jauntily atop a sandbagged machine gun
emplacement: "How do you like my hat?", a floppy piece of cloth which was all
the clothes he wore except trousers.  The happiness of youth was interrupted
here Monday afternoon when a Major Standish and Sgt. Kearnes arrived in Dodson
from Marine Headquarters in Shreveport, 100 miles away.  They brought a
tersely written message to Mrs. Broomfield.  It said that "Dept. confirms your
husband, Pfc. Ted D. Broomfield, USMC, was killed Nov. 12, 1966 in the
vicinity of Da Nang Republic, Viet Nam.  He sustained fragmentation wounds to
the body from a hostile explosive device while in a defensive position."

Mrs. Broomfield is a student at Louisiana Tech.  She is living with her
parents, Route 2, Dodson.

Also surviving the young Marine are his half-sister, Mrs. E. F. Broomfield,
Dodson, a sister, Mrs. Kenneth Carpenter, Dodson, a brother, Conard
Broomfield, Jonesboro, and a half-brother, R. G. Fairless, Dallas.

The Defense Department has said that the body will be shipped home.  It did
not indicate the time required for the shipment to be completed.


Article No. 2

Ted Broomfield Funeral Planned

Funeral services for a Dodson Marine, Ted Broomfield, killed in Viet Nam Nov.
12, are scheduled for 2 p.m. Thanksgiving Day at the Dodson Church of Christ.

The tentative arrangements are pending arrival of the body, which was due on a
plane arriving in Shreveport Wednesday night at 11 o'clock.

Broomfield, 19, had been in the service less than a year when killed in action
with the 1st Marine Division.  He was a machine gunner.  The body was to be
taken to Southern Funeral Home in Jonesboro after its arrival.

Survivors include his wife, the former Melba Weeks, Dodson, his parents, Mr.
and Mrs. N. A. Broomfield, two brothers, R. G. Fairless, Dallas, C. A.
Broomfield, Jonesboro; two sisters, Mrs. E. F. Broomfield, and Mrs. Kenneth
Carpenter, Dodson.

Burial will be in the Transport Cemetery near Dodson.  Pallbearers are Wayne
Horn, Van Weeks, Charles Norred, Buel Horn, Garland Broomfield, and Woody
Spillers.