Mississippi VIII

If you have followed along with this effort you may know that the very first memorial I visited was in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. I have told the story and featured various post about that trip a number of times over the years. You can find those posts here, here, and here.

I return today as it is such an important site to me. As I have said in other posts, it speaks to the resilience of vets and the respect of those who created it.

These are three more of the faces from the site for my ongoing Faces of Remembrance series. As long as I can find faces, I will honor them here.

It saddens me, now, that when I took these pictures, I had no idea how this site would look. If I had I would have been more careful about recording the names and other information about these lost heroes.

It is said that "as long as someone says your name, you will never be gone." These photos will have to do. But, if you ever visit Ocean Springs, stop and see this memorial. 

 

And, say their names.

When I visited these many years ago, I noted that several of the names listed on the memorial did not have a photo on display. The creators of the site had posted a request for anyone who might know of a photo to send it to them. I called today to see if all the names had been matched with a photo or how many were still incomplete. If I hear from those in charge, I will update this post with the information.

Next time, on May 1st, we will return to New Mexico, so meet me there, as always, at 9:00 am.

To see additional memorials from Mississippi, or any other state, please click on a state name on the left side of this page. Please check out Canada, Ireland, and Puerto Rico which have been added to the list on the left.

As is now my custom,  I will ask anyone who has pictures of Vietnam memorials not shown here, to send then to me and I will include them (giving you full credit.) Any number of you have added knowledge and honor to this site by doing just that. It is always appreciated and makes this effort better, more completed. Thanks to those who have contributed and to anyone who will do so now or in the future.

Michigan

I keep getting drawn back to the memorial in Mt. Pleasant. I have visited here before and you can check out those posts here, and here.

One of the two main attractions here is the statue of one solder comforting another: called War Cry it is seen below.

As with most memorials there are other features as well and, today, here are a few of them.

First, I will note that like so many other memorials to Vietnam, this one includes remembrances of veterans from other times remembering our goal:  "never again will one generation of veterans abandon another." This one seems to have a GWOT helmet upon what is known as a Field Cross.

Reminders throughout the site recall our efforts and sacrifices and ask others to never forget.

So, if ever in Mt. Pleasant take some time to check out this site. If you check the posts from here, you can see that there is much to visit. It is located in Island Park.

Next time, on the 26th, we will return to Mississippi to honor a few more faces, so join me there, as usual, at 9:00 am.

To see additional memorials from Michigan, or any other state, please click on a state name on the left side of this page. Please note that Canada, Ireland, and Puerto Rico have been added to the list as I have found memorials in these places, too.

As is now my custom,  I will ask anyone who has pictures of Vietnam memorials not shown here, to send then to me and I will include them (giving you full credit.) Any number of you have added knowledge and honor to this site by doing just that. It is always appreciated and makes this effort better, more completed. Thanks to those who have contributed and to anyone who will do so now or in the future.

Maryland XLI

Berlin is on the eastern shore of Maryland, practically in the Atlantic ocean and not far from the resort town of Ocean City. While visiting the beach area I stopped by to see this memorial right in the middle of town.

 

Located at the intersection of West and Baker Streets it is on prominent display.

Dedicated in 1995 by the Boggs D. Sharoon American Legion Auxiliary Unit 123, it honors a number from several wars.

These eight are listed for eternal honor.

LCPL. Frederick Wood, Jr., Marines, 1967
PFC. Alphonso Lee Harmon, Marines, 1967
SP4. Freddie Marshall, Jr., Army, 1967
PFC. Lewis Morrison Hayward, Army, 1968
SP4. Charles Lilleton Briddell, Army, 1969
SGT. Michael Edward Gordy, Marines, 1969
PFC. Barry Howard Berger, Army, 1971

MAJ. Nutter Jerome Wimbrow, III, Air Force, 1972

 

 In 1970 the population of Berlin was under 2,000. As is so often the case small towns were hit hard by the war.

Next time, on the 18th, we will revisit Michigan. Join me there, as usual, at 9:00 am.

To see additional memorials from Maryland, or any other state, please click on a state name on the left side of this page. Please note that Canada, Ireland, and Puerto Rico have been added to the list of memorial sites.

As is now my custom,  I will ask anyone who has pictures of Vietnam memorials not shown here, to send then to me and I will include them (giving you full credit.) Any number of you have added knowledge and honor to this site by doing just that. It is always appreciated and makes this effort better, more completed. Thanks to those who have contributed and to anyone who will do so now or in the future.

Delaware XXV

I returned to Delaware this week to see something I have not seen before: a memorial specifically to M.I.A.s. I have, of course, seen POW/MIA memorials all around the country, but never before one specifically to MIAs.

A 15 foot tall obelisk honors those from all wars but the names listed are only from Korea and Vietnam. 

 

Those from .Nam:

LEONARD A. BIRD - 1LT U.S. MARINE CORPS
GENE K. HESS - SSGT U.S. AIR FORCE
LARRY F. POTTS - CPT U.S. MARINE CORPS
EDWARD A. WILLING - CPL U.S. MARINE CORPS
JOHN M. MARTIN - LTCOL U.S. AIR FORCE
WILLIAM L. NELLANS - MAJ U.S. AIR FORCE

 

 

It is located in Dover at the corner of Loockerman Street and legislative Avenue near the City Hall.

Next time, on the 16th, we will return to Maryland, so meet me there, as always, at 9:00 am.

To see additional memorials from Delaware, or any other state, please click on a state name on the left side of this page.

As is now my custom,  I will ask anyone who has pictures of Vietnam memorials not shown here, to send then to me and I will include them (giving you full credit.) Any number of you have added knowledge and honor to this site by doing just that. It is always appreciated and makes this effort better, more completed. Thanks to those who have contributed and to anyone who will do so now or in the future.

Colorado XL

My last post from Colorado was of the memorial dedicated by the Vietnamese community of Denver. As I explained then it was a very difficult shoot for me. You can review all that here. That being said, I want to try to give you some feeling for the faces, as I so often do, of those who fought and of some who were lost.

These particular likenesses were quite high above the ground so suffer, some, from not being able to capture them straight on.

Anyway, we owe them honor.

 

 

 

The statues are well worn but still...

I wish the circumstances had been better and that I had been able to do them greater justice.

Next time, on the 11th, we will make a return visit to Delaware, so check back to see if I made it and join me there, as always, at 9:00 am.

To see additional memorials from Colorado, or any other state, please click on the state name on the left side of this page. Take note, too, that Ireland, Canada, and Puerto Rico  have been recently added to the list.

Once more I will ask anyone who has pictures of Vietnam memorials not shown here, to send then to me and I will include them (giving you full credit.) Any number of you have added knowledge and honor to this site by doing just that. It is always appreciated and makes this effort better, more completed. Thanks to those who have contributed and to anyone who will do so in the future.

Canada II

 As some of you know, I found myself in Canada last fall. While there I sought out memorials to the brave Canadians who joined our forces in Vietnam. 

134 were lost of the 30,000 who fought at our sides.

I read that there was a memorials in Sydney, Nova Scotia so I managed to get there and after a extremely difficult time completing the last mile or two of my journey, which might be a story for another time, I finally found the memorial.

Except that I can find no indication that it is in fact a memorial to those lost in 'Nam. I was able to learn that Michael Francis Campbell, from Sydney, was lost. I could find no mention of him on this memorial which seems to be solely WWII. I am posting it today in the hopes that someone who can help me straighten this out will contact me.

As I said, I had been assured that this memorial, also, honored Vietnam dead. 

I know from the history of this site that it is read often in Canada, so, help me out as readers have done so often in the past. Tell me the story.

Next time, on the 6th, we will revisit Colorado, so meet me there, as always, at 9:00 am.

To see additional memorials from Canada or any of our 50 states, please click on a state name on the left side of this page. Please note that Canada, Ireland and Puerto Rico have been added to the list.

Once more I will ask anyone who has pictures of Vietnam memorials not shown here, to send then to me and I will include them (giving you full credit.) Any number of you have added knowledge and honor to this site by doing just that. It is always appreciated and makes this effort better, more completed. Thanks to those who have contributed and to anyone who will do so now or in the future.

California XLV

Outside the Offices of Traci Park in Westchester, CA is this memorial to those who served and those lost in 'Nam.

It honors those who served and those who paid the highest price.

25 are honored here with 19 being lost. That feels like an out of proportion loss to me.

I have requested information about what seems to be an astronomical proportion of the lost.

I will update if I find anything.

Next time, April 1, we will take another look at Canada. I found a couple of memorials on a trip there last fall. So, as always, join me there at 9:00 am.

To see additional memorials from California, or any other state, please click a state name on the left side of this page. Please note that Canada, Ireland and Puerto Rico have been added to the list.

Once more I will ask anyone who has pictures of Vietnam memorials not shown here, to send then to me and I will include them (giving you full credit.) Any number of you have added knowledge and honor to this site by doing just that. It is always appreciated and makes this effort better, more completed. Thanks to those who have contributed and to anyone who will do so now or in the future.

Arizona XXXVI

I traveled along the road in San Manuel several time before I realized what I though was just a sign on the side of the road was actually a memorial to those who were lost in 'Nam.

 

Seven young men from the surrounding area gave all in 'Nam and are remembered and honored here.  I have some fears as the gas station seems to be abandoned, so I wonder who will watch over these heroes, although this seems to be in pretty good shape. I hope it remains that way.

I will return to this site to feature the men here in the not too distant future.

San Manuel is located about 45 miles northeast of Tucson and was originally built as a company town for a Copper mining outfit. In 2010 it had a population of 3551.

Next time, on the 27th, we will return to California, so join me there, as usual, at 9:00 am.

To see additional memorials from Arizona, or any other state, please click a state name on the left side of this page.

As always, I will ask anyone who has seen Vietnam memorials that are NOT seen here to please send them to me. I will be more than happy to share your photos and any information you may have about them. Recently Joan from Wisconsin, Tony from Texas, Ron from Florida and a number of others have been kind enough to do this. You make this site better, more complete and I certainly appreciate your input. So, send them to the email on the left od to my personal email: ldddad@comcast.net.

St. Patrick's Day 2024

Today is St. Patrick's Day and I want to honor the many Irish who have stood side by side with us in various conflicts.

Records indicate that nearly 50% percent of The Continental Army were Irish.

In the Mexican American War there was formed The St. Patrick's Brigade (although some who served were European, not necessarily Irish) The Brigade numbered more than 200 in 1846.

Irish have a long history of fighting with the U.S. perhaps most notably at Gettysburg where monuments to Irish units abound. 200,000 Irish participated in the American Civil War: 180 thousand fought for the Union and 20,000 for the Confederacy. 23, 600 or 20% of the Union Navy were Irish.

Many Irish or of Irish descent served in both WWI and WWII.

27 Irish Soldiers and one Irish Marine never returned from Korea.

And, I have written previously of my failed efforts to find a memorial in Ennis, Ireland to the 30* Irish citizens who came, among the 2500 Irish, to fight in Vietnam and were lost. (I have since learned that it has, in fact been built and I hope to get to Ennis in the future to see it.)

*I have just learned from my friend Declan Hughes of Irish Veterans, Kinsale, Co. Cork, Ireland that the actual number has grown to 32. Declan is the man previously mentioned in my post about The Wall coming to Ireland and researching the names of the Irish heroes lost in 'Nam. I wrote a long post about this and you can read it here. Declan has been a wonderful source of information for me as I pursued this topic. Thank you, Declan!

Here are the 30 names of Irish lost on the memorial at Ennis.

Photo used by permission of Irish Vietnam Memorial Project

Photo used by permission of Irish Vietnam Memorial Project

IRISH WHO LOST THEIR LIVES WITH U.S. FORCES VIETNAM

Sgt Patrick Christopher ‘Christy’ Nevin, US Army

L/Cpl Paul Ivan Maher, US Marine Corps

SP4 Timothy Daly, US Army

L/Cpl Bernard Anthony Freyne, US Marine Corps

SP4 Michael Francis Smith, US Army

SP4 John Coyle, US Army

Cpl Patrick ‘Bob’ Gallagher, US Marine Corps

Sgt/FC Edward Michael Howell, US Army

PFC Maurice Joseph O’Callaghan, US Marine Corps

Cpl Terence Patrick FitzGerald, US Army

PFC John Patrick Collopy, US Army

SP4 Edward Anthony Scully, US Army

Capt Edmond J. Landers, US Army

1/Lt Anthony Paul O’Reilly, US Army

Second Lieutenant Pamela Dorothy Donovan, US Army Nurse Corps

Spec. 5 Michael Noel Faherty,

Cpl Philip Sean Bancroft, US Marine Corps

SP4 Brian Francis McCarthy, US Army

Cpl Sean T. Doran, US Army

L/Cpl Peter Mary Nee, US Marine Corps

1/Lt John Cecil Driver, US Army

RD3 Martin S Doherty, US Navy

Sgt Arthur Fisher, US Marine Corps

 

IRISH KILLED SERVING WITH AUSTRALIANS

Rifleman George Nagle, 9th Royal Australian Regiment

Driver/Signalman David G. Doyle, 3 Cavalry Regiment

Sgt Robert Fleming, 1st RAR and 1st Australian Reinforcement Regiment

Sgt Thomas Birnie, 2nd Royal Australian Regiment

 

IRISH IN CANADIAN UNIFORM (MIA)

Sgt. James Sylvester Byrne, Royal Canadian Army Service Corps

 

IRISH WORKING FOR US AID

Michael Murphy, Office of Public Safety, US AID, Advisor to South Vietnamese Police Field Forces

 

IRISH WORKING FOR AIR AMERICA

Patrick Factna McCarthy, Served with the Marines in Vietnam before joining Air America.

 

Here are the two names added since the memorial was completed

 L/Cpl Joseph Aloysius Clancy, US Marine Corps

MSG Patrick Joseph McCabe, US Army 

In addition, approximately 50% of the names on the Wall are of Irish origin!

I found this article on-line written by the Jim Otto, President of The Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division One

 https://www.stlhibernians.com/History2/usmilitary2.html

So as you raise a pint or two to St. Patrick today, remember those Irish who gave their all and raise one to them as well.

Next time, on the 22nd, we will venture back to Arizona, so meet me there, as always, at 9:00 am.

To see additional memorials from Ireland, or any of the 50 states, please click a state name on the left side of this page.

As always, I will ask anyone who has seen Vietnam memorials that are NOT seen here to please send them to me. I will be more than happy to share your photos and any information you may have about them. Recently Joan from Wisconsin, Tony from Texas, Ron from Florida and a number of others have been kind enough to do this. You make this site better, more complete and I certainly appreciate your input. So, send them to the email on the left od to my personal email: ldddad@comcast.net.

Thank you!

Wisconsin XVIII

It has been quite a long time since I was in Wisconsin and until I have the chance to return I am going to keep referring back to the info that Joan Geraldson sent me. Joan stumbled across this site and sent me a number of photos that she took of the Wisconsin memorial that travels around the State. It honors many and reminds all who see it to remember the bravery, service, and sacrifice made by those to whom it pays tribute.

Called Wisconsin Remembers it was part of the effort to gather a photo for every name on The Wall. that was part of the effort to build an Education Center at the Wall. That effort was never completed, but you can see all the faces collected at The Wall of Faces.( https://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/)

These men among all the others here made the supreme sacrifice.

As always, I will feature only a few at a time as to give them their due.

                                                          

I will post additional photos of the heroes from Wisconsin over time.

Next time, on the 17th, I hope to have a special St. Patrick's Day post, so, join me here, as always, at 9:00 am.

To see additional memorials from Wisconsin, or any other state, please click a state name on the left side of this page.

I will ask, as I do at the end of nearly every post now, for anyone who has pictures of Vietnam memorials not seen here to please send them to me just like Joan did! (Thanks again to Joan and all the others who have helped to make this site better by contributing.) I will give you full photo credit for the pic and any information about it you may know. Check your state, or anywhere you may have visited, from the list at the left, or any place else for that matter. Please send them to the email at the left or directly to me at Ldddad@comcast.net. Thanks.

West Virginia XIX

Another visit to Morgantown HS in West Virginia. I have been featuring the photos of the young men lost as actual photographs on memorials is actually quite rare. Once I featured one set, it seemed only right to honor them all.

There are eighteen faces on this memorial, so there will be a couple more of these posts in the future.

Two days after his 20th birthday

These men and so many others must not be forgotten. It is said that as long as someone speaks your name, you are never gone.

Speak their names!

Next time, on the 12th, we will travel back to Wisconsin to honor some additional faces from another unusual memorial. So, join me there, as always, at 9:00 am.

To see additional memorials from West Virginia, or any other state, please click a state name on the left side of this page.

I will ask, as I do at the end of nearly every post now, for anyone who has pictures of Vietnam memorials not seen here to please send them to me. I will give you full photo credit for the pic and any information about it you may know. Check your state, or anywhere you may have visited, from the list at the left, or any place else for that matter. Please send them to the email at the left or directly to me at Ldddad@comcast.net. Thanks.

Virginia XXXII

Last September I wrote about my visit to VFW Post 9274 in Falls Church, VA. ( you can see that post here.)

While there I was surprised to find this small tribute to a single guy. I wondered who he was.

It is shocking to me just how little information I found about David Strickler. He was an Army Corporal and was lost in a mortar/rocket attack at Kontum in April 1968. That is about it.

The plaque is seen on the base of the flag pole

 

 

That, I guess, is why these memorials are important. Without them, we would just be forgotten. I guess over enough time, that is just what happens, but, for now, I will continue to catalogue, honor, and remember. When we are all gone, I hope this site will last, Lest we forget.

Next time, on the 7th, we will venture back to West Virginia, so, meet me there, as always, at 9:00 am.

To see additional memorials from Virginia, or any other state, please click a state name on the left side of this page.

I will ask, as I do at the end of nearly every post now, for anyone who has pictures of Vietnam memorials not seen here to please send them to me. I will give you full photo credit for the pic and any information about it you may know. Check your state, or anywhere you may have visited, from the list at the left, or any place else for that matter. Please send them to the email at the left or directly to me at Ldddad@comcast.net. Thanks.

Utah VIII

As I have previously posted, just a little south of Salt lake City is West Valley. The Utah Cultural Celebration Center is located here and it is home to a memorial to the American and Vietnamese soldiers who fought side by side in the hopes of bring independence, peace, and freedom to what was South Vietnam.

In continuance of my Faces of Remembrance series, I feature these faces today.

This is the American

This is the Vietnamese

I will note here that it is unusual for sculptors of these types of memorials to use the likenesses of actual people in their representations. As you might well imagine, doing so could lend itself to legal issues down the road. Sometimes a composite is created of various parts of several individuals. I could find no indication that this was what was done here.

Next time, on the 2nd of March, we will revisit Virginia, so meet me there, as always, at 9:00 am.

To see additional memorials from Utah, or any other state, please click a state name for the list at the left side of this page. 

I will ask, as I do at the end of nearly every post now, for anyone who has pictures of Vietnam memorials not seen here to please send them to me. I will give you full photo credit for the pic and any information about it you may know. Check your state, or anywhere you may have visited, from the list at the left, or any place else for that matter. Please send them to the email at the left or directly to me at Ldddad@comcast.net. Thanks.

UPDATE: I did not realize just how poorly these pics were going to post. They are crops from larger pictures and are disappointing to me. My apologies.