Scope and Contents

The collection consists of Letters From Vietnam, a compilation of letters home written by 1st Lieutenant Richard DeWitt Barlow Shepherd prior to being KIA in the Iron Triangle on February 6, 1967. The booklet was compiled by Lt. Shepherd's mother Anne Shepherd. Also included are news clippings and letters of condolence.

Biographical / Historical

1st Lieutenant Richard DeWitt Barlow Shepherd enlisted in the U.S. Army in New York City in June 1964. He completed basic training at Ft. Dix, New Jersey. He completed Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, Georgia in September 1965. As a 2nd Lieutenant, he was assigned to Ft. Dix for a year of training the troops of S Company, 2nd BCT Brigade. After a month's leave in August 1966 and then two weeks of jungle combat training in Panama, he flew to Vietnam on September 25. He was killed in the Iron Triangle near Lai Khe on February 6, 1967 at 13:30 hours age twenty-five.