CPT Hampton Allen Etheridge III (USMA '67)

Captain Hampton Allen Etheridge III, 24, of Crossett died in Chuong Thien, South Vietnam, from hostile action in or near Kien Long resulting in multiple fragmentation wounds. A member of the regular Army and a graduate of the U. S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, his two year tour of duty with the Third Battalion, 32 Regiment, Military Assistance Command, began on December 29, 1968.

He died on July 15, 1969. He was born June 29, 1945. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Hampton Allen Etheridge, Jr., of Crossett, he graduated from Crossett High School where he lettered in football, basketball and track; was vice president of the senior class and president of the Key Club. He was also a member of the National Honor Society, Student Council, Youth Center board, Science Club, and Mixed Chorus and was selected to attend Boys State. The editors of the Termite, the Crossett High yearbook, noted under his picture, "No matter how tough the going, Allen always gave all he had."

After graduation from Crossett High, he attended West Point and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in June, 1967. The same afternoon, he married Susan Smithers of Benton in a ceremony at the West Point chapel. He was promoted to first lieutenant in June, 1968, and to captain a year later. From 1967 to December, 1968, he was stationed at various locations in the United States and completed paratrooper and U. S. Army Ranger training.

Survivors in addition to his parents and his wife were a twin sister, Susan Dugger of Dallas, TX, his brother Samuel A Etheridge, and his grandparents. After a memorial service in Benton, burial was in Crossett.

His name is found at Panel 21W, Line 124, on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.Comments on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial web site include, "Thank you Capt Etheridge for your service to country and ultimate sacrifice. Rest well brave soldier and rest assured that you Sir, are not forgotten." Another person wrote, "How can one so young make the ultimate sacrifice for his country and no one even recognizes your sacrifice. Some of us care. Thank you seems so inadequate but is all I have.

"GROWING UP WITH A HERO"

Hampton Allen Etheridge III was my older brother and we grew up together in a small town in Arkansas (Crossett).  As often as not, we were "picking" on each other, but a 5 year difference in age always predetermined the winner.  But one thing is for sure, he was my hero, regardless of those few scratches and knots on my head! ....and I tried my hardest to follow in his footsteps.  I was so proud to see my big brother off to West Point in 1963.  But then I realized I could not fit in his shoes like I thought I could.  All we have now are the memories and, thanks for Steel Hearts and all his West Point 'brothers' for helping to extend them.  I carry one that has been with me in a bittersweet way:  It was a chilly football night and Crossett was playing an out-of-town game & one of our biggest rivals.  I knew Al was on his way to SE Asia in a few weeks, but he put off a few things so he could see his "baby" brother play in a high stakes football game!  As luck would have it, I caught the only touchdown for Crossett; then we proceeded to get pummeled. But as Al was standing by the end zone, he gave me one of his big horse laughs, and sadly never saw him alive again.

-Sam Etheridge

When I woke up on the last day of the Plebe Hike, I did not know it was going to be one of the best days of my life.  But it turned out to be that when Hampton Allen (Al) Etheridge was named as my roommate (and not for just the first period of roommates), but for the next two years.  We two Midwesterners, one from northwest Missouri and one from south Arkansas, fit like hand and glove from the start. I think the upperclassmen kept Al as my roommate to keep me from getting in too much trouble.

From day 1, Al looked forward to letters from a very special Susan from south Arkansas.  As soon as he came through the door from 150 pound football practice (at first) or track for the next two years, Al would ask if he had any mail from Susan.  One day, I was there when the mail was delivered and intercepted Susan’s letter.  Then I slid it between the sheets of Al’s bed.  Normally, I was in bed before Al, but that night I stayed up just to hear and see the reaction when Al got into bed.  I made sure I was out of the room when Al came in from practice so I would not have to lie to him about a letter from Susan.  When Al went to bed that night and found the letter, he came out of bed yelling at me so loudly it is a wonder he did not wake up all of North Area. A few nights later, Al, with the help of 3 classmates, got back at me after I was asleep by moving my bed to the opposite side of the cubicle and putting it on 4 chairs.  Then Al yelled that it was reveille.  I immediately started to roll out of bed and promptly hit the wall between the cubicles, rolled to the other side and fell about four feet to the floor.  Al and the three classmates got a good laugh.

In the spring of Yearling year, we got a long weekend so Al and I decided to go to the New Jersey Shore.  One of the firsties was gracious enough to drop us off on his way further south and was going to pick us up and take us back to WP.  Before the appointed time for return, Al and I were at the appointed spot but no firstie showed up.  After waiting 30 minutes, we decided we better look for another way back to WP.  We caught a bus to Philadelphia and got there just after the bus had left for the Port Authority in New York City.  So we waited for the next bus.  That got us to NYC just after a bus left for West Point.  The next bus to West Point got us back about 30 minutes past our due time.  Since Al was on the track team, he only got one period of confinement, but since I was on no team, I got one hour of remedial marching in Central Area.

Proceeds from the sale of the CPT Hampton Allen Ethridge memorial bracelet will be donated to the Disabled American Veterans.