Classmates remember fallen soldier
The bright sun shone down on the small group of friends and family gathered Thursday at Octagon Cemetery to remember one of their own who had died 50 years ago on Nov. 21.
Sgt. Johnny William Trainham was walking point for his platoon when he was killed by enemy fire in Vietnam. His Linden High School classmates remembered him as a fun-loving, sweet young man. Not one of the 19 people at the small service could remember anyone saying anything bad about him.
Ken and Joyce Barrineau were surprised at how many 1968 LHS graduates were able to make it to the service on such a short notice, but using social media and word of mouth, they were able to reach people as far away as Texas, Virginia and Florida.
Trainham’s cousin, Judy Parris, and her son, Charlie Ernest, drove from Tuscaloosa for the event. “He was just a very sweet young man,” said Parris. She still has the thank-you note he wrote her for a graduation gift she sent.
As Barrineau began the informal gathering, he started a round of memories that classmates shared. “He was just a likeable guy,” said Barrineau.
Trainham, who had celebrated his 20th birthday just 18 days earlier, was walking point guard for his platoon, part of the 4th Infantry Division seeing action in Binh Dinh Province.
In his letter to Trainham’s parents, his platoon leader said the young soldier was the first to be promoted to Specialist 4 in the platoon and was in line for sergeant. Trainham received the promotion posthumously.
The platoon leader said Trainham was a born leader. “He did what a good leader does in such a situation,” the letter reads.
The service ended with Barrineau and Kenneth Jacobs laying a wreath by Trainham’s grave.