Royce Urah Strickland
Royce Strickland was born January 25, 1930 to parents Benjamin and Lula (Strong) Strickland in Cullman County. Records indicate that he was from the Vinemont area. He would join the United States Army and serve in the Korean War with Company E, 279th Infantry Regiment, 45th Division- the Thunderbird Division.
On August 18, 1952, Strickland and 40 other soldiers from Company E attempted to cross a river near Inje, South Korea. The region had experienced heavy rains from Typhoon Karen earlier in the week. Suddenly, a flash flood from the mountain nearby caused an unexpected rush of water resulting in many soldiers being swept downstream. Strickland was one of 31 soldiers who drowned that day. Many of the bodies were never recovered.
Royce Strickland is memorialized at Enon Baptist Church Cemetery in Vinemont, as well as Cullman Veterans Memorial Park.
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