Billy Joe Nave was the son of Joe Tony Nave and Mary Lucille Archer. He was married to Nannie Lee Smith and father of Teresa Nave and Joe Nave.
The Johnson City Press, 21 June 1966
Maj. Billy J. Nave, 32, a Vietnam helicopter commander who was due to return home on July 1, has been killed. Maj. Nave, the son of Mrs. Mary Archer of 1205 E. Holston Ave, was killed when his aircraft collided with another over An Khe during a landing approach. The crash occurred Sunday and Maj. Nave died the next day. A graduate of East Tennessee State University and a native of Johnson City, Maj. Nave was married to the former Nan Smith of Chattanooga. His widow and two children, Teresa, 9, and Joe, 7, are now at Ft. Benning, Ga. His maternal grandmother is Mrs. Martha Archer, Sulphur Springs. He entered the army with an ROTC commission June 22, 1955. He had served three years in Germany, one year in Korea and had been in Vietnam since August 28, 1965. Have had received ranger training and had flown various types of army air-craft. At ETSU he majored in history and literature and was the first vice-president of the Phi Sigma Kappa chapter organized at the university in 1954. He was a classmate of A.K. Broyles and Donald Franklin, who were also killed in Vietnam. He was a member of a Columbia, Ga., Baptist church where his widow is choir director. He was a former member of the Central Baptist Church in Johnson City. His mother is librarian at Milligan College. Funeral will be held at Ft. Benning.
MOS 61204 Armored Reconnaissance Unit Commander Pilot
Length Service 10
Unit C Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, USARV
Casualty Data
Start Tour 15 August 1965
Incident Date 27 June 1966
Casualty Date 27 June 1966
Age at Loss 32
Location Phu Yen Province, South Vietnam
Remains Body recovered
Casualty Type Non-hostile, died of other causes
Casualty Reason Helicopter – Crew
Casualty Detail Air loss or crash over land
ON THE WALL Panel 08E Line 101
- Rank: Major
- Date of birth: 29 November 1933
- Date of death: 27 June 1966
- County: Washington
- Hometown: Johnson City
- Service Branch: Army
- Division/Assignment: 9th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division
- Conflict: Vietnam
- Burial/Memorial Location: Fort Benning Post Cemetery, Fort Benning, Muscogee County, Georgia
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XXIV, Middle Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Billy J. Nave
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