Today, we honor the life and sacrifice of Private First Class Edward Lee Rankin, a brave U.S. Army Soldier who gave his life in service to our country on this day in 1967 during the Vietnam War. He was just 19 years old.
A resident of La Grange, Kentucky, PFC Rankin served with unwavering commitment as a Construction Equipment Repairer (MOS 62B20) with 553rd Engineer Company, 577th Engineer Battalion, 35th Engineer Group, 18th Engineer Brigade, United States Army Vietnam Engineer Command, United States Army Vietnam.
At the time of his death, PFC Rankin was deployed in the Darlac Province of South Vietnam. His body was recovered, and his memory has been preserved with honor ever since.
Beginning his tour in Vietnam on Aug. 6, 1967, PFC Rankin’s service exemplified the courage and devotion of a Soldier who upheld the values of honor, courage, and commitment to the very end.
PFC Rankin’s service and sacrifice are permanently memorialized on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, at Panel 25E, Line 71, and here at the Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
To learn more about PFC Rankin and his service to our country, click here. To leave a tribute to him on the Wall of Faces, click here.
If you have any additional information, photos, or videos related to PFC Rankin or any other Kentucky veteran who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War, we kindly invite you to share them with us here.
