Staff Sargeant John Coleman “Johnnie” ARDIS^{[1, 2]}

1938 - 1966  (28 years)

• Name	John Coleman “Johnnie” ARDIS  [3]
  Prefix	Staff Sargeant
  Birth	22 Apr 1938	Manning, Clarendon Country, South Carolina
  Gender	Male
  HIST	of Manning, South Carolina I hope that this is John Coleman Ardis. The parents names are correct. He was suppose to be the youngest of 10 children I have him as the youngest of 13 children. If this is not the correct John Coleman Aridis, then the following obituary belongs somewhere else. jkh 13 Clarendon County service members remembered this Memorial Day Posted Saturday, May 29, 2021 6:00 am BY KAREEM WILSON kareem@theitem.com In honor of Memorial Day, a local veteran wanted to pay respect to 13 service members who made the ultimate sacrifice. George Frierson, a Vietnam War veteran and local historian in Alcolu, remembered his time during the war and said even though he came home from the war, there were others who didn't. Now, for this Memorial Day, Frierson wanted to pay tribute to veterans from Clarendon County who lost their lives in the Vietnam War. "I wanted people to know they served their country, and as a result of their service, they were killed or missing in action," Frierson said. "Memorial Day is really not for me and my fellow colleagues who are living. It's for those who are no longer with us." He visited each grave site - with the exception of one - and identified 13 individuals from the county with information obtained from "Find the Graves" and "Honor States" websites: Staff Sgt. John Coleman Ardis The 28-year-old staff sergeant and Manning native was born April 22, 1938, the youngest of 10 children. Marion and Sarah D. Ardis are listed as his parents. According to his biography, he enlisted in the United States Army on March 23, 1962, serving for 10 years, and arrived in Vietnam on March 19, 1966, where he was assigned to B Company, the 25th Infantry Division, 1st battalion, 5th infantry, according to obtained information from honorstates.org and findagrave.com websites. During his service in the war, he was riding on an APC - armored personnel carrier - when it was hit by a hostile antitank rocket, and he died from fragmentation wounds on Oct. 23, 1966. Ardis was survived by his wife, Helga Ardis, and two children. He is buried at Fort Benning Post Cemetery in Columbus, Georgia. Pvt. 1st Class Kenneth Frierson Frierson was born on Nov. 8, 1949, in Alcolu to Haskell Sr. and Lula H. Frierson. He started his tour in Dec. 11, 1969. He was killed in action while touring in Vietnam on Jan. 25, 1970, at the age of 20. He is buried at Cypress AME Church in Clarendon County. 1st Sgt. Warren Randolph Furse Furse was born on Dec. 19, 1931, in Summerton, to George and Ruth T. Furse. The first sergeant entered the Marine Corps and was assigned to the D Battery, 1st Marine Division, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines and started his tour on Jan. 10, 1968. According to honorstates.org, he died on Feb. 28, 1969, as a result of non-hostile action, which was reported as intentional homicide. He died at 37 years old and is buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Summerton. Furse's name is also inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Sgt. Aaron Blanding Blanding was born March 5, 1945, in Manning to Theodore and Lizzie B. Blanding. He enlisted in the U.S. Army to serve in the Vietnam War and was assigned to A Company, 25th Infantry Division, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry. He began his tour on Jan. 4, 1966, and died on Nov. 13, 1966, due to "hostile action" at the age of 21. He is buried at Mount Zero Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery in Manning. Sgt. Robert Carl King Sgt. King was born on Oct. 12, 1948, in Alcolu, to James and Katie McCall King. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to C Company, 25th Infantry Division, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry, and began his tour in Vietnam on Nov. 20, 1968. He died as a result of an explosive device on April 12, 1969, at the age of 20. He is buried at Trinity UMC Cemetery in Alcolu. Capt. George Ivison Mims Jr. Mims Jr. was born on May 17, 1940, in Summerton, to George Sr. and Doris K.L. Mims. Capt. Mims Jr. graduated from Clemson University with a degree in electrical engineering in 1963. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and began his tour on Dec. 20, 1965. He was assigned to be a member of the 433rd Tactical Fighter Squadron. According to honorstates.org, on Dec. 20, 1965, Mims was flying a McDonnell Douglas Phantom II Fighter, F-4C, on a mission when his aircraft was shot down by the enemy. He was listed as missing in action, and his body was not recovered. He was classified as a prisoner of war until April 1973 when his status was changed because of returned prisoner reports. He was 25 years old. He is memorialized at Evergreen Cemetery in Summerton. Mims is the only veteran whose body has not been located, according to Frierson. Pvt. 1st Class Jesse James Pearson Pearson was born on May 9, 1944, to James and Emma J. Pearson in Davis Station in Clarendon County. He was drafted into the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division, 3rd Battalion, 8th Infantry, before he began his tour on Sept. 2, 1967. He was reported missing and later declared dead on Nov. 7, 1967. He was 23 years old. He is memorialized at St. Matthews AMEC Cemetery in Summerton. SPC Larry James Porter Porter was born on Nov. 15, 1950, to Eulice and Susan C. Porter in Turbeville. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and began his tour on Nov. 18, 1970. According to his biography, Porter held the rank of specialist four, with his field being a radio relay carrier attendant. He was assigned to the 12th Signal Group, 1st Signal Brigade, 37th Signal Battalion, and his death is recorded as "illness or injury, vehicle loss crash" on Oct. 21, 1971. He was 20 years old. He is buried at Lake City Memorial Park in Florence County. Staff Sgt. Raymond Singleton Singleton was born on March 4, 1943, to Fred and Winnie F. Singleton in Alcolu. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and held the rank of staff sergeant. He was assigned to the 9th Infantry Division, 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry with a specialty in light weapons infantry. He died on Dec. 5, 1968, due to gun wounds, according to his biography. Singleton was 25 years old. He is buried at Harmony Church Cemetery in Alcolu. Pvt. 1st Class Isaiah Truman Stukes Stukes was born on Jan. 7, 1949, to James and Lillie H. Stukes in Summerton. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and began his tour on Jan. 22, 1969, and he was assigned to the 11th Light Infantry Brigade, 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry. He died on May 12, 1969, due to "hostile action," according to his biography. He was 20 years old. He is buried in Taw Caw Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery in Summerton. Pvt. 1st Class Herschel R. Ward Ward was born on Aug. 21, 1946, to Reuben and Earline G. Ward in Manning. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and began his tour on March 13, 1966, and he held the rank of private first class. He was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry, and his specialty was light weapons infantry. He died on June 4, 1966, due to "hostile action" and "multiple fragmentation wounds," according to his biography. He was 19 years old. He is buried at Home Branch Church Cemetery in Manning. Corp. Charles Russell Yates Yates was born on May 25, 1949, to Samuel and Ruth B. Yates in Turbeville. He was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He began his tour on Dec. 9, 1968, and held the rank of corporal. His specialty was light infantry, and he was assigned to the 9th Infantry Division, 4th Battalion, 47th Infantry. He died through "hostile action by an explosive device" and was reported dead on Jan. 23, 1969. He was 19 years old. He is buried at Pine Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery in Turbeville. Specialist 4 Glen Allen Zeigler Zeigler was born on Dec. 4, 1946, to Willie and Grace White Zeigler in Manning. He was drafted into the U.S. Army and began his tour on March 28, 1967. He held the rank of specialist four with a specialty in light weapons infantry in the 9th Infantry Division, 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry. He was reported missing and later declared dead on Jan. 10, 1968. He was 21 years old. He is buried at Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery in Paxville.  [1, 2, 4]
  MILI	He enlisted in the United States Army on March 23, 1962, serving for 10 years, and arrived in Vietnam on March 19, 1966, where he was assigned to B Company, the 25th Infantry Division, 1st battalion, 5th infantry. During his service in the war, he was riding on an APC - armored personnel carrier - when it was hit by a hostile antitank rocket, and he died from fragmentation wounds on Oct. 23, 1966. Local veteran honors fallen military members during Clarendon council meeting Posted Thursday, November 16, 2023 6:00 am BY ASHLEY MILLER ashley@theitem.com Although Veterans Day has passed, a local veteran paid respect to 13 Clarendon County service members who are no longer with us. On Monday, George Frierson, a local historian and a Vietnam War veteran, saluted his fellow brothers during a Clarendon County Council meeting. He said he wanted to remember those he served alongside during the war and that while many did not come home, he is grateful he was able to. In honor of the 41st anniversary of the Vietnam War, he stood before the public and council members to read out the names of 13 service members who made the ultimate sacrifice. Staff Sgt. John Coleman Ardis Twenty-eight-year-old Manning native Staff Sgt. Ardis was born April 22, 1938, the youngest of 10 children. Marion and Sarah D. Ardis are listed as his parents. According to his biography, he enlisted in the United States Army on March 23, 1962, serving for 10 years, and arrived in Vietnam on March 19, 1966, where he was assigned to B Company, the 25th Infantry Division, 1st battalion, 5th infantry. During his service in the war, he was riding on an APC - armored personnel carrier - when it was hit by a hostile antitank rocket, and he died from fragmentation wounds on Oct. 23, 1966. Ardis was survived by his wife, Helga Ardis, and two children. He is buried at Fort Benning Post Cemetery in Columbus, Georgia. Staff Sgt. Raymond Singleton Born on March 4, 1943, to Fred and Winnie F. Singleton in Alcolu, Staff Sgt. Singleton enlisted in the U.S. Army and held the rank of staff sergeant. He was assigned to the 9th Infantry Division, 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry with a specialty in light weapons infantry. He died on Dec. 5, 1968, because of gun wounds, according to his biography. Singleton was 25 years old at the time of his death. He is buried at Harmony Church Cemetery in Alcolu. 1st Sgt. Warren Randolph Furse First Sgt. Furse was born on Dec. 19, 1931, in Summerton, to George and Ruth T. Furse. He entered the Marine Corps and was assigned to the D Battery, 1st Marine Division, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines and started his tour on Jan. 10, 1968. According to honorstates.org, he died on Feb. 28, 1969, as a result of non-hostile action, which was reported as intentional homicide. He died at 37 years old and is buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Summerton. Furse's name is also inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Sgt. Aaron Blanding Sgt. Blanding was born March 5, 1945, in Manning to Theodore and Lizzie B. Blanding. He enlisted in the U.S. Army to serve in the Vietnam War and was assigned to A Company, 25th Infantry Division, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry. He began his tour on Jan. 4, 1966, and died at the age of 21 on Nov. 13, 1966, because of hostile action. He is buried at Mount Zero Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery in Manning. Sgt. Robert Carl King Born on Oct. 12, 1948, in Alcolu to James and Katie McCall King, Sgt. King enlisted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to C Company, 25th Infantry Division, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry, and began his tour in Vietnam on Nov. 20, 1968. He died as a result of an explosive device on April 12, 1969, at the age of 20. He is buried at Trinity UMC Cemetery in Alcolu. Capt. George Invison Mims Jr. Capt. Mims Jr. was born on May 17, 1940, in Summerton to George Sr. and Doris K.L. Mims. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and began his tour on Dec. 20, 1965. He was assigned to be a member of the 433rd Tactical Fighter Squadron. According to honorstates.org, on Dec. 20, 1965, Mims was flying a McDonnell Douglas Phantom II Fighter, F-4C, on a mission when his aircraft was shot down by the enemy. He was listed as missing in action, and his body was not recovered. He was classified as a prisoner of war until April 1973 when his status was changed because of returned prisoner reports. He was 25 years old and memorialized at Evergreen Cemetery in Summerton. Pfc. Kenneth Frierson Pfc. Frierson was born on Nov. 8, 1949, in Alcolu to Haskell Sr. and Lula H. Frierson. His tour started on Dec. 11, 1969. He was killed in action while touring in Vietnam on Jan. 25, 1970, at the age of 20. He is buried at Cypress AME Church in Clarendon County. Pfc. Jesse James Pearson Born on May 9, 1944, to James and Emma J. Pearson in Davis Station in Clarendon County, Pfc. Pearson was drafted into the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division, 3rd Battalion, 8th Infantry, before he began his tour on Sept. 2, 1967. He was reported missing and later declared dead on Nov. 7, 1967. He was 23 years old and is memorialized at St. Matthews AMEC Cemetery in Summerton. Pfc. Isaiah Truman Stukes Pfc. Stukes was born on Jan. 7, 1949, to James and Lillie H. Stukes in Summerton. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and began his tour on Jan. 22, 1969. Stukes was assigned to the 11th Light Infantry Brigade, 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry. He died on May 12, 1969, because of hostile action, according to his biography. He was 20 years old and is buried in Taw Caw Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery in Summerton. Pfc. Herschel R. Ward Born on Aug. 21, 1946, to Reuben and Earline G. Ward in Manning, Pfc. Ward enlisted in the U.S. Army and began his tour on March 13, 1966. He was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry, and his specialty was light weapons infantry. He died on June 4, 1966, because of hostile action and multiple fragmentation wounds, according to his biography. He was 19 years old and is buried at Home Branch Church Cemetery in Manning. Spc. Larry James Porter Spc. Porter was born on Nov. 15, 1950, to Eulice and Susan C. Porter in Turbeville. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and began his tour on Nov. 18, 1970. Porter held the rank of specialist four, with his field being a radio relay carrier attendant. He was assigned to the 12th Signal Group, 1st Signal Brigade, 37th Signal Battalion. His death is recorded as "illness or injury, vehicle loss crash" on Oct. 21, 1971. He was 20 years old and is buried at Lake City Memorial Park in Florence County. Cpl. Charles Russell Yates Cpl. Yates was born on May 25, 1949, to Samuel and Ruth B. Yates in Turbeville. He was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and began his tour on Dec. 9, 1968, while holding the rank of corporal. His specialty was light infantry. He was assigned to the 9th Infantry Division, 4th Battalion, 47th Infantry. He died through hostile action by an explosive device. His death was reported on Jan. 23, 1969, at the age of 19. He is buried at Pine Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery in Turbeville. Spc. 4 Glen Allen Ziegler Spc. 4 Zeigler was born on Dec. 4, 1946, to Willie and Grace White Zeigler in Manning. He was drafted into the U.S. Army and began his tour on March 28, 1967. He held the rank of specialist four with a specialty in light weapons infantry in the 9th Infantry Division, 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry. He was reported missing and later declared dead on Jan. 10, 1968, at the age of 21. He is buried at Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery in Paxville. Frierson saluted the flag in council chambers alongside other veterans present at the meeting. "We want to honor them for their service," Frierson said. "While they might not be here with us, we will always remember those who sacrificed themselves for us." All information was obtained through honorstates.org and findagrave.com websites or collected by George Frierson.  [1, 2]
  _UID	1E17B457237040E08FAF0C4B8F05B87C5087
  Death	23 Oct 1966	he was riding on an APC when it was hit by a hostile antitank rocket, Vietnam War
  Burial	Fort Benning Post Cemetery, Columbus, Georgia   [1, 2]
  Person ID	I120468	Singleton and Related Families
  Last Modified	19 Nov 2023

  
  

  Father	Marion Watson ARDIS,   b. 23 Feb 1896, Clarendon County, South Carolina d. 18 May 1971, Manning, Clarendon County, South Carolina (Age 75 years)
  Mother	Sarah Frances DUBOSE,   b. 6 Jul 1898, Clarendon County, South Carolina d. 22 Aug 1974, Clarendon Memorial Hospital, Manning, Clarendon County, South Carolina (Age 76 years)
  Marriage	27 Jul 1913	Clarendon County, South Carolina   [5]
  _UID	1BF3A843D06742078D3A0FB67721C2A0FFCD
  _UID	1BF3A843D06742078D3A0FB67721C2A0FFCD
  Family ID	F69044	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Sources

  [S28912] 13 Clarendon County service members remembered this Memorial Day. [S31396] Local veteran honors fallen military members during Clarendon Council meeting. [S19430] Ruby Ardis Wilson. [S3189] . [S2330] Barbara Virginia Ardis (Post) Coker, page 127.