Military Memorial
Vietnam War
“We shall never forget how young they seemed … they went forth to pay the supreme sacrifice for a safer, a juster, more humane way of living.”
Dr. Henry Nelson Snyder, Wofford’s fourth president, 1919 World War I memorial address
Leyburn W. Brockwell Jr.
Class of 1951
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army
Date of birth: November 27, 1927
Date of death: May 1, 1967
Killed in helicopter crash.
From Rock Hill, South Carolina, Brockwell joined the Navy out of high school. While at Wofford, Brockwell was the business manager for the Bohemian, a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and band. Additionally, Brockwell was a part of the Scabbard and Blade, a military honors society, and a member of the ROTC. This is where he became so interested in the Army and joined as a career serviceman upon graduation. Nicknamed 'Pete,' Brockwell received many honors, such as Army Aviator of the Year, the Army Green Beret and the Purple Heart Medal for his combat-related wounds. As a copilot with the 335th Assault Helicopter Company, Brockwell was killed in a collision with another helicopter.
Audley M. Federline Sr.
Class of 1959
Captain, U.S. Army
Date of birth: March 24, 1937
Date of death: November 19, 1966
Died of wounds.
Federline was from Startex, South Carolina. While at Wofford, Federline was very involved on campus. He participated in Canterbury Club, serving as vice president of the college club and president of the state Canterbury Association. He was also a member of the Pre-Medical Society, the Student Christian Association Cabinet and the Religious Interdenominational Committee. Federline began his tour on January 24, 1937. He was in the 25th Infantry Division, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry, C Company. Federline received the Purple Heart.
Furman W. Massengale
Class of 1970
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army
Date of birth: January 12, 1950
Date of death: September 19, 1968
Cause of death unknown.
John S. Reaves Jr.
Class of 1968
Sergeant, U.S. Army
Date of birth: March 1, 1945
Date of death: July 8, 1969
Cause of death unknown.
From Gaffney, South Carolina, Reaves majored in government at Wofford.
Harold R. Sale Jr.
Class of 1964
Captain, U.S. Air Force
Date of birth: August 27, 1942
Date of death: June 7, 1967
Missing in action.
Harold, a native of Lexington, South Carolina, majored in economics and business administration at Wofford. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, the band and the Glee Club. Sale was a member of the 11th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron. On June 7, 1967, he was the bombardier and navigator of a McDonnell Phantom II Reconnaissance Fighter (RF-4C) on a recon mission over the Plain of Jars region of Laos. Sale’s aircraft was shot down about 10 miles east of Xiangkhouang. His remains were not recovered. Sale was promoted to the rank of major while he was missing in action. He was commissioned in 1965 and graduated pilot training in 1966. On Sale’s 97th combat mission, he was declared missing in action, only three missions short of returning home.
Ted J. Taylor
Class of 1968
Captain, U.S. Army
Date of birth: November 9, 1945
Date of death: July 15, 1971
Missing in action.
From Lancaster, South Carolina, Taylor graduated from Buford High School. He was a member of the 101st Airborne Division as a helicopter gunship pilot. He was declared missing in action in the Republic of Vietnam on July 15, 1945. Taylor was the pilot of an AH16 Cobra gunship that departed Quang Tri on a combat assault mission that was headed to Red Devil Road in South Vietnam. An explosion occurred as they started to descend. They landed in a river and were met by a rescue Huey. Taylor stayed on the skid to attempt to rescue his copilot, Howard Becker. Both were lost in the water and drowned.