Harry H Herndon was born August 5, 1947, the third of four sons to J.E. (Burr) and Irma Wyatt Herndon. Harry attended all twelve years of his education at Royse City ISD and graduated from Royse City High School in 1965.  During high school, Harry was named Class Favorite, Wittiest, and Most Popular, was a Class Officer and played football for the Royse City Bulldogs for four years.  
 
Herndon attended East Texas State University and was employed by Intercontinental in Garland.  Harry married Virginia Lee Cross on May 29, 1966 and they had a daughter, Tena Michelle born June 15, 1968.  
 
Harry was drafted into the Army and entered into service for his country on October 19, 1967.  He received basic training at Fort Polk, Louisiana then was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia where he received NCO training and graduated as a Sergeant. 
 
Departing Dallas-Love Field Airport on September 19, 1968, Herndon flew to South Vietnam.  He was stationed at Chu Lai, South Vietnam as a member of the American Division 198^th, Company D in service as a Platoon Sergeant. 
 
Harry was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnamese Service Medal, the Vietnamese Campaign Medal, the Marksmanship Medal, Expert in Machine Gun, Automatic Rifle and Rifle. He also received the Combat Infantry Badge, which is awarded for being personally present and under hostile fire, while serving in primary infantry or Special Forces duty engaging the enemy in ground combat. 
 
Harry was awarded the Purple Heart Medal posthumously for gallantry and wounds received from hostile foreign forces during military operations in Vietnam.  And by direction of the President of the United States, Harry was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.  The Bronze Star is given to a soldier that has distinguished himself by heroic or meritorious achievement. This prestigious medal is one of the highest in precedence for valor and bravery.

Harry was 21 years old when he was ‘Killed in Action’ on October 18, 1968.