A few weeks ago, we learned about Spc. 4 Frederick C. Bullington, Jr., a native of Patrick County who gave his life serving his country in Vietnam. This week, we honor another brave young man from Patrick County, Sgt. Israel Lonzo Ingram, who also made the ultimate sacrifice in battle.
Israel Lonzo Ingram was born on March 6th, 1941, to Buren Roosevelt Ingram and Nova Gay Spencer Ingram. In the 1950 United States census, Buren, age 44 and Nova, age 39 were raising ten children in Woolwine, Virginia: Theodore, age 18; Iva Ruth, age 16; Kermit, age 14; Betty Jane, age 12; Cleo, age 10; Israel, age 9; Ollie Reva, age 7; Howard, age 5; Sammy, age 2; and Bonnie, born in January 1950. Buren and Nova’s oldest son, Harrison, was twenty-one years old and was married to Margie Penn. Buren and Nova would go on to have twins, Joseph Ray and Katherine Fay Ingram, born in 1952.
Sgt. Ingram’s father, Buren, was born in 1905 in Floyd County to George Nathaniel Ingram and Laura Wood Ingram. In the 1910 census, George’s occupation was listed as chimney builder. In the 1920 census, his profession was listed as mason in brick and stone. George and Laura lived just across the Patrick County line in Floyd County in an area known as Hog Mountain. Today it is more commonly known as the area between Chateau Morrisette Winery and Conner’s Grove Road in Willis (Burk’s Fork District). Oh, how I wish I knew how many of those old chimneys in the area were built by George Ingram!
Sgt. Ingram’s mother, Nova Gay, was born in Patrick County in 1910 to William Spencer and Lula Maude Adams Spencer. William was born to Frank Spencer and Martha Ross Spencer on the Franklin County side of the Charity community. Lula Maude was the daughter of Nora Adams. William and Lula Maude raised Nova Gay and her siblings on a farm in Woolwine.
Sgt. Ingram attended Patrick Central School and upon his graduation in 1961, he relocated to Columbus, Ohio where several of his siblings had moved and where he would also have two daughters, Kim and Robin. Sgt. Ingram found work at a modern, futuristic hotel called the Christopher Inn in Columbus. Two years later, Sgt. Ingram enlisted in the United States Army on December 12th, 1963. At the end of his two-year tour of duty in December 1965, Sgt. Ingram re-enlisted for three more years. This brave young soldier was sent to Vietnam on December 1st, 1967. Sgt. Ingram served in Company A, 12th Infantry Regiment, 25th Division, 2nd Battalion of the Gia Dinh Military Region 3 Province.
On the 4th of March 1968, Sgt. Israel Lonzo Ingram was wounded while on patrol duty and died in an evacuation hospital; it was two days before his 27th birthday. I had the honor of speaking with Sgt. Ingram’s sister, Bonnie, who shared the following heartbreaking memories. Bonnie Ingram, “My brother Lonzo had given our brother Kermit as his emergency contact. When the military chaplains came to tell Kermit that Lonzo had been killed, they asked to speak to Lonzo’s parents. Kermit told the chaplains that our parents lived in Woolwine, Virginia. They would not tell Kermit what had happened to his brother, even though he begged them. The military chaplains said they must inform his parents first, so they drove all the way from Columbus, Ohio to Woolwine to inform Mama and Daddy of Lonzo’s passing. My Daddy was working at the elastic plant in Woolwine. His foreman came and got him and told him his son had been killed in Vietnam. Daddy was in such a state of shock, he just started walking home from the elastic plant.”
Sgt. Ingram’s body was brought back to Patrick County where Reverend W. H. Giles did the eulogy and full military rites were conducted at the family cemetery in Woolwine.
I want to say a special thank you to Jimmie Joyce who shared his own painful, terrifying military experiences in Vietnam with me one recent snowy afternoon. To Spc. 4 Frederick C. Bullington, Jr., Mr. Joyce, Sgt. Israel Lonzo Ingram, and all Vietnam veterans, with deep respect and heartfelt gratitude, we thank you for your service, your sacrifice, and your courage. You answered the call of duty, endured hardships beyond measure, and carried the weight of a nation’s hopes on your shoulders.
To those who made it home, we honor your resilience. To those who never returned, we remember you always. Your bravery and dedication will never be forgotten. Thank you for your service. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for everything.
I sincerely appreciate the assistance of Bonnie Ingram, Mary Sawyers Davis, and Harold Spencer in providing information about Sgt. Ingram. Woody may be reached at rockcastlecreek1@gmail.com or (276) 692-9626.
