Darrell Arthur Scott

Only time will unlock the answers to many questions about Darrell’s life. As is often said when viewing grave markers, there’s a birth date and a death date but the time in between, represented by the dash between the dates, is what matters most. But there are times when much of what’s “in the dash” is a mystery.

The basic facts of his life are few: His father’s name was Willie, and his mother’s maiden name was Dorothy M. Carter. He was born in Philadelphia, but according to the date of birth he didn’t turn 18 until May of 1975. That’s a month after the last Marines were evacuated from the U.S. embassy compound in Saigon. So it’s clear he didn’t serve in Vietnam itself.

In fact, Darrell actually served in the Army, not the Marines, according to the available military records. When a family member applies for a military gravestone, the information to be included on the stone has to be reviewed for accuracy before being ordered, but somehow the wrong branch of service was listed. 

The date of birth may also be off by a year because the record says he joined the Army on August 29, 1974 and was discharged August 31, 1976. He still wouldn’t have been in Vietnam, since the last combat units left in 1972 and the remaining non-combat troops left in 1973. 

Nevertheless, Darrell is considered a Vietnam veteran since he was in active service before May 7, 1975. That was the official ending date of the war because that’s when President Gerald Ford announced it. That’s also considered the end date of the Vietnam Era for pension purposes.

What he did the rest of his life certainly overshadowed his brief stint in the Army, but a paper trail covering those 18 years is missing. His last addresses in Philly were 451 Winona Street in Germantown and 2025 West Dauphin Street in Strawberry Mansion. The 1980 and 1990 census reports can’t provide any clues since they won’t be released until 70 years after they were compiled. 

While his story may be incomplete, his stone remains as a memorial to a man who served his country. It is one of at least nine grave markers in the cemetery honoring those who were specifically a part of this difficult era of American history.