Harry Jay Cornwell

Harry Jay Cornwell grew up in Des Moines and graduated from East High School in the class of 1966. That same year he enlisted in the Army and trained as an infantryman. SP4 Cornwell arrived in South Vietnam in June 1967 and was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division. He died on February 28, 1968, along with one other member of his squad. Cornwell sustained multiple fatal fragmentation wounds when an enemy force was encountered in the Binh Duong Province. He was 20 years old at the time of his death. The young Iowan’s body was returned to Des Moines and buried at the Laurel Hill Cemetery.