Today, we honor the life and sacrifice of Staff Sergeant James Elmer Pruitt, a brave U.S. Army Soldier who gave his life in service to our country on this day in 1965 during the Vietnam War. He was just 29 years old.
A resident of Henvir, Kentucky, SSG Pruitt served with unwavering commitment as a Medical NCO (MOS 91B4C) with Detachment A-411, 5th Special Forces Group, United States Army Vietnam.
At the time of his death, SSG Pruitt was deployed at Phu Quoc Island in South Vietnam. His body was recovered, and his memory has been preserved with honor ever since.
Beginning his tour in Vietnam on Nov. 27, 1964, SSG Pruitt’s service exemplified the courage and devotion of a Soldier who upheld the values of honor, courage, and commitment to the very end.
SSG Pruitt’s service and sacrifice are permanently memorialized on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, at Panel 2E, Line 96, and here at the Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
To learn more about SSG Pruitt 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 SSG Pruitt or any other Kentucky veteran who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War, we kindly invite you to share them with us here.
