Specialist 4 Albert “Billy” Sonnier was a native of Elton, Louisiana, and served as a rifleman in Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Division during the Vietnam War. He was just 24 years old when he was killed in action on November 15, 1965, during the Battle of Ia Drang at Landing Zone X-Ray—a pivotal and brutal engagement that marked the first major battle between U.S. forces and the North Vietnamese Army.
Billy was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Valor and the Purple Heart, recognizing his courage in holding the line during intense combat on the second day of the battle.
Despite his heroism, Billy’s gravesite remained modest and largely unrecognized for decades. A group of Vietnam veterans and local patriots from Southwest Louisiana launched a campaign to correct that oversight by replacing his simple headstone with a black granite monument that properly honors his sacrifice.
His sisters, JoAnn White and Sandria Doyle, were deeply involved in the recent efforts to commemorate his legacy. A ceremony held in Jennings, Louisiana, brought together veterans, students, and community members to pay tribute to Billy and other fallen soldiers from LZ X-Ray.
Here is a video of the ceremony – https://youtu.be/V6ZeGfeLl5Y?si=tXP9vfdrogfwtD0U
