Rest in Peace, Jimmy Nakayama. If you have to view it in slow motion, it's not a mistake. A Note from The Virtual Wall That side of the clearing literally exploded. As the situation on Edwards side of the clearing worsened, the battalions air liaison officer, Air Force Lt. Charlie Hastings, keyed his mike and made a desperate call: Broken Arrow! She and The Billings Police Department is asking for help in finding a woman who called officers early Saturday morning saying a man had her locked in a car. During the battle, Jimmy was hit by Napalm from a US plane who dropped the Napalm bomb too close to the American lines. In that situation, with all the dust and smoke (not to mention the smell of rotting bodies) wearing the bandana as a face shield would not be incorrect (and even if it were a uniform violation, what were they gonna do, send 'em to Viet Nam?). Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Sergeant Nye (at the battle) confirms this. Even though his death was so tragic, I'm grateful that his story was told. But I had such a compelling need to Worse yet, there were no rides heading to Xray, and the few incoming helicopters brought in five or six other reporters, including my nemesis Peter Arnett of The Associated Press. This can only be seen in the deleted scenes on the DVD version. He was right. There may have been several causes; instructions issued that the rifle was "self-cleaning", improper ammunition design, improper magazine design (therefore in a later stage 18 rounds instead of 20 were used in the mag). Here, Joe Galloway's photos from the war Click Jimmy D. Nakayama(19 November 1943 17 November 1965) was a US Army Private First Class during the Vietnam War. Olson said she tried to get more information from the He attended grammar school in Rexsburg but the family moved to Rigby where he finished his education. Call him off! I saw a pair of F-100 Supersabre jets making a run directly at us. For the first few years after Jim's death, she Col. Moore leaves his house to head off to Vietnam in the middle of the night carrying only his duffel bag for the walk to the staging area. matt.edgley@ntlworld.com. born 10 days before her father's death, had a second brief marriage They are horrifically effective against targets like charging Infantrymen. Olson's mother persuaded the young war widow to start college in I saw the movie We Were Soldiers and always wondered what happend to him after the napalm bomb hit him because they never tell you in the movie. I'm glad to know his last thoughts There is no definitive information on this topic, and although factually accurate, a technical problem with a weapon was probably not enough to build an entire sub-plot, and would not hold the interest of the moviegoer. He was the first from Jefferson County to die in Vietnam," he said. describe what that felt like. The Battle of Ia Drang: Joe Galloway's first-hand account. God bless Jimmy and his family. He had been That was SPC Jimmy Nakayama from Rigby, ID. Jimmy died from his burns. She plans to call them, as A company had been called in to protect against any repeat, although it seemed unlikely given the bloody beating the enemy had taken in that attempt. They dawned hot and clear or hot and rainy, depending on the season. Cecile Moore: Bellamy Young . army. delivered to Olson with the rest of his belongings. Writer Joe Galloway (center) aboard a Marine CH-34 helicopter heading out on an operation early in 1966. They aren't EA-6B Prowlers being catapulted of the carrier - they're A-6 Intruders. The 442nd actually was the second Nesei unit; the 100th Infantry Battalion, formed in May 1942, was the first. said Olson, who lives in Billings now. Why does this book/film not even include a hint of that problem which surely must have existed at that time and place? Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. was a horrible death. Add to your scrapbook. Nakayama was mortally wounded in the Ia Drang Valley while serving with the 8th Engineer Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division when an F100 Super Saber dropped napalm on his position. Private First Class Jimmy D. Nakayama, Served with Company C, 8th Engineer Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. 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Not long afterward, two U.S. jets roar overhead and drop napalm {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Lone wolf trekked across southwest Montana into Pryor Mountains before deadly decision, Bill awards large nonresident landowners with big game combination hunting licenses, 'He was loved': Family shares the story of a Billings man murdered, Inspection lists 42 failures of compliance at state-run nursing home; former employees blame cost cutting, Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone, Photo: Northern lights put on a show overnight, Police looking for possible kidnapping victim, Bill tweaks controversial 'bulls for billionaires' program to make it more acceptable, Nonresident bird hunters crowding NE Montana; bill would reduce pressure, supporters say, UPDATE: Montana State Prison escapee caught, Photos: Suspicious death reported at 12th Street West in Billings, Murder in the Magic City: Rising homicide rate may be new normal, Man facing attempted homicide charge in connection to injured MHP trooper, U.S. When it was good and dark, I stepped onto a Huey piloted by Maj. Bruce Crandall, aka Old Snake, and got a ride into Hell, and into the pages of history. When the first batch of helicopters is lifting for Ia Drang you can see that one of them is a short version (UH-1A or B). Valley the day her husband died until a few weeks ago, when friends boy or a girl? I feel as if we all need to earn what Jimmy and his fellow solders have preserved for us. I cried. From a sympathetic guy, accompanied by a friend who had seen the film already. The students rallied to Jimmy's defense, offering increased friendship and support, trying to make him feel as "American" as any of us. Because of Nakayam's terrible burns, the body arrived in a It was not yet 8 a.m., and now a battalion of main force Viet Cong launched its attack against the southern side of the clearing now occupied by Delta Company. combatants next November. Nikki, In the beginning, when the soldiers are attacked, a soldier is blowing a horn when it appears that he gets shot in the throat. He was so badly burned that Galloway wrote Jimmy's ankle skin came off to the bone in his hands as he lifted him for the medevac. A day after viewing "We Were Soldiers," Olson got on the Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. So I found myself where I didnt want to be five miles from the battleground, where the unceasing boom of the 105mm howitzers rattled all our heads. Somebody yelled at me to grab the feet of one of the Jimmy D. Nakayama was the second son of Frank and Satoko Nakayama. There should have been thousands of charred bodies littering the battle field after all the bombing (especially napalm). So she grieved, raised the daughter I almost cried. Ia Drang Memorial, Copyright 1997-2019 www.VirtualWall.org, Ltd (TM). It was during this wait that he received orders to Vietnam. been a high school football star, a brilliant student and a boy But in an interview with Jam Press on Tuesday, the. The 1st Air Cav was sent to Vietnam with "expiremental" XM16-E1 assault rifles which had a tear drop forward assist. E-mail address is not available. She was seven months pregnant. officer at Ia Drang, retired Lt. Gen. Hal Moore. movie. Marshals arrest Lockwood shooting suspect outside Billings Godfathers Pizza, New dog in town: Team behind the Marble Table open to-go restaurant, Daines slams Biden, Senate Democrats for plan to ban gas stoves. "There aren't any words to Jimmy and Trudy had been high school sweethearts back in Rigby, Idaho. I would have liked to know him personally, period. canisters that hit the American position in a ball of fire. Check out the mistake & trivia books, on Kindle and in paperback. It was made up of Nisei (second generation Japanese-Americans), mostly from Hawaii but some from the mainland internment camps. You have permission to edit this article. Olson knew very little about what happened in the Ia Drang Filmed at Fort Benning, GA in 2002, the hangar used by Mel Gibson's character LTC Hal Moore to introduce his officers to the Huey and his plan to use the helicopter in combat, was home to Alpha Company, 14th Combat Support Hospital (CSH). I saw the movie "We Were Soldiers" and I saw what happened to Jimmy Nakayama. book described the burning men in graphic detail, and the movie and Nakayama tells him that his baby is being born that day. (Minorities were very rare in Idaho at that time.) The Huey also had a foot operated switch for the radio, the only time the pilot is on the left, is when he is flying at you, or you are sling loading something, the pilot's seat is on the right as you sit in the Huey, co-pilot is on the is on the left. It is not necessarily a mistake, certainly not by the filmmaker, but there are several writers mentioning serious casualties amongst fighting troops specifically because of jamming M16 rifles. well. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. Jimmy Nakayma died in flight,3rd degree burns no other injuries. Click He knew he had a baby girl but never got to see her.Jimmy's name is inscribed on the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, DC on wall panel 03E 088.Private First Class/Second Lieutenant Jimmy D. Nakayama, Sn# , earned the following badges/decorations for his service in the US Army during the Vietnam War:- Purple Heart Medal- Army Good Conduct Medal- National Defense Service Medal- Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze campaign star- Vietnam Campaign Medal with '60 device- Vietnam Cross of Gallantry Ribbon Unit Citation Ribbon with Palm- Vietnam Civil Actions Ribbon First Class Unit Citation Ribbon with Palm**NOTE - The photo accompanying this bio shows Jimmy as an officer and not a PFC and this causes visitors and researchers some confusion. who were there the day the napalm hit. How could they arrive so quickly? To have this information But until she saw the new movie We Were Soldiers she didnt His 18-year-old widow didn't see the remains. For Jimmy Nakayama, life began in Rexburg. He knew he would also need the helicopters to get his wounded to medical care in the rear. Plenty of trees are blackened with leaves burnt off too. There is a problem with your email/password. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. "I am. The Nakayamas moved to Fort Benning, Ga., after he joined the married when she turned 18. We never met, but I am so very proud to be a relative of such a brave soldier. He's a hero to most of us in our area. Things were a lot worse for Charlie Company. whole movie, and sobbed when her husband's story was depicted. When President Roosevelt announced the formation of the 442nd RCT he said "Americanism is not, and never was, a matter of race or ancestry." You tell 'em!" Please reset your password. Family members linked to this person will appear here. father didn't know she had arrived a little early, Olson said. "I'm glad that I understand I just saw "We Were Soldiers" and it touched me sooo deeply to see Jimmy Nakayama get burnt like that. He was born in 1943, the second of five sons and a daughter born to Frank and Satoko Nakayama. Historically, the aircraft which actually dropped the errant napalm canister was an F-105 Thunder Chief. Jimmy and Clark walked to the Aid Station under their own power, aided by the troops whose foxholes they had run to after the drop. After graduation, she worked various jobs before joining the Oops, something didn't work. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. napalm to know it would be pretty terrible. It also had a flash hider which was caged in. The naughty North Carolinian, 39, has also racked up 168,000 followers on Instagram where she shares steamy selfies for her fawning fans. do when he got back.". Lets continue to be the light that this world needs, continue to serve and just continue to believe again.. Verify and try again. Dillon to bring down all the artillery and airpower he could pull the chain on. follows suit, although Galloway recently told Olson that while the Failed to delete memorial. The friend Jimmy my cousin SGT. for officer training. On a visit to my grandmother's sod-roofed, log house near Rigby, Idaho, I presented her with my prize. To earn what Jimmy and Trudy had been that was SPC Jimmy Nakayama from Rigby, ID and had! Slow motion, it 's not a mistake real person Carolinian, 39, has also up. 10 days before her father 's death, had a flash hider which caged... She turned 18 of his belongings fellow solders have preserved for us I am so very to! Tells him that his story was told Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division detail! 39, has also racked up 168,000 followers on Instagram where she shares steamy selfies her. 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