In memory of Porter Earl Calloway

Porter Earl Calloway

Army of the United States (drafted in December of ‘67, died March 12 of ‘68) Vietnam War, 196th Light Infantry Brigade, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry,
B Company, Weapons Platoon

It was March of ‘68 and Porter Earl Calloway was on his next to last month in country. He was, as we used to say “short”. I remember him joking, as he often did then that he was so short “he could play handball on the curb” or that he was so short “he would love to talk with you but he didn’t have time”. And we would all laugh and express our jealousy.

On March 11 Porter and two other members of the weapons platoon were left  on Hill 407 as all of the line platoons were engaging the enemy below. As things went from bad to worse the three evacuated the hill and were subsequently captured.

I returned to our company from an R&R several days later to this disturbing news and for the past fifty years have held on to the hope that all three survived. It was only recently that I learned that Porter was shot and died the day after he his capture. His remains have still never been found and the Vietnamese government continues to deny any knowledge of him.

-Brothers in Arms, Maurice Costello