SIMMONS, Jr., TRAVIS A.
HM3, Navy
Midland County, Texas

Picture:

Medals:

Silver Star, Two Purple Hearts, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Medal

Biography:

Travis Simmons was born in Childress, Texas, on August 27, 1943. He attended the Childress public schools through high school. He also attended the Woods Trade School in Midland. He loved the outdoors, enjoying hunting, fishing, and athletics.

Travis Simmons was a special type person who was loved by family and many friends. The loss of Travis is a great tragedy. He was very dedicated and a conscientious red-blooded American who was willing to give up his own life to save the lives of others.

Travis was a Navy Corpsman, being transferred to the Marines for a tour in Vietnam. His fellow troops called him "Doc Simmons". We received many letters from fellow soldiers telling us how many lives he had saved.

Travis was hit in the foot when his company was ambushed in a rice patty. A fellow corpsman pulled him out of the live fire, but he was the type that wasn't going to stay here when his troops were falling. Returning to action, he was giving aid to a wounded Marine when the fatal shot from a machine gun took his life.

Travis was like many other servicemen. He believed that they were doing what was right for their fellow Americans. Ed Simmons, Travis' brother, hopes that we Americans don't loose sight of what America stands for, and that all of the American soldiers who have given their best- and some who have gave their all- have not done so in vain.