Rocky Top honors two fallen Vietnam soldiers with I-75 bridge signs
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Darlene Wilson of Clinton, former sister-in-law to Marine Lance Cpl. Acie David Hall, receives an interstate bridge sign honoring him for his service in Vietnam from Rocky Top Mayor Kerry Templin at City Hall on Friday, July 18. - G. Chambers Williams III
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Rocky Top Mayor Kerry Templin presents an interstate bridge sign honoring Vietnam War casualty Garry Lynn Weaver to his relative Judy Weaver during a special event at City Hall on Friday morning, July 18. - G. Chambers Williams III
Two Rocky Top men who died in combat in the Vietnam War have now been memorialized by signs naming Interstate 75 exit bridges in the city after them, thanks to the efforts of the City Council and the area’s representatives in the Tennessee General Assembly.
The signs were installed by the state Department of Transportation earlier this month — two at Exit 128, in honor of U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Acie David Hall, and two at Exit 129, honoring U.S. Army Sgt. Garry Lynn Weaver.
During a ceremony at City Hall last Friday morning (July 18), Mayor Kerry Templin gave representatives of the families of the two men signs identical to the ones installed on the interstate bridges.
Among those on hand for the ceremony was state Rep. Ed Butler, to whom the City Council sent a resolution in May 2024 requesting him to seek General Assembly approval to name the bridges after the two men.
Hall was the first Anderson County casualty of the Vietnam War.
He was killed in action on Dec. 10, 1965, in Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam, while serving in the Third Marine Division, Second Battalion, First Marines, F Company.
According to the resolution, Hall was born in Lake City on Dec. 25, 1942, to the Rev. Pallis T. Hall and Delora Bell Reed Hall of Lake City; and grew up in Lake City, attending local schools, including Lake City High School.
“Lance Corporal Acie Hall served in the Vietnam War …with diligence and honor, receiving the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, [and] Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal,” the resolution said.
The second honoree, Weaver, died from small arms fire “through hostile action on Oct. 12, 1970, in Binh Duong Province, South Vietnam,” according to the resolution in his name.
He “served in the 25th Infantry Division, First Battalion, 27th Infantry, C Company of The United States Army with diligence and honor, receiving the Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge, Marksman Badge, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Gallantry Cross, and Army Conduct Medal, and Bronze Star with V-Device, ARCOM-Army.”
Weaver was born in Lake City on Oct. 8, 1949, to Paul E. “Muncy” and Mary Carroll Weaver of Fraterville; and grew up in Fraterville, attending local schools, including Lake City High School.
Judy Weaver, a niece of Garry Lynn Weaver, was on hand at the Friday event and was presented one of the metal signs bearing Weaver’s name by Mayor Templin.
Darlene Wilson, former sister-in-law of Acie Hall, accepted the sign bearing his name from Templin. She said she was married to Acie Hall’s brother, Danny O. Hall, now deceased, for 28 years.
