Lawrenceburg Fall Music Fest Veteran's Recognition to Feature Two Heroes

The ceremony happens Saturday, September 26 around 6 PM.

Donald Ray Henry and Gene Scholl. Photos provided.

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - Two military heroes will be honored at Lawrenceburg Fall Music Fest. 

The annual Veterans Recognition and Awards ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, September 26 on the Civic Park stage. The National Anthem and Mayor’s Welcome will take place prior, starting at 6:00.

This year's honorees are Donald Ray Henry (posthumously) and Gene Scholl. 

Bios for each honoree can be read below. Bios by PG Gentrup

DONALD RAY HENRY

Donald Ray Henry was born on June 3, 1948 to Robert L. and Marcella M. (McKinley) Henry. He had a brother, Robert Mark, who died 12 hours after his birth. He also had a brother, Gary, and two sisters, Kathy Ann “Kat” and Lynne.Don grew up in a small town in Southeastern Indiana.  Dillsboro is really small and Don grew up knowing most of the people in town. In high school he was very popular and had a lot going for him. He was proud that his classmates had voted him to be the President of his Class of 1966. He was an outstanding athlete and was a member of the track team, cross country team, along with the baseball and basketball teams. He even participated in the chorus and the band.

After Don graduated in 1966, he and some of his buddies decided to join the United States Marine Corps. He left Dillsboro and after intense training he came home on leave before he was sent to a far away place, Vietnam. When he returned home, he wasn’t alive. He had made the Supreme  Sacrifice for OUR nation.

He was only 19 years old and had been in Vietnam for about a month when his outfit was engaged in a fierce firefight against the enemy near the DMZ. Several of his fellow Marines also perished that day. His family and friends considered him to be a “Quiet Guy”. Don’s brother, Gary, said his brother was just an All-American Guy who only wanted to work some part-time jobs so he could purchase a car. Their mom told a funny story about how Don came home from California to attend the prom with his girlfriend and flew on a military plane with only 25 cents in his pocket.

Larry Rump went with Don when they went to basic training in the Marine Corps. They didn’t wait around and went right after graduating from Dillsboro High School. Larry said they were just like brothers and it broke his heart when Don was killed in action. His classmates never forgot him and thirty years after his death, they added a new tombstone to go along with his military marker. It’s hard to believe that just recently on Sept. 6 it was the 59th anniversary of his death. 

Don had enlisted in the Marines on Aug. 29, 1966. He arrived in Vietnam and was assigned to th 3rd Platoon, Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. He was participating in Operation Kingfisher and they encountered hostile forces about 2 kilometers West of 
Con Thien (Hill 158). He died from a gunshot wound to the chest on September 6, 1967.

Larry Rump received a letter from his dad telling him about Don’s death. Don’s brother, Gary, was stationed in Alabama when he was notified and came home to be with his family. It was a closed casket and that made it even tougher. We must NEVER FORGET these young men, like Don 
Henry, and it’s our duty as VETERANS, to help keep their names out there. It would be another tragedy if we don’t honor and remember their sacrifices. You can visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC and find Don’s name on Panel 26E, Line 10. Today, it’s in the planning to name a portion of US 50 at Dillsboro in Don’s name and to honor him with this section of the Donald Ray Henry Memorial Highway. Special Thanks 
to State Senator, Randy Maxwell and State Representative Garrett Bascom for making this come true. Don won’t be forgotten and every day when people pass the sign with his name on it, they will think about him and remember him. Just remember---Once a Marine, Always a Marine and 
Semper Fi. May Don rest in eternal peace and may God Bless our troops serving around the world today, and our great nation.

GENE SCHOLL

Gene was born on March 6, 1950, in Milan, Indiana, to Herman and Aileen Scholl. He had one brother, Myron "Bud" and three sisters: Marilyn, Carolyn and Donna. He attended Five Points Elementary School, Brookville Elementary, and graduated from Brookville High School in 1968. He received further education from Sinclair College. 

Gene entered the U.S. Army in June of 1968 and was honorably discharged in June of 1970. He took basic training at Ft. Benning, Georgia and then went to Ft. McClellan, Alabama and back to Ft. Benning for Non-Commissioned Officers School where he was promoted to Sergeant (E-5). He deployed to Vietnam in 1969 and was stationed at Chu Lai with the American Division at LZ Stetson. He was wounded here by enemy fire when a booby trap grenade was detonated, and he was struck by shrapnel. 

Gene received the Purple Heart, National Defense Campaign Medal, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm, and Expert Badge for the M-16. 

In 1970, he married his wife, Virginia Faye Evans and they had three daughters: Becki, Amanda and Katie. There are three grandchildren: Savannah, Marcus and Oliver. 

Gene worked at D&M in Connersville and then went to work for the Post Office for 41 years. He was at the Cincinnati Bulk Center for most of that but served as Interim Postmaster at Milan, Dillsboro and Moores Hill. He was a member of Brookville American Legion Post 77, VFW Post 214, DAV Post 90, Purple Heart Chapter 1916 and Life Member of the Southeastern Indiana Vietnam Veterans of America, Lary D. Fogle Chapter 71. Gene is proud of his faithful and dedicated service to our great nation.