Find A Grave Memorial

Local Man Killed in Vietnam Ambush

Army Pfc. Kevin E. Tweedle, 19, became Matagorda County's 17th Vietnam war victim when he was killed during an ambush near the demilitarized zone Saturday.

Tweedle was serving as a machine gunner with Co. B, 1st Bn., 101st Airborne Div. He enlisted in the Army in July, 1968, and arrived in Vietnam Thanksgiving Day.

Funeral services are pending the arrival of the body from Vietnam. Bay City Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Tweedle is survived by his wife, the former Sharon Ragus of Bay City; one son, Brian age 2, of Bay City; father, John F. Tweedle of Bay City; mother, Altha Lee Tweedle of Clifton; one brother, John R. Tweedle, of the U.S. Navy serving in Virginia; one sister, Caren Lee Tweedle of Clifton; grandmother, Mrs. Bertha Tweedle of Bay City; and grandfather, Jim Dorris of Bay City.

Tweedle attended Bay City High School. He was born in Meridian, Tex., and had lived in Bay City 10 years. He worked at Mike Pruett's Humble Station on 7th Street prior to entering the Army.

Tweedle was stationed about 14 miles south of the DMZ and was returning from a patrol when his unit was ambushed.

Notice of his death was received Monday.

The Daily Tribune, February 25, 1969
 

TWEEDLE, Pfc. Kevin E., 19, died Feb. 22 in action in South Vietnam. Military funeral set for 3 p.m. Sunday at the Bay City Funeral Home Chapel, the Rev. Marion Horn officiating. Burial with full military honors in Roselawn Memorial Park. Pfc. Tweedle is survived by his wife, Sharon Ragus Tweedle of Bay City; son, Brian of Bay City; father, John F. Tweedle of Bay City; mother, Mrs. Altha Lee Tweedle of Clifton; brother, John R. Tweedle of the U.S. Navy; sister, Caren Lee Tweedle of Clifton; grandmother, Mrs. Bertha Tweedle of Bay City, and grandfather, Jim Dorris of Bay City. Pfc. Tweedle served as a machine gunner in the 101st Airborne Division. He attended Bay City High School. He was born in Meridian, Tex., and had lived in Bay City 10 years. Pfc. Tweedle had been in Vietnam since Thanksgiving Day and was stationed near the DMZ.

The Daily Tribune, February 28, 1969
 

Tweedle

Graveside services for John F. Tweedle, 75, of Bay City, are scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, 1995, at Roselawn Memorial Park in Van Vleck with Vern DiPasca officiating.

Mr. Tweedle was born March 8, 1919 in Jackson County to Richard J. and Betty Bertchigger Tweedle and died Feb. 13, 1995, at Matagorda General Hospital in Bay City.

He had been a resident of Matagorda County for over 40 years, was a member of the Pentecostal Church, served as a staff sergeant in the Army Medical Corps during World War II and was a life member of the VFW Post 2438 in Bay City.

Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, John R. and Mary Lynn Tweedle of Bay City; three sisters and a brother-in-law, Edna Beard of Palacios, Eva Adkins of West Columbia and Jessie and Joe Wright of Bay City; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Milton and Irene Tweedle of Conroe and Raymond and Dorothy Tweedle of Meridian; a sister-in-law, Claudell Tweedle of Bay City; two grandsons, Allen Tweedle of California and Byron Tipps of Mississippi and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Karen Lee Tweedle in February of 1998, by a son, Kevin E. Tweedle, who was killed in action during the Vietnam War in February 1969; two sisters and two brothers.

His nephews will serve as pallbearers.

Arrangements are with Taylor Bros. Funeral Home of Bay City.

The Daily Tribune, February 14, 1995
 

Pictures courtesy of Kenneth L. Thames
Vietnam Veterans Memorial rubbing courtesy of Anette Uher.