Melvin Thomas Huffine was in a training area at Pleiku, Vietnam, when a mortar shell was accidentally detonated.
Military Data
MOS 1542 Infantry Unit Commander
Length Service 06
Unit A Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, USARV
Casualty Data
Start Tour 5 February 1966
Incident Date 5 September 1966
Casualty Date 5 September 1966
Age at Loss 28
Location Province not reported, South Vietnam
Remains Body recovered
Casualty Type Non-hostile, died of other causes
Casualty Reason Ground casualty
Casualty Detail Accidental homicide
Vietnam Wall Panel 10E Line 070
Funeral services for Captain Melvin Thomas (Tommy) Huffine, 28, who was killed Monday, September 5, in a training area at Pleiku, Viet Nam, when a mortar shell was accidentally detonated, will be held Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. in the chapel of Coulter’s Ashland Terrace Funeral Home with Chaplain Robert B. Hall officiating.
Captain Huffine was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Hobart C. Huffine of 3512 Berkley Drive. He is also survived by two brothers, Ward T. and Gene E. Huffine; one sister, Miss Faye Huffine, and a grandmother, Mrs. R. R. Huffine, all of Chattanooga.
He was a l956 graduate of Red Bank High School where he was a student leader in various activities, serving as vice president of the senior class, president of the service club, vice president of the Key Club and Student Council, treasurer of the Hi-Y, a member of the Football Lettermen’s Club and the Mr. and Miss Red Bank Court.
He was also an alternate for Boys’ State faculty representative for commencement exercises, and was voted the friendliest senior boy. In l956 he was the winner of Red Bank’s alumni award which is given annually at graduation on the basis of leadership, service and achievement.
Military Citation
Captain Huffine was a distinguished military graduate of Tennessee Technological University in Conkerville where he received his Army commission in l960.
At Tennessee Tech he was treasurer and vice president of the Associated Student Body, treasurer of the English Club and a member of the Student National Education Association, Gryphons, the Pup Club, the Oracle staff, the Eagle staff, ROTC, the Tech Men’s Dormitory organization and Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities.
Submitted by Robert Harik
- Rank: Captain
- Date of birth: 8 January 1938
- Date of death: 5 September 1966
- County: Hamilton
- Hometown: Chattanooga
- Service Branch: Army
- Division/Assignment: 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division
- Conflict: Vietnam
- Burial/Memorial Location: Hamilton Memorial Gardens, Hixson, Hamilton County, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XXIII, Top Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Melvin T. Huffine
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