MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2018 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Branning, Blackwell, Burton, Dearing, DeBar, Frazier, Jackson (32nd), McDaniel, Seymour
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION JOINING THE CITIZENS OF WINSTON COUNTY IN HONORING THE SERVICE OF VIETNAM PURPLE HEART VETERAN BILLY RAY METTS ON THE OCCASION OF THE 2018 BLACK HISTORY MONTH EXHIBIT "AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN TIMES OF WAR."
WHEREAS, the theme for the 2018 Black History Month is African-Americans in Times of War. The theme suggests that contemporary conditions, past and present, gives us cause for critical pause in our studies and deliberations to consider the specific and unique issues faced by African-Americans in times of war; and
WHEREAS, Billy Ray Metts of Louisville, Mississippi, was chosen to be honored at the 2018 Black History Exhibit at the Winston County Library. Elmetra Patterson is the Curator of this exhibit, with assistance from Mattie Eichelberger-Davis of Richmond, California; Lorenda Eichelberger and her husband, Eddie Littleton; and Friends of Dean Park, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, Billy Ray was born March 8, 1946, to Jessie and Alberta Metts in Winston County. He graduated from Louisville
Colored High School in 1966 as a Trojan football player. His parents were not educated but Billy Metts said, "By the Grace of
God, they knew that their children needed education and sent us to school after harvesting the crops"; and
WHEREAS, he was drafted into the Army in January 1967 going to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, for basic training and later to Fort
Polk, Louisiana, from where he was deployed for Vietnam after a fifteen-day leave. Private First Class Metts was assigned to the 196th Light Infantry Brigade. The 196th Light Infantry Brigade was raised again at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, in September 1965 and originally scheduled to be sent to the Dominican Republic in mid-1966, but was rushed to Vietnam instead and posted in the western portion of the III Corps Tactical Zone. It initiated Operation Attleboro into War Zone C of Tay Ninh Province, which developed into a major action after a large enemy base camp was uncovered on October, 19, 1966; and
WHEREAS, in April 1967 the brigade was selected, along with the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division and the 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, to form a provisional division-sized unit called Task Force OREGON and moved to the I Corps Tactical Zone. The brigade stayed with this command, which was converted into the 23d Infantry Division (AMERICAL) on September 25, 1967. The 196th Light Infantry Brigade officially joined this division on February 15, 1969. It operated throughout northern Vietnam, and after the division closed out of Vietnam on November 29, 1971, the 196th Light Infantry Brigade was reconstituted as a separate (provisional) brigade-sized element to safeguard the same area of operations. In April 1971, the brigade was relocated to Da Nang for major port security duties. The brigade departed Vietnam as the last U.S. Army combat brigade to leave in Increment XII of the U.S. Army withdrawal; and
WHEREAS, after being in Vietnam for four months, Billy Ray was severely injured while on patrol duty by an antipersonnel mine. This is an explosive which is a form of land mine designed for use against humans, as opposed to anti-tank mines which are designed for use against vehicles. He lost one leg on site and the other leg was amputated later in Vietnam. After a brief processing, he was flown to Japan and later to Fort Gordon, Augusta, Georgia, for medical care, including prosthetics; and
WHEREAS, according to the American War Library, 7,262 African-Americans were killed in Vietnam. African-Americans made up 14.1% of the total. Civil Rights Leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., spoke about the fact that African-Americans were assigned in greater numbers to the combat units of the Army and Marine Corps. African-Americans' casualties soared over 20% during 1965 and 1966. President Lyndon B. Johnson ordered that African-American participation should be cut back in the combat units, and as a result, the African-American casualty rate was cut to 11.5% by 1969; and
WHEREAS, Billy Ray Metts received the Purple Heart Medal while at Fort Gordon. The Purple Heart is one of the most recognized and respected medals awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces. It was introduced as the "Badge of Military Merit" by General George Washington in 1782. It is the nation's oldest military medal. On the back of the medal, it reads "FOR MILITARY MERIT." Billy Ray Metts' Purple Heart Medal is included in the exhibit at the library; and
WHEREAS, Billy Ray Metts has turned his injury into a life of serving and inspiring others. He is a Red Cross Disaster Volunteer. He worked with Winston Strong to help in the recovery of Winston County from the tornado that devastated the county. He and the Baptist Laymen helped to restore several houses in the county. Regarding his injury, his attitude is "Life Goes On." After returning to Louisville, he married Lucile Harris and they have a son, Larando, and a daughter, LaShasta. Both children are married and have four children between them. Unfortunately, he lost his wife, Lucile, in 2015 after 45 years of marriage; and
WHEREAS, he completed college at East Central Community College with a Degree in Electronics. Billy Ray completed courses at the Mississippi Baptist Seminary and is presently enrolled in classes at New Foundation Seminary. He is a member of Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church as a Deacon and Teacher and is also the President of the New Educational State Convention of Mississippi as a Baptist Laymen. Billy Ray retired in 2007 from the Louisville Alternative School as an In-School Supervisor after 20 years; and
WHEREAS, we can never repay our debt to the Veterans of the Vietnam conflict, but we must do what we can, with all that we have, to live our lives in a way that pays tribute to their memory, and we pause to honor a great Mississippian:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby honor the service of Vietnam Purple Heart Veteran Billy Ray Metts on the occasion of the 2018 Black History Month exhibit "African-Americans in Times of War," and extend our best wishes to Sergeant Metts and his family on this auspicious occasion.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Billy Ray Metts and his family, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.