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Niles Harris with Rochelle and Jennifer McClellan, great-nieces of Byron James Foster, a Hudsonite that died in Vietnam in 1965 at a fundraising concert held in Atlanta, GA last month. Harris was in the battle where Foster died. 

A model of the planned 173rd Airborne Brigade memorial, planned for dedication in two years.      

By Jeaniene McClellan
It all started with a little song by a country duo named "Big and Rich." The song is “Eighth of November”, about a battle that happened in Vietnam in 1965.  After its release our family received telephone calls to inform us that Byron James Foster was in this video.  Byron James Foster was my Mother-in-law’s brother, Sara (Foster) McClellan and the only thing we knew about Uncle Jim was that he served in the U.S. Army and he was killed in Vietnam.  Since July 4th of 2006, we have found out so much more than we ever could have imagined, just because of this little song!   

There was an awning downtown Hudson that read “James Foster VFW” it was presented by Mike and Sara McClellan Sr. in the 1970’s in memory of her brother.  After many years have passed people have forgotten about the war and so many lives that were lost.  The awning had become faded and brittle with age.  When a new restaurant arrived in Hudson, the Chinese Restaurant on Main Street, Mike Jr. asked if he could return it to his parents as they were taking down the awning.  As fate has it, as we were getting the awning, “Big and Rich” was going to Vietnam to write the song about this battle along with one of the survivors, Niles Harris. 

Uncle Jim was in the 173rd Airborne Brigade and this brigade is in the process of building a memorial for all of the 173rd brothers who have lost their lives.  Big and Rich along with The Lost Trailers, John Anderson, Cowboy Troy, and Lynyrd Skynyrd had a benefit concert to raise money for their memorial.  All the soldiers’ families were invited to attend and we were among them on October 7 in Atlanta, GA. We were able to meet Niles Harris, Big and Rich, Cowboy Troy, Two Foot Fred, and many vets.  We met one man that was Uncle Jim’s best friend from Vietnam. It has met so much to us to finally know what happened and actually talk to people who knew Uncle Jim.  This experience has been overwhelming with so many emotions. It seems that the soldiers of today and of the past are trying to remind us that “We Must Never Forget” they all stood up and fought for our country to keep us free.  We, as a community and nation must always remember our fallen soldiers of all wars even if you don’t agree of why we are at war. We must Never Forget our men and women in service and keep them in our prayers that all come home safe to their families.   

Great American Country (GAC) channel will be having a special on the documentary “The 8th of November A True Story of Pain and Honor” show times are as follows; November 8th 10am, 3pm, and 8pm, November 9th 12am, November 11th 3pm. In addition GAC will be showing at different times during Veterans Day weekend, a one hour special that was taped at the memorial fund benefit concert in Atlanta.  The special is titled Veteran’s Day of Honor.  Big and Rich host this show celebrating Veteran’s Day, while in Atlanta raising money for a veteran’s memorial.  They play some great videos that honor our soldiers, plus Veteran’s Day wishes from the Lost Trailers, Lynyrd Skynyrd and John Anderson.  Cowboy Troy listens to stories from some vets and their families about the importance of honoring our soldiers. The show will air November 10 at 8pm, November 11 at 12am, 1pm, and 9pm and November 12 at 1am.
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