Cemetery Photo

Adair County, Oklahoma

© Martha Jones Real & Robert L. Real II

Front Page Headline Jackie L. Sawney

© The Stilwell Democrat Journal

February 23, 1971

Submitted by: Martha Real

Jackie Lee Sawney
August 3, 1950 - January 10, 1971

U. S. Army Sp-4 Jackie Lee Sawney, 20, Stilwell, was killed January 10 when he stepped on a land mine in Vietnam.

Sawney, a graduate of Stilwell Highschool, was the son of Mrs. Sarah Sawney Wolfe, Route 4 Stilwell.

He was born August 3, 1950 in Tahlequah.

He is the fourth serviceman from Stilwell to die in the Vietnamese war during the last eight years and the 1,038th from Oklahoma.

Services were held Tuesday afternoon in the Roberts Funeral Chapel with an Army Chaplain from Fort Sill, Lawton, and the Rev. Johnnie Goodrich officiating.

Military services, with a military detachment from Fort Sill in charge, were held at the Chuculate Cemetery, south of Stilwell.

Note: I could not find a regular obit, only the front page headline with his picture.
Richard Sawney was the father of Jackie Lee. Richard Sawney died on January 20, 2005 and is buried at the Salem Cemetery, with an obit stating Jackie Lee Sawney was his son who preceded him in death.

Jackie L. Sawney

Letter

October 12, 2006

Submitted by: Wayne Barlow

Jackie Lee Sawney
August 3, 1950 - January 10, 1971

My name is Wayne Barlow, I served in the Army with Jackie while stationed in Wildfleckin Germany in 1970.
One of my last memories of Jackie was the day he and another soldier, Philip Rogers, from Freer Texas, came to my room and asked if they could get an opinion from me.

These two fresh faced soldiers were among my favorite people, each one was boyish, friendly and always smiling. I remember saying something cute like “when did my opinion become important to anyone”. They remarked that they trusted me and considered my opinion important to them. Both of them seemed like little brothers even though I was but a few years older than either of them.

They went on to tell me what was on their minds; both of them were volunteering to go to Vietnam!
I remember Jackie expressing his need to go to Vietnam to fulfill a duty and also to spend 12 months in a combat zone rather than the 24 months of duty in Germany. He wanted to serve his country and go stateside.
While I am sure they were concerned about the consequences of serving in Vietnam, both of them were firm that they had considered the pros and cons of transferring from Germany to Vietnam. For my part, I expressed misgivings about their view.
I remember telling them that “the war was winding down and combat units were being sent back to the states leaving less troops to defend our interests in Vietnam.
In the end, I said if it were my decision, I would not volunteer, but wait to be sent if needed. Jackie, laughing and smiling all the time, thanked me for talking to them and said they would think it over before making a decision. I knew by his confident, unafraid response, that his mind was made up and he was going to Vietnam.

Days later, I found out that they both volunteered for Vietnam. I soon rotated back to the States and lost contact with both of them. I often wondered what happened to them.
My question was answered one night (30 years later) while sitting in front of a computer doing searches for people I had known in the Army. I punched in Jackie’s name and discovered that he had died in Vietnam. I must confess that more than a few tears were shed.

Jackie was a great person with an engaging smile and terrific personality. Jackie made his decision out of patriotism, something in short supply these days.
I knew several soldiers of Indian heritage, all of them were selfless, humble and good natured. Jackie was among the best!

Please accept my heartfelt sorrow at his loss.

Wayne Barlow
Former Sgt. Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion 15th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division

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