Dana Burgess Yarbrough was a native of Wetumpka, Alabama who attended Wetumpka High School in the 1960s. He joined the Army in 1967 and became an officer, serving in the Vietnam War. Less than two months after arriving in Vietnam, Lt. Yarbrough was killed in action at age 20 while leading his unit in 1969. This Memorial Day, his sister Darlene will visit his grave in Wetumpka to honor his sacrifice and service to his country.

1. DANA BURGESS YARBROUGH: AN OFFICER, A GENTLEMAN, A BROTHER, A HIGH
SCHOOL FRIEND
by
John E. Enslen, Probate Judge, Elmore County, Wetumpka, AL,
Jim M. Sellers, Mechatronics Systems Engineering Consultant, Black Mountain, NC, and
Darlene (Yarbrough) Cowsert, United States Air Force, Albuquerque, NM
The last name added to the Viet Nam "Killed-in-Action" Monument on the northwest shaded
grounds of the Elmore County Courthouse plaza is that of Dana Burgess Yarbrough. In the mid-
1960's, Dana walked the dark hardwood floor halls of Wetumpka High School, then located at
the northwest quadrant of Tallassee and Alabama Streets. He was a pleasant and popular
student amongst his peers of that generation where the Beatles were just beginning to compete
with Elvis for number one hits. Principal O.M. Bratton was supervising the inaugural racial
integration of the school at the height of the civil rights movement in Alabama.
Dana was a native Wetumpkian, having been born in Wetumpka on April 20, 1949, to Milton H.
Yarbrough and Sarah Ralphna Burgess Yarbrough. Mr. and Mrs. R. Z. Burgess of Wetumpka
composed one set of Dana’s grandparents. Both of Dana’s parents are now deceased. Dana’s
sister and co-author of this article is Darlene Yarbrough Cowsert. In carrying out a longstanding
family tradition of honorable military service, she currently works as the Chief of Public Affairs at
the Air Force Safety Center headquartered at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, NM.
Dana had attended the Wetumpka public schools until the first half of his junior year which
ended in December of 1965. He maintained high academic standards and was of a constantly
friendly and good-natured disposition. During his junior year in high school, he visited his father
in Tooele, Utah, and decided to stay and complete his high school education there. Dana had
always planned to attend Georgia Tech University and study Engineering after his high school
graduation, but his military-career father persuaded him to join the Army when he finished high
school. So Dana decided to defer entering college until after his military obligation was fulfilled.
Dana joined the Army of the United States in 1967, and since one’s place of residence at the
time of joining becomes one’s formal legal military address, Dana’s hometown on his military
records show him being from Tooele, UT, notwithstanding he had spent almost his entire life in
Wetumpka. From a records standpoint, Dana’s first name became ‘Dan,’ probably due to a
typographical error on the part of the Army or a basic training officer who did not like the name
‘Dana,’ which perhaps had seemed too feminine. Attempts to get the United States
Government to correct this misnomer have proved futile.

2. Dana made a good impression during basic training, and after graduating from basic training, he
was selected for Officer Candidate School. Following completion of Officer Candidate School at
Fort Benning, GA in September of 1968, he completed Airborne Training School, also at Fort
Benning. He speedily achieved the rank of Second Lieutenant and was assigned to D
Company, 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division.
Dana was expeditiously ordered to South Viet Nam and arrived there on 17 May 1969. Dana
became the Commander of Infantry Unit 1542. His fire support unit was located in Thua Thien
on the floor of the A Shau Valley. Dana immediately gained the respect of the soldiers under his
command.
Less than two months after his arrival, he was on a special combat mission near Thua Thien,
South Viet Nam, on July 11, 1969, when he was killed in fierce action while leading his unit in
the taking of enemy-occupied Hill 996. He was only 20 years of age.
Among the medals and recognitions that were awarded to Dana are the Republic of Viet Nam
Service Medal, the Viet Nam Gallantry Cross With Palm Individual Citation, the Viet Nam
Service Medal, the Army Presidential Unit Citation, the National Defense Service Medal, the
Purple Heart, and the Bronze Star with Valor Device and Oak Leaf Cluster.

3. His body was returned to Wetumpka and buried in the Wetumpka City Cemetery. His mother,
Sarah Ralphna Burgess Yarbrough, was later buried beside him. At the time of his death, Dana
was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but there was no LDS
congregation in existence in Wetumpka at that time. His burial service was preached by Rev.
Jack Robertson of the First Baptist Church of Wetumpka with Campbell Funeral Home directing.

4. Today, Dana’s name appears as ‘Dan B. Yarbrough’ on Panel 21W, Line 104, of the Viet Nam
Memorial Wall in Washington, DC.
On this Memorial Day, Darlene Yarbrough Cowsert will visit her brother’s grave in the
Wetumpka City Cemetery. Darlene spoke of her brother: "Dana was such a special person.
He was scary smart, he could sing and play the guitar, and always had a good joke to share.
He always looked out for me and protected his "lil sis." But I realized when he joined the Army
what an exceptional young man he really was. He probably would not have been drafted and
could have gone to college after high school, but he told me that he knew it was the right thing
to do and he never wanted to regret not serving his country. Over the years, I've been comforted
by the knowledge that Dana volunteered for the Army, knowing he would go to Viet Nam,
because he believed it was the right and honorable thing to do."
Accompanying Darlene to this solemn event will be Randy Stroud from West Salem, Ohio, one
of Dana’s old Army buddies who became like a member of the family when he and Dana were
at Officer Training School and Airborne Training School at Fort Benning, GA. Randy, who
served two tours of duty in Viet Nam, was unable to attend Dana’s stateside funeral. Randy has
told Darlene that he wants to visit Dana’s gravesite, as he will never have lasting peace until he
does.
On the world's political stage of that era, the forces of freedom were destined to meet the forces
of communism in an inevitable collision. The place of colossal collision turned out to be the
rugged terrain of Viet Nam. Dana bravely answered his country’s call to serve. He did not shirk.
He did not shrink.

5. May we on this Memorial Day recognize that freedom is not free, and that thousands upon
thousands of American men and women of all ages and all walks of life have sacrificed their
lives over the decades and centuries to preserve our freedoms. Some of those who have so
valiantly sacrificed were our native sons whose presence will be missed on this special day of
recognition. Dana is one of those freedom-loving souls who epitomized the enduring and
endearing words in the fourth verse of our National Anthem, "O thus be it ever, when free men
shall stand between their loved homes and the war's desolation." We hope you will pause a few
minutes during your busy Memorial Day Weekend and offer a sacred prayer of gratitude to the
men and women who gave the last full measure of their devotion to help keep us free.