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Drippin' Life, Mar 7

Remembering the fallen after all these years
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After burying their son, the Pinson family encouraged Cloyde Sr., to take the first steps toward establishing the Dallas/Fort Worth National Cemetery – a beautiful place where all veterans and their families can find refuge and comfort.  

In my travels, I meet or hear about people who have interesting stories. Cloyde Cyris Pinson, Sr., is one such story. 

Cloyde Sr.’s son, Privat First Class Cloyde C. Pinson, Jr., was killed May 12, 1967, during the Vietnam War. War records tell us he was a 20-year-old rifleman assigned to U.S. Marine Corps, 1st Marine Division, 5th Marines, 1st Battalion, Company D.

Young Pinson’s body was flown home to Dallas. There, he was buried in Laurel Land Cemetery after graveside services and military honors on May 27, 1967.

Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, October 1, 1946, Cloyde Pinson, Jr., attended South Oak Cliff High School in Dallas and enlisted in the Marine Corps after graduation. He had been stationed in Vietnam for almost a year when he was fatally wounded by fragmentary shrapnel during action near Quang Tin Province.

His name can be found on Panel 19E, Line 99, of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C.

We could end the story of PFC Pinson’s final journey here, except as unbelievable as it may sound, he had one more stop to make, a stop his father spent more than 15 years preparing.

After burying their son, the Pinson family encouraged Cloyde Sr., to take the first steps toward establishing the Dallas/Fort Worth National Cemetery – a beautiful place where all veterans and their families can find refuge and comfort.  

Cloyde C. Pinson, Sr., became chairman of the National Cemetery Committee and during his tenure, worked tirelessly to bring his dream, his vision of a hallowed ground and honorable resting place for veterans to fruition. 

His fervor for this project came from two deeply-seated passions – his love for his family and his love of country. 

As for how he became involved on this project, a little background: Cloyde C. Pinson, Sr. was born September 25, 1922, in Ohio, but always said he got to Texas as fast as he could. On his way to Texas, however, he took a detour to serve in the U.S. Army/Air Corps in 1941 with his twin brother at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. Soon he was on his way to Casa Blanca, Rabat and Oran in North Africa. These assignments were followed by tours in Naples, Santa Maria, Volurno Valley, Anzio, Rome, Leghorn and Pisa through Italy as World War II continued. 

Pinson transferred to the Air Force in 1947, completing tours in Germany and France and participating in the Berlin Airlift. He retired as a Mustang Captain in 1961 after 21 years of active duty. 

He continued his service to his country for the next 22 years as the Air Force Plant Representative at General Dynamics in Fort Worth, overseeing work on the F16 fighter among other projects. 

Retiring in 1983, Pinson then began work on his REAL job...the creation of a National Cemetery in North Texas. Founding and serving as Chairman of the Texas National Cemetery Foundation from 1989 until his death, Pinson also held positions as American Legion Post Commander in Grand Prairie for six years; District Adjutant and Vice Commander, and Post Judge Advocate; Charter Commander, Pinson Memorial Chapter, Military Order of the World Wars; Life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, The Military Officers Association of America, and the Military Order of the World Wars. 

He also spearheaded the Dallas area Veterans Day Parade and honors luncheon for many years. 

Among Pinson’s honors and awards are the AMVETS Silver Helmet for Patriotic Achievement; MOWW Silver Medal for Patriotic Achievement; and Good Samaritan of the Year bestowed upon him by Dallas Baptist University. 

In 2000, the 638.4-acre Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery opened on the eastern shore of Mountain Creek Lake. It was the sixth National Cemetery created in Texas.

D/FW National Cemetery currently has space for more than 280,000 interments and already serves as the final resting places for veterans of World War I, World War II, Korean War, War in Vietnam, Bosnian War, Gulf War, Iraq War and War in Afghanistan (2001-present).

On April 12, 2006, the casket of PFC Cloyde Cyris Pinson, Jr., was disinterred from Laurel Land and reburied at the Cemetery his father helped establish.  Two days later, on April 14, 2006, Cloyde C. Pinson Sr., died suddenly, but had lived long enough to see his dream fulfilled…and this gentle giant of a man left a lasting legacy upon the Dallas/Fort Worth area -- the National Cemetery where he now rests beside his son.

Marking his grave, a simple government-issue stone reads: “His vision for veterans realized.”

Dripping Springs Century-News

P.O. Box 732
Dripping Springs, Texas 78620

Phone: (512) 858-4163
Fax: (512) 847-9054