Rhode Island XIV

 The Rhode Islande Vietnam memorial at Exeter honors all and is featured here in greater detail.

Today, as is becoming an ongoing project, I will honor a few of the lost from the state.

John Dutra Andrade

SP4 John Andrade was killed by "hostile... other explosive...." on November 2, 1966, in the Tay Ninh Province. Sadly, this all that I could find.

Lawrence Renaldo Lopes

PFC Lawrence Lopes was lost om March 27, 1968, at Thua Thien. He was the victim of "multiple fragmentation wounds..."

Daniel Robert Dye

1LT Daniel Dye was assigned to unit in the Phuoc Tuy Provine. His unit engaged a VC group that vastly outnumbered his. Under heavy small arms and rocket fire he continued to vigorously encourage his group of soldiers until he was mortally wounded. He was lost October 12, 1968, and is interred in Rhode Island

Next time on May 23rd, we will return to South Carolina so join me, as always, at 9 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.

Rhode Island

I can't tell you how many times, on the way to Newport, I passed the signs for the Rhode Island Veteran's Cemetery at Exeter. Before I began this journey, it was just noted with interest. I was a little surprised, as I began this effort, to discover that it was, also, the home of the R.I. Vietnam Memorial.

I stopped in and happened to meet the head guy. He is a 'Nam vet himself and was quite interested in my efforts. One of the interesting things he told me was that on Memorial Day and Veteran's Day, he and his brother meet at the site at sunrise and read, aloud, all the 224 names listed here. I think this is quite a tribute and I would love, someday, to be there as they honor our fellow soldiers. I have on occasion sent him an email on those days.

The memorials and grave sites at this historic place go all the way back to Colonial times. The place is not hard to find if you just follow the signs along Rte. 95. and follow additional signs to 301 S. County Trail, Exeter, RI, 02822

This is a remarkably beautiful place and you would not regret taking time to stop, I am sure.