Lyle Glenn Aston - never forgotten

Around this time 42 years ago, my sister and I rode the bus home from school, got off the bus and walked into the house … just like any other day. But as soon as we walked through the door, everything changed. Dad met us at the door telling us Mom was in bed and we needed to be quiet. Why? She had just learned that her nephew, Lyle, had been killed in Vietnam, and it broke her heart. 

Lyle died on 30 March 1969, a Sunday according to the calendar. My best guess is that the word was received back home on the 31^st, for I found a news article from the Beckley Herald that said the Pentagon released the news of his death on 01 April. That should mean that the immediate family had been notified; and since the 31^st was a Monday … a school day … it fits.

Lyle was the oldest son of Mom's only sister, Eva Harris Aston - yet Lyle and his younger brother were like sons to Mom. When she and Dad were married in June 1948, they lived in the upstairs of Eva's home (the same home in which Mom and Eva grew up). Lyle had just turned one, as he was born 15 May 1947.

After graduating from high school in 1965, he attended West Virginia University, where he studied forestry. The war in Vietnam had been going on for years and it continued to escalate. At that time, a man could request a student deferment if he could show he was a full-time student making satisfactory progress toward a degree in certain fields, although his future was up to the local draft board whose decision considered factors such as time completed toward a degree, relative progress and standing in the course, and relative chances for employment in his field of study.

Bottom line … Lyle was eventually drafted into the Army and his tour of duty began 30 November 1968, just 16 months after getting married and with a daughter who was not yet three months old. His tank commander wrote an online memorial part of which he says, “I remember you always showing off the picture of your less than one (1) year old daughter. You were a proud father ...”

Lyle was assigned to the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (Blackhorse Regiment) at the time of his death, a Specialist Fourth Class (SP4), D Company, 1st Squadron. As an Armor Crewman, his tank took a direct hit to the driver's compartment from a rocket-propelled grenade while in the province of Binh Duong in South Vietnam (located immediately to the north of Saigon, which is now Ho Chi Minh City). He was killed instantly … a small consolation, but at least he didn't suffer or fall into enemy hands.

Lyle's body was recovered and brought back to the Lutes Funeral Home, which was on Second Street in Moundsville at that time. The funeral home was packed with what seemed like a never-ending line of family and friends during visitation hours. Services were held on 10 April 1969, first at Lutes and then graveside in the Fork Ridge Christian Church Cemetery, where the military rites and playing of taps were very emotional. Mom never could stand to hear taps after that. And to this day, any time I hear them it takes me back to Lyle's funeral and brings tears to my eyes. 

He is honored on Panel 28W, Row 88 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.