Maryland XLVII

Something just a little bit different today.

Today, I want to honor three of the lost from Maryland, this is not unusual.

The fact that I went to school with all three of them is.

I went to elementary school with all three and high school one of them.

Frank Morris Streeks

PFC Frank Streeks was known by his schoolmates as "Trippy." There are a couple of stories as to why, but I cannot confirm any of these. He attended Northwood for High School.

He was lost on September 22, 1967, in Quang Tri Province. Rest in Peace, he was lost to artillery, explosive device, or rocket fire during a combat mission.

John C. Liverman

LCPL Liverman was the brother of my classmate Bob. I did not know him well, but I certainly knew who he was as he was only one year behind us.

The following was related to me many years later, so I cannot verify its veracity or if I have the facts exactly right. Here goes, anyway.

Johnny was lost on December 11th, 1968, at Quang Tri. His brother, my classmate Bob was in 'Nam at the same time and was assigned to escort him home. Their plane stopped somewhere in country to refuel and when Bob attempted to reboard the plane, he had misplaced his orders. Sent back to get them, he returned to the waiting area and in the meantime the plane took off without him. 

The plane was shot down: all were lost.

One more thing that I know is true: John and Frank Streeks, honored above, were next door neighbors as kids.

To John's brother Bob. We spoke by email a couple of years back regarding the Montgomery County Vietnam memorial, if you happen to ever see this, I would appreciate knowing if I have done John's story justice? I have lost track of your email.

Kevin Mark Coyne

LCPL Coyne and I shared 12 years in the same schools. I remember him as smart, serious, and quiet.

He was lost at Quang Tri on June 7th, 1968 along with 22 other Marines and 2 Navy personnel.

We all lived within walking distance of each other.

In preparing this post I found a memorial plaque at my High School that honors Kevin and three others who were lost. I did not know the other three.

Listed below their names were listed quite a number of other grads who served. I was surprised to find my name listed as I have had zero contact with the school since I graduated in 1965. I wonder how they knew.

Next time, on January 31st, we will return to Massachusetts to honor a few who were lost from the state, so join me there, as usual at 9:00 am. 

If you are following along at all, you will have seen that a number of you, like Joan from Wisconsin, Tony from Texas, Mike from Maryland, Ron from Florida, Tim from Virginia, Molly from Florida, Colleen from Pennsylvania, Elli from Maryland, and Peg and Ray from Florida, among others, have responded to my request to send me memorials you have seen in your area or where you may have traveled. I even got one from Ireland! These submissions help expand the knowledge of how we have remembered the men and women who served and/or were lost in 'Nam and you help to honor them. If you have any such photos, I would love to see them. Please send them along to the email at the left and I will gladly share them here.

I hope all those listed here will encourage you to send along photos and join the group.