Photos
Roy Carl McCann
PFC. Roy Carl McCann
Ray Carl McCann was born on September 13, 1943, in Elkin, North Carolina, the son of Reverend John McCann and his wife, Faye. His father worked long hours at Chatham Manufacturing, the town’s well-known blanket mill, and still found time to tend the family farm so there was always food on the table. His mother, once a beloved schoolteacher, chose to stay home after Carl was born, pouring her heart into raising him and his sister.
After graduating from high school, Carl enrolled at NC State University. However, he left before completing his degree to work for the highway department in Raleigh, where he helped design roadways. He planned to return and finish his college courses, but like many young men of his generation, his plans changed when he was drafted to serve in the Army in 1966. He and his friends boarded a bus together, first heading to Charlotte and then on to Fort Jackson, South Carolina, where their military journey began.
After basic training, Carl spent seven months at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, learning electronics before shipping out to Vietnam. From June 1967 until June 1968, he served in Long Binh and Soc Trang, reaching the rank of Specialist 5 (E5). Along the way, he earned several honors—the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and Sharpshooter Medals with both the M-1 and M-16 rifles.
But for Carl, the medals weren’t what stayed with him most. What he carried home in his heart was the memory of a little orphanage near the war zone, where French nuns cared for children who had lost everything. One Christmas Eve, Carl and his fellow soldiers brought gifts from the United States. A man dressed as Santa drove through town, at first frightening the children—until the gifts appeared and their fear turned to joy. Carl often recalled how the girls would dance and sing in their language, filling the night with music even in the midst of war.
When his service ended, Carl returned to Wilkes County to the great relief of his family. He rejoined the highway department, where his job was waiting for him along with a bonus in thanks. Over the years, he kept in touch with a few of his Army buddies and built a good life at home. In retirement, he found joy in beekeeping, sharing honey at the local farmers' market, and, most of all, in spending time with his loved ones.
Looking back on his journey, Carl often reminded others of a simple truth he lived by:
“We owe a service to our country.”