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Contact Info
Home Town Jackson, KY
Date of Passing Jul 04, 2010
Location of Interment Miami Cemetery - Wayne Township, Ohio
Wall/Plot Coordinates Q 99 6
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Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
PRATER, Vincent, Jr. age 76 of Centerville passed away Sunday, July 4, 2010 at Kettering Medical Center. Vincent was born on December 29, 1933 in Wilstacy-Breathitt County, Kentucky to Vincent and Corsie (Noble) Prater, Sr. He was preceded in death by his son Phillip T. Prater; his parents; and brothers, Elmer, Arnold and Dennis Boyd Prater. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Geneva "Jean" (Hatmaker) Prater; grandchildren, Lindsay Elizabeth (Kevin) Graves and Ryan Phillip Prater; daughter in law, Susan Prater; brothers, Ernest (Mary), Clarence (Geraldine), Ollie (Shelby), Seldon (Jessie) and Lester (Pat) Prater. Vincent served in the U.S. Air Force for 22 years and later retired after 22 years of service at WPAFB as a civilian supervisor for the MOD Aircraft Division. He was a member of Far Hills Community Church, American Legion Post #615 Waynesville and Masonic Lodge #147 F & AM. He loved to fish, hunt, and his greatest joy in life was spending time with his family and grandchildren. He was always there to lend a hand. Friends may call from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 7, 2010 at the TOBIAS FUNERAL HOME FAR HILLS CHAPEL, 5471 Far Hills Ave. at Rahn Rd., with the funeral service at 1:00 p.m. Pastor Tony Chester officiating. Interment Miami Cemetery, Corwin, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Far Hills Community Church, 5800 Clyo Rd., Dayton, Ohio 45459 or to the charity of your choice. Condolences may be made to www.tobiasfuneralhome.com
Other Comments:
No Fireworks this Day
No fireworks this day
A Hero has passed away
Two hundred years of Freedom
A special soul to Godâ??s Kingdom
No bombs bursting in air
At his bedside five Brothers there
Honor thee a fallen one
Silence - at peace another son
No bands playing â??Oh say can you see?â??
Angels carry him home, no songs of glee
A sorrowful tune â?? Taps â?? The Bugler blew
The sky weeping misty morning dew
No rockets red glare, bombs bursting in air
Broken Hearts and tears Loved Ones share
On their lips â?? â??In God We Trustâ??
Ashes to Ashes â?? Dust to Dust
During the wet season from May to October 1971, when bad weather restricted air attacks along the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos. North Vietnamese troops lengthened and improved roads and added to their air defenses. For the first time, they installed surface-to-air missile sites in Laos. Meanwhile, the USAF flew as many interdiction missions in the Laotian panhandle as weather permitted.
Allied pilots also supported Royal Laotian forces struggling to hold the Bolovens Plateau. an area in the panhandle encompassing the towns of
Saravane. 315 miles southeast of Vientiane; Pakse, 60 miles southwest of Saravane; and Attopeu, about 65 miles southeast of Saravane. On May 17, 1971, the North Vietnamese took the last Laotian positions on the Bolovens Plateau; Royal Laotian forces subsequently began an offensive to recapture the area. On July 28 they recaptured Saravane and began an advance on Palt Song, a hamlet some 30 miles east of Palrse and 35 miles south of Saravane. The Laotians recaptured Pak Song on September 14, The royal forces were successful despite the fact that poor weather and lack of coordination between the Laotian govemment and the Seventh Air Force combined to limit the U.S. role to occasional close air support and the airlift of some troops and supplies.
In northern Laos the Seventh Air Force also aided Royal and irregular Laotian troops which recaptured most of the Plain of Jars during the summer of 1971. Unfortunately, the Pathet Lao and North Vietnamese remained entrenched on the northem and eastem rims. On September 26 the Laotians recaptured their former base at Muong Sotti. Then, in mid-September. as the roads dried. the Pathet Lao ltd North Vietnamese began moving men and supplies from North Vietnam into northern Laos preparatory no a new offensive. To counter this threat, USAF tactical
aircraft flew interdiction and close air support missions during the day. and at night AC-130 and AC-119 gunships flew armed reconnaissance and close air support missions for the Laotian government and irregular forces.
Throughout the fall of 1971 the USAF also conducted periodic raids on North Vietnam. For example, on September 21 almost 200 fighter-bombers escorted by 50 other aircraft dropped bombs on petrol and logistical storage areas and military barracks near Dong Hoi. The bombers using all-weather tactics and equipment, achieved excellent results despite the poor weather. The all-weather tactics. based on the
use of advanced electronic equipment for navigation and target selection. would serve the USAF well in subsequent missions against North
Vietnam.
In Cambodia the USAF flew frequent interdiction missions and occasional close air support missions. On June 2, 1971, U.S. bombers and
helicopters struck Communist troop concentrations to forestall an imminent invasion of South Vietnam. The ARVN reentered Cambodia on September 20, as it had done a number of times since June 1970, This time the troops cleared the road between Tay Ninh, South Vietnam, 50 miles northwest of Saigon, and Krek, Cambodia, about 30 miles northwest of Tay Ninh and 70 miles east of Phnom Penh, capital of
Cambodia. The USAF supported this operation with tactical air strikes and B-52 missions.
During COMMANDO HUNT VI, U.S. forces continued to withdraw from South Vietnam. On July 12. 1971, the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing inactivated at Phan Rang Air Base, on the coast 160 miles nonheast of Saigon. The Seventh Air Force received a new Commander. Gen. John D. Lavelle. on August 1, The 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing inactivated at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon on the last day of the month. Shortly afterwards the USAF transferred operation of Bien Boa Air Base to the Vietnamese Air Force and on September 20 the 14th Special Operations Wing inactivated at Phan Rang. The VNAF, meantime, activated several squadrons to operate aircraft received from the
USAF, such as the AC-119 gunship, and to perform new functions, such as airlifting fuel front 1 locale to another. By October 31, 1971, less than
200,000 U.S. troops remained in South Vietnam.
