LARRY JOE RODGERS was killed in action in Vietnam in
1968. He enlisted in the U.S. Marines after graduation
in 1967 from Ranger High School at Ranger, TX and was
sent to Vietnam after his training and died there.
Vietnam Moving Wall Memorial (Panel #45, Line 14)
During the end of January 1968, the North Vietnamese
launched the deadly tet offensive against U.S. Forces.
Joel Jimenez (RHS-1966), Mike Landtroop (RHS-1966),
David Dunson (RHS-1966), Robert Butch Seymour of
Olden, Larry Rainey of Ranger, Maynard Clayton,
Larry G. Monroe (RHS-1966), & many other Eastland
County soldiers were there. We made it home.
The brave soldier I want to recognize is Larry Joe
Rodgers, a U.S. Marine from Ranger, who was killed
in Vietnam. His mother, Virgie Horton, still lives
on Pine street in Ranger and shared her memories and
information with me. She said that Larry's dream
from the time he was a small child was to be a soldier.
He recognized his dream and although he lost his life,
he saved the lives of numerous comrades.
Larry Rodgers was awarded the Vietnamese decree, the
Military Merit medal, The Gallantry Cross with Palm,
the Purple Heart, and the Silver Star posthumously.
(From a tribute by Larry G. Monroe)
Silver Star citation:
Commander In Chief United States Pacific Fleet
The President of the United States takes pride in
presenting the Silver Star Medal posthumously to
Private First Class Larry J. Rodgers, United States
Marine Corps for service as set forth in the following:
CITATION
"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action
while serving as a Rifle man with Company D, First
Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division in
connection with operations against the enemy in the
Republic of Vietnam. On the afternoon of 17 March,
1968, during Operation WORTH, Private First Class Rodgers
company was assaulting a large, well entrenched North
Vietnamese Arm force. As the Marines maneuvered forward,
they began receiving intense automatic weapons, mortar
and anti-tank rocket fire. In the initial burst of fire,
all members of the lead squad's machine gun team were
wounded. Disregarding his own safety, Private First
Class Rodgers seized the weapon and immediately began
delivering a heavy volume of machine gun fire against
the enemy positions, which enabled his unit to maneuver
to covered positions. Ignoring the hostile fire impacting
around him, he resolutely remained in his dangerously
exposed position and continued firing the weapon for ten
minutes until he was mortally wounded by enemy automatic
weapons fire. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit
and steadfast devotion to duty, Private First Class Rodgers
upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval
Service."
For the President signed John J. Hyland Admiral, U.S. Navy
Commander in Chief U.S. Pacific Fleet
MOTHER: VIRGIE RUTH SHUMATE RODGERS HORTON, 93 of
Ranger, TX, passed away on Sept. 4, 2021 in Eastland.
Virgie was born on April 14, 1928 in Midlothian, TX to
Clarence Virgil Shumate & Willie Vernell Shumate. She
was married to Billy Joe Rodgers, and later to Jack
Albert Burrow. She then married Charles Edwin Horton
(RHS-1962). She was a proud "Gold Star Mom", and a
member of Trinity Baptist Church in Strawn. She
enjoyed watching Harold Salem and the Hazel show on
T.V. She liked playing the piano, taking care of
her cats, and reading her Bible. She had a passion
for watching hummingbirds and tending to her plants.
She was preceded in death by a son, Larry Joe Rodgers;
a daughter, Bonnie Gail Rogers; and a brother, Ronald
Eugene Shumate.
Survivors include her husband, Charles Horton; daughter,
Carla Sharp; sister, Carolyn Garvin (Billy); 4 grand-
children, Mandy Ponce De Leon, Ron Wallace, Jeri Lynn
& Clay Withrow, Ben Sharp, and Ariel LeAnn Sharp and
Travis Shelley; 4 great-grandchildren, Elizabeth &
Isaiah Arellano, Hagen Ray Tanner, Aiden Don Tanner,
and Owen Dale Shelley.