 Courtesy Leon Armentrout |
Remember...Harry Richard Sine Jr.
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Army Private First Class Harry Richard Sine Jr. was born at Rivesville, Marion County, West Virginia, on September 25, 1949. His parents were Harry Richard Sine Sr. and Mary Maxine VanMeter Sine.
During his youth in Marion County he was a member of the Order of the Arrow, the honor society of the Boy Scouts of America. He played guitar in a local band called the Silver Beat Band. He attended Barrickville Elementary School and graduated from Fairmont High School, Class of 1967, after which he attended Fairmont State College. He worked for the Fairmont Times and Erwin Supply Company.
| On January 27, 1968, Harry Sine was united in marriage at the Baptist Temple at Fairmont, West Virginia, to Connie Pearl Dye, daughter of Edgar L. and Helen M. Sigley Dye. They had one son, Benjamin. |  Marriage certificate for Harry Sine and Connie Pearl Dye |
Pfc. Sine was drafted into the U.S. Army in July 1969 and received his basic training at Fort Knox. He was assigned to the 23rd Admin Company, Americal Division, USARV. His tour in Vietnam began on December 11, 1969, where just two weeks later, on Christmas Day in Quang Tin Province, South Vietnam, he was caught in an undertow while swimming near the beach at the base camp and drowned. His body was recovered and is buried at Shinnston Masonic Cemetery, Shinnston, West Virginia.
On October 1, 2013, the State of West Virginia renamed and dedicated the Maple Point Bridge over Buffalo Creek in Barrackville (Bridge Number 25-250/32-1.75) to the memory of Pfc. Harry Sine Jr.
Writing in the Fairmont Times-West Virginian on October 1, 2013, Emily Gallagher quotes Harry's son Ben as saying he appreciated everyone taking the time to honor his father. Ben said, "There are a lot of memories for me because I missed out on a lot, so today it brings back a lot of that." Delegates Linda Longstreth and Tim Manchin of Marion County spoke at the bridge dedication as did state Senator Bob Beach and Barrackville mayor Roy Meeks III. Longstreth said of the Vietnam veterans, "It was a difficult time for them, and they didn't get the appreciation for the sacrifices they all made. Maybe this is one step that we can make up for it." Mayor Meeks echoed her sentiments, noting "The Vietnam veterans never got their due, and I'm glad this can be a part of honoring them. They most certainly deserve it." (Source: "Bridge Dedicated in Vietnam Veteran's Honor.")
Also, to honor Pfc. Sine, his name was engraved on Panel W15, line 92, of the Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C.
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For his service and sacrifice, Pfc. Harry Richard Sine Jr. was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, the National Defense Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. |
Article prepared by Leon Armentrout
West Virginia Archives and History welcomes any additional information that can be provided about these veterans, including photographs, family names, letters and other relevant personal history.
