Specialist Fourth Class
 Luis B. Campos
U. S. Army

August 25, 1948 - April 13, 1968
Cedarvale Cemetery
Bay City, Matagorda County, Texas

Gold Star Mother
Teodola Tilda (Barron) Campos
 

 

Find A Grave Memorial

 

 


Wreaths Across America 2019

Photo courtesy of Kenneth L. Thames
 


 

Location on the
Vietnam Veterans
Memorial
Washington, D. C.

 Panel 49E  Line 039


LUIS  BARRON  CAMPOS

UNITED STATES ARMY

Luis was born on August 25, 1948 at Bay City, Matagorda County, Texas. He was the 2nd of five children born to Macario Bnansuela Campos, Jr. [January 12, 1913 – May 12, 1976] and Teodola Tilda Barron Campos [February 17, 1922 – October 9, 1998]. The family moved to Anthony, New Mexico shortly after he was born, and returned to Bay City around 1951.  He was baptized at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Anthony on October 31, 1948.

Luis attended the Bay City schools, and graduated from Bay City High School in 1966.  While in high school he was a member and an officer of the DECA Club, an international student organization which attracts students who are interested in preparing for entrepreneurial, marketing or management careers.  The students use their DECA experience to become academically prepared, community oriented, professionally responsible and experienced leaders. In December 1966 Luis received The Legion of Merit Award from DECA.

It is not known exactly when Luis entered the U.S. Army, but it is known he attended the Signal Corps Training Center at Fort Gordon, Georgia where he learned to be a teletype operator.  Fort Gordon is also a basic training facility, and Luis may have received his boot camp training here before attending the Signal School. On June 3rd, 1967 he was assigned to the Phu Lam Signal Battalion, Regional Communication Group, 1st Signal Brigade as a Data Processing Equipment Operator and was assigned as a teletype operator.  Phu Lam is located on the outskirts of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City today).

Luis’ father was a barber, and like his dad, he became proficient in the art of cutting hair.  While at Phu Lam he would earn extra money by cutting hair and then send the money he earned home to his mother.

The circumstances of Luis’ death are not clear. What is known is that on April 13, 1968 at approximately 5:35PM he fell from an upper story of the Kingsport Hotel located not far from the base.  The fall apparently resulted in his immediate death. From what has been learned, the hotel served as off-base housing for some of the men of the battalion.

He was the 8th Matagorda County casualty of the Vietnam War.  His awards include: Purple Heart, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal (Vietnamese award) and the National Defense Service Medal.

Specialist Fourth Class Campos was returned to Bay City where a funeral mass was held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church under the auspices of Father R.J. Jeffery, C.S.B. followed by interment at Cedarvale Cemetery with full military honors.

At the time of his death his family was living in Bay City.  He was survived by his parents; two sisters:  Maria Virginia and Mari Anna; and three brothers: Joe, Johnny and Macario III. 
 


 		 Bay City High School
Distributive Education Club

Front row:
JoAnn Burwell, Patsy Heidrich, Mary Helen Pena

Back row:
Luis Campos, James Norris and Mr. Charlton

 

Courtesy of
Matagorda County Museum


BC Soldier Dies of Viet Injuries

The Vietnam war claimed its eighth Matagorda County resident Sunday when Spec. 4 Luis B. Campos, 19, died from non-hostile injuries.

Campos is the son of Mr. and Mrs. M. B. Campos of Bay City. The Army notified Campos' parents at 6 a.m. today that their son had died at 5:30 a.m. Sunday at Phu Lam, South Vietnam.

An Army official said Campos fell from a building.

A 1966 graduate of Bay City High School, Campos was serving as a teletype operator at Phu Lam. He had been in Vietnam since June, 1967.

Funeral services are pending at the Bay City Funeral Home.

Survivors include his parents: two sisters, Mrs. R. G. Boss of Fort Rucker, Ala., who is serving in the Army there, and Virginia Campos of Bay City; three brothers, Joe Campos, John Campos and Marcario Campos, all of Bay City.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, Masses be offered for their son.

The Daily Tribune, April 15, 1958
Picture from Bay City High School Annual - Courtesy of Matagorda County Museum
 


Luis Campos Funeral Set For Tuesday

Funeral services for Spec. 4 Luis B. Campos, 19-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. M. B. Campos of Bay City, will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Bay City.

Campos died April 15 from non-hostile injuries while serving with the U.S. Army at Phu Lam, South Vietnam. An Army official said Campos fell from a building.

A Bible service will be held at 7:30 tonight at the Bay City Funeral Home Chapel. Father R. J. Jeffery will officiate at the Bible service and the funeral Mass.

A 1966 graduate of Bay City High School, Campos was serving as a teletype operator at Phu Lam. He had 37 days remaining on his tour in Vietnam at the time of his death.

His parents have been notified that their son has been awarded the Purple Heart, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal and the National Defense Medal.

Survivors in addition to his parents include two sisters, Mrs. R. G. Boss of Fort Rucker, Ala., who is serving in the Army there, and Virginia Campos of Bay City. Also three brothers, Joe Campos, John Campos and Marcarcio Campos, all of Bay City.

The family requests that Masses be offered for their son as memorials.

The Daily Tribune, April 22, 1968
 

Memorial by Luis' brothers on the Phu Lam Memorial Page.



 

Gold Star Mother
Teodola Tilda (Barron) Campos

Photo courtesy of Juan Campos.


Marianna Campos Boss
(July 12, 1947 - December 13, 2016)

Marianna Campos Boss, 69, of Houston passed away Tuesday, December 13, 2016. She was born July 12, 1947 in Bay City to the late Macario B. Jr. & Teodola Tilda Barron Campos. Marianna was a Bilingual Teacher at Cherry School for many years before retiring, and served her country as a member of the United States Army.

She is survived by her 3 brothers: Jose A. Campos, Juan A. Campos, and Macario B. Campos, III; and nieces, nephews & other loving family members. Marianna was preceded in death by her parents; sister: Maria Virginia Campos; and brother: Luis Barron Campos.

The Rosary will be recited 9:30 AM Tuesday, December 20, 2016 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Mass will follow the Rosary at 10:00 AM Tuesday, December 20, 2016 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church with Msgr. Gerry Cernoch officiating. Interment will follow at Cedarvale Cemetery in Bay City.

Taylor Brothers Funeral Home                      Photo courtesy of Heather Serrill Janise


 

Vietnam Veterans Memorial rubbing courtesy of Anette Uher.

 

Copyright 2006 - Present by Carol Sue Gibbs
All rights reserved
Created
Feb. 5, 2006		 Updated
Jan. 16, 2010
   

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