PUBLICATION UNKNOWN
Daphnee Brownell Collection
Volusia County Public Library
DeLand, Florida

DELAND SOLDIER KILLED IN VIETNAM

The top senior in the Junior Air Force ROTC program at DeLand High School in 1968 has been killed in Vietnam.

Spec. 4 George Alfred Birdwell, 19, of DeLeon Springs was killed May 25, while serving with the 3-503rd Infantry, Company C, 173 Airborne Battalion. He was at an aircraft landing zone when the area came under rocket attack. He joined the Army in August of 1968.

Spec. 4 Birdwell carried the rank of cadet first lieutenant in the DHS ROTC program, which was during the initial year of the program at the school. He was also a member of the school's Future Farmers of America chapter. He was graduated from DHS in 1968.

Born in DeLand, Spec. 4 Birdwell was a member of the First Baptist Church of DeLeon Springs.

Survivors include his mother, Mrs. Rita Birdwell of Lake Winona Road in DeLeon Springs; his father, Ardell Birdwell of Thompson, Ga.; one sister, Mrs. Jimmy (Jane) Rudd of Chipley, and three brothers, Edward of Torrance, Calif., Ronald of DeLeon Springs, and Donald of Lake Helen. His maternal grandmother is Mrs. H. H. Bellamy of Seville.

Allen-Summerhill Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements


SPEC. 4 GEORGE BIRDWELL

Services for Spec, 4 George Alfred Birdwell, 19, of DeLeon Springs will be at 2 p.m. Monday in the DeLeon Springs Baptist Church with the Rev. Donald Foster officiating.

Full military honors will be accorded by personnel from Ft. Stewart, Ga., for the soldier who was killed in Vietnam on May 25.

Burial will be in the Seville Cemetery, Seville. Six friends from High School ROTC will be honorary pallbearers.

Allen-Summerhill Funeral Home, DeLand, is in charge of arrangements.