Specialist Four (SP4) James Alan Wilks (10 Jul 1948-27 Oct 1969) was drafted into the United States Army in October 1968, just a few short months after graduating from Frazier High School in Covington. The son of Ruben H. (1912-2005) and Laura N. Wilks (1930-2016) of Covington, SP4 Wilks began his tour in Vietnam on May 16, 1969, with Co. D, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry, 196th Infantry Brigade as an 11B20/Infantryman.
Five months later at the age of 21, he was killed by a booby-trapped 105mm round on 27 Oct 1969 in the Quang Tin Province, South Vietnam, alongside three other soldiers from his unit – Cpl Thomas Almet Engleman, 21 from Chula Vista, California; their commander, 2LT Michael Grant O’Connell, 22 of Peru, Indiana and 21-year old Cpl Ralph Mack Smith from Colorado City, Texas. Of the four, Wilks had been in Vietnam the longest at five months, Cpl Engleman was in country three months, Cpl Smith arrived six weeks earlier and 2LT O’Connell had been in Vietnam just 33 days when he was killed.
The names of all four of these young men can be found together on the Vietnam Veterans Wall Memorial on Panel 17W Lines 123-125.
Specialist Wilks’ remains were brought back to Tennessee and laid to rest at the Asbury CME Chruch Cemetery in Somerville, Fayette County.
The below article was printed on the front page of the November 6, 1969 edition of The Covington Leader, announcing his death.
Covington Soldier Loses Life in Vietnam
A 20-year-old Covington youth who graduated from Frazier High School last year has been killed in Vietnam, according to the Defense Department.
“Army Spec. 4 James Henry Wilks (10 Jul 1948 – 27 Oct 1969) was killed while on patrol around Saigon. Enemy fire hit him Oct. 29,” said Ruben H. Wilks, father of the slain youth.
Wilks worked at Norman Packing Plant after graduation from high school until he was drafted in October 1968.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday at the Asbury C. M. E. Church in Somerville. Military services will be held at the Church cemetery. Barlow Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Wilks leaves his father, his mother, Mrs. Laura Wilks; three sisters, Mrs. Lilly Mae Whitickle of Somerville, Barbara Anne and Jeanie Wilks, both of Covington; six brothers, Jasper Lee, Chester B., and Jimmy Lee Wilks, all of Covington, John Thomas Wilks of Elgin, Ill., Harmon and Ruben Wilks, Jr., both of Somerville.