PFC Hiram Dillard Strickland, Korean War and Vietnam War Veteran, Native of Graham, NC.

Private First Class Hiram Dillard Strickland was a casualty of the Vietnam War. As a member of the Army, PFC Strickland served our country until February 1st, 1966 in South Vietnam. He was 20 years old and was not married. It was reported that Hiram died from small arms fire or grenade. His body was recovered. Hiram was born on October 20th, 1945 in Graham, North Carolina. PFC Strickland is on panel 04E, line 131 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. He served our country for one year.

Butch(Hiram)Strickland's unmailed final Vietnam letter to his family has been reprinted in the nonfiction book "Letters from Vietnam", edited by Bill Adler (published in 2003 by The Presidio Press/Random House Publishing Group). We all owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to PFC Strickland and the other members of our military who gave so much. Richard.

Hiram was the first KIA of his Battalion in Vietnam.

Strickland, Hiram D. "Butch, Private First Class, U.S. Army, was killed in action on February 1, 1966 when the outfit he was supporting as an artillery radioman was ambushed. Pfc. Strickland, age 20, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald A. Strickland of Route 2, Graham, was a 1964 graduate of Southern High School in Alamance County. At the time of his death, he was assigned to B Battery of the 2nd Battalion, 17th Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division. Pfc. Strickland had served in Korea prior to being assigned to Vietnam. His parents accepted the Bronze Star posthumously on his behalf. Strickland wrote a letter home shortly before his death that was featured in several national publications and predicted his death. Pfc Strickland's family was notified of his death by a commercial taxi driver delivering a telegram to the home and negative publicity from this incident served to shape the military's current policy of in-person notification of death that remains to this day. In 1967 the N.C. General Assembly passed a resolution honoring the life and memory of Pfc Strickland. In addition to his parents, Strickland is survived by 3 sisters, and his grandparents Mr. and Mrs. H.D. Breaze. Sources: Times-News Feb. 3, 1966, Feb. 25, 1966, April 7, 1966, April 29, 1966, May 9, 1966, Sept. 19, 1966, July 3, 1967.

He served with Bravo Battery, 2nd Battalion, 17th Artillery Regiment, 1st Field Force, USARV.

He was awarded The Bronze Star Medal, The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Korean Service Medal, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and The Good Conduct Medal.

Burial: Pine Hill Cemetery, Burlington, North Carolina. Plot: Legion #370
(source: Reece, Jim & Reece Thomas;NC Vietnam KIA/MIA's gravesites.)