William Clifford "Cliff" Herndon

WILLIAM CLIFFORD "CLIFF" HERNDON III Graveside inurnment services for longtime Mancos resident William Clifford "Cliff" Herndon III will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, June 10 at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Mancos. Military honors will be provided by Montezuma County VFW Post #5231. Cliff was born September 17, 1937 in Corpus Christi, Tex. the son of William C. Herndon Jr. and Laura Lee (Hutchins) Herndon. He passed away Saturday, May 21, 2016 at Mercy Regional Medical Center at the age of 78. Cliff grew up on a Quarter Horse, Polo Pony Farm, and Thoroughbred Ranch. On May 17, 1955, Cliff enlisted in the United States Army. He proudly served his country in the Special Forces during the war in Vietnam. Cliff was part of the polo and hunting teams with the Army and when he was between missions, Cliff took part in the Pro Rodeo Circuit. He was a highly decorated serviceman, Cliff received six Purple Heart Awards, a Bronze Star, a Silver Star and the Congressional Medal of Honor which was presented to him by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Cliff's devotion and dedication to the Army and his country gained him induction into the Special Forces Hall of Fame. Cliff's military service was cut short as he was injured in combat and was sent to Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston. He resided there for three years and was forced to retire from the Army as a Special Forces Captain. Cliff was honorably discharge from the United States Army on February 12, 1970. Cliff's life gained a new chapter when he married Nancy Jeanne Steinhoff at St. Stevens Episcopal Church in Hurst, Tex. Cliff was an active and devoted member of the V.F.W., D.A.V., American Legion and the Retired Officers Association. Cliff was a Psychology professor and an Anthropologist. He was also employed as a Park Ranger at Mesa Verde National Park. In his free time, Cliff loved being outdoors. He was a horse enthusiast and a cowboy at heart. Surviving Cliff are his wife of 38 years, Nancy Herndon of Mancos; his son, Buck Sanford of Fayetteville, Ark.; by his sisters, Suzanne Herndon Shepard and Mary Lee Herndon Woodson, both of Corpus Christi, Tex.; his sister-in-law, Karen Harmon (Russell) of London, England; his nephews, Brendan and Jonathan Harmon of London, England. Cliff was preceded in death by his parents.