Brownwood City Council unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday to dedicate a portion of West Austin Avenue between Main Street and Commerce Street honoring Eddie Lee Ephraim, the first Brownwood citizen lost as a combat casualty in the Vietnam War.
Although forty-six years have passed since his death, Ephraim’s family and friends have not forgotten their loss and have requested the Brownwood City Council to publicly recognize the service and memory of Eddie Lee Ephraim, the first Brownwood native to die in the Vietnam War. Signs will be placed between Booker Street and Adams Branch at a location which will move them away from the busy intersections for more visibility.
As the resolution was unanimously approved, Eddie’s mother Edna Ephraim thanked the council for the approval of this dedication of the street to be made in honor of her son.
“I thank the councilmen and all the people of Brownwood for this. I started working on this two years after I lost my son. Thank you so much,” said Ms. Ephraim. “I hope and pray that anyone else who has anything to do with the City of Brownwood, not only losing their life, in any city, that it will not take this many years to accomplish.”City Manager Bobby Rountree stated that the council is working with the family on the wording of the signs and that they will be installed after this is completed.
According to a council briefing sheet, with the permission of his mother Edna, Eddie enlisted in the Army during his senior year at Brownwood High School. Upon graduation, he left for basic training at Ft. Polk, Louisiana where he became a member of the elite 101 Airborne Division, The Screaming Eagles. He was barely 20-years-old when he died in combat in South Vietnam on March 28, 1968. Corporal Ephraim was recognized with the following awards: Parachutist Badge, National Defense Service Medal, Purple Heart, Vietnam Service Medal and Vietnam Campaign Ribbon Infantryman.
Ms. Ephraim is pictured above as she addressed the council during Tuesday’s meeting. Below is a photo of Ms. Ephraim and some of the people who in support of her attended the meeting.
