SSGT Billy Elliott Memorial Highway

The Memorial Highway is principally a 2-lane road traversing through mountainous terrain in rural areas and towns in southeastern Oklahoma. It was designated a Memorial Highway in 2011, in honor of Staff Sergeant (SSG) Billy Ronald Elliott, a resident of Heavener, Oklahoma, who was killed in action (KIA) on November 15, 1965, while serving his country in the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. He was assigned as an infantryman with Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry “Garry Owen” Regiment, 1st Cavalry “First Team” Division (Airmobile), and began his tour of duty in Vietnam on August 16, 1965. He died, at age 33, from fragmentation wounds suffered when a grenade exploded nearby. His unit was fighting at Landing Zone “X-Ray,” in the Ia Drang Valley in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam, in the first major battle between U.S. Army and North Vietnamese Army (NVA) forces. United States forces lost 79 KIA and 121 wounded in action (WIA) during the battle at LZ “X-Ray,” while the NVA lost a confirmed 634, and estimated 1215 killed. He was one of the 47,434, American battle-related deaths during the Vietnam War. The 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry was authorized the Presidential (Distinguished) Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism in action in combat in Pleiku Province during the period October 23 – November 26, 1965, and 3 Republic of Vietnam Crosses of Gallantry with Palm for the periods November 14-16, 1965, August 9 – November 13, 1965, and September 17, 1965 - June, 1972. SSG Elliott was also awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. (Note: The Company guidon (flag) is divided horizontally scarlet over white (traditional cavalry colors), with the Company (Troop) letter and the Battalion (Squadron) and Regimental numbers in contrasting colors on the field.) (Note: The Regimental Distinguished Unit Insignia depicts, on and within a gold horseshoe, an arm and a gray-gloved hand holding a gray and gold saber with a blue hilt, on a yellow and blue wreath. The motto “Garry Owen” is gold on a blue scroll. The saber is in a raised “Charge” position, symbolizing a cavalry unit in the attack.) (Note: The Division Distinguished Unit Insignia is a replica of the Division’s Shoulder Sleeve Insignia, and depicts, on a yellow shield with rounded corners, a left-facing black horse head in the upper right, above a black diagonal stripe from upper left to lower right. Yellow is the traditional cavalry color; the horse reflects the horse cavalry heritage of the division; and the black stripe is a mark of military honor.)