Minnesota XI

My heart just aches tonight as I try to honor some lost souls from Minnesota. Because as is all too often the case, I can find almost nothing about them. Young men, in this case, who put everything on the line, because our country asked then too. Made a bet that they could see it through and lost that bet.

I get very tired of what is probably not really disrespect, but only lack of respect.

All of the following are from the Stillwater, Minnesota area. You can see my post from Stillwater here.

Brian C. Brown

CPL Brown was lost to "non-hostile.... ground casualty...air crash..." That it is it. That is what I can find. He was lost on February 19, 1967. CPL Brown's place of loss was "unknown" WTF!

Gary D Graber

PFC Graber was lost on August 20, 1967, in the Quang Nam Province to "hostile... small arms fire..."

James Russell Hicks

This was taken directly from the VVMF's Wall of Faces. If I wasn't saddened already tonight, this would have done the trick.

SSgt James R. Hicks was a security policeman serving with the 366th Security Police Squadron, 366th Combat Support Group, 366th Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Air Force, at Da Nang Air Base in Quang Nam Province, RVN. Hicks, who arrived in December 1970, provided security and base defense with other Air Force security police, protecting aircraft, the POL (fuel & oil) sites, ordnance storage areas, runways, and base perimeter. On March 6, 1971, he died at mortar station at Da Nang where it was reported he took his own life. A postmortem examination and subsequent death certificate confirmed Hicks died by his own hand; however, when the Air Force provided a final report on his loss, it was inexplicably coded an accidental homicide. Hicks was 21 years old. [Sourced at coffeltdatabase.org]

Rest in Peace to all. You are not forgotten.

Next time, on February 16th, we will return to Mississippi 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.

Minnesota X

In a past post I told the story of asking for directions in South Dakota and ended up in Minnesota, I recount that story here if you would care to check it out.

Among the other features of the Jasper Cemetery are, of course, names and here are a few of them today.

I was unsure if these names were of the lost or among the millions that served due to the way they were listed at the site.. I went to The Wall of Faces ( https://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/ ) and determined that these, blessedly, are among those that served. One of them is the husband of the nice woman who took me to this site.

Next time, on the 16th of May, we will venture, again, to Mississippi to honor a few of the fallen, so, join me, as always, 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.

Minnesota IX

Duluth's memorial on Lake Superior is quite awe inspiring. I visited many years ago and want to return today for a few more photos and features. You can see my original post from this unique site here.

This is one of the views from the inside, looking out. the sunlight beaming in through the light boxes highlight the names listed here.

The names are divided into the counties in Minnesota and Wisconsin from which they came to serve. 

The posted information explains the sites development and goals.

 

Next time, on the 19th. we will return to Mississippi to honor a few more of those remembered on the very first memorial I ever photographed way back in 2009, so join me there, as always, at 9:00 am.

 

To see additional memorials from Minnesota 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.

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, and Molly from Florida 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 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. Thanks, once again, to all who have contributed.

Minnesota VIII

Another from the Faces of Remembrance series, this one from very near the Minnesota Vietnam Memorial on Minnesota's Capitol grounds which honors the more than 1100 lost in 'Nam.

The statue stands 12-feet high. It consists of 1,500 steel pieces hammered and welded together. The statue depicts a returning Minnesota soldier dressed in full combat gear. He represents all the living Veterans who came home from war to help other Veterans preserve the memory of their fallen comrades. His outstretched arms ask the viewer for recognition and acceptance. The things that stands out to me is his face, he looks like a child, a face not often seen on a someone coming home.

It is called a Monument to the Living, but more commonly, by many,  simply as The Grunt.

I like his stance, too, it seems, to me, to be the classic WTF pose so many of us are familiar with in-country and more recently here at home.

You don't see too many memorials to those who made it back, but every now and then, it is good to see.

Next time, on the 31st, we will return to Mississippi, so join me there at 9:00am, as usual.

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

Minnesota VII

Well, after problems for which I have no explanation, I am back on line. I hope to be able to resume, uninterrupted postings of Vietnam Memorials every 5th day at 9:00am, as has always been my practice. I am sorry for any inconvenience or confusion this has caused.

Today, we return to Minnesota as previously promised.

Hardwick lies in the southwest portion of the state and I was directed to this memorial by a local, I had been unaware of it.

This one, like the one in Edgerton, nearby, honors generation after generation of those from the area that have defended the country. No specific memorial to 'Nam actually exists, but all are honored here.

I have seen a number of sites that have purposely left space for future honors to be given, but this is the first that has a separate, unmarked stone awaiting, sadly, the inevitable, perhaps yet unborn, names that will at some time be etched upon its face.

So, the next time, if all goes well, we will revisit Nebraska, so, meet me there as always at 9:00am on the 28th.

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

Minnesota VI

Jasper, Minnesota is not very far from Sioux Falls, SD. I stopped and asked a lady in South Dakota if she knew of any Vietnam Memorials in the area. She asked if I had seen the one in Jasper, Mn? She tried to give me directions and then said, "Get in your car and follow me." She drove me to the spot and then stayed to show me around. It was not all that far away, maybe 20 minutes by car, but she didn't have to do this at all. I am constantly being reminded of how nice people can be.

 The memorial sits on N. Main Street in Jasper within the Jasper Cemetery. It, as you can see, is not specifically to Vietnam as is, so often, the case in small towns. I don't think that detracts in any way from what a great site this is.

As you can see, a number of conflicts are remembered here. For those who may not know, the white crosses are often associated with WW I: Flanders fields and "The Green Fields of France"; where so very many died.

Vietnam, like the others here, is remembered only by graphic depictions, not lists of names.

Names are listed upon the stones that make up the plaza in the front of the site. Many who served are honored here. I could not locate any names of those who may have been lost. I don't know if this means that Jasper did not lose anyone or if they simply chose to honor all who served. One of the above stones is in honor of the husband of the kind lady who brought me to this site.

An interesting side note. The lady who brought me here told me that Jasper is in Pipestone County, which is named for the soft, carve-able stone found there that Native Americans carved into pipes for smoking tobacco.

Next time, on August 7, we will make another stop in Mississippi where I was lucky enough to meet some very nice and interesting folks. Join me at 9:00am to see the pics and hear the story.

To see other memorials from Minnesota, or any other state, click the state name on the left side of this page.

Minnesota V

I was directed to this town in Minnesota by someone I happened to meet in South Dakota. She led me to one spot and then gave me directions to this and one other spot. these other two will post sometime in the future, but today we visit Edgerton.

None of these were solely a Vietnam memorial but all included those who served and/or were lost there. One of things that struck me was the heritage, if you will, of families serving at one time or another. You can see, here, a couple long lists of those who made the sacrifice to answer when the country called. Impressive.

The photo above this one has a key at the bottom to designate time of service.

A number of folks from this family served, but four went to Vietnam.


Another lesson I keep learning about small towns and what they do for their own was reinforced here. this beautiful memorial to all that have served was built by a town of just over 1100 folks.

Honored separately on their own stone are those who were lost over the years. You can see that two from a town of 1100 were lost in 'Nam.

Edgerton is in the southwest corner on Minnesota in Pipestone county. I found this interesting and learned that Pipestone is named for a local quarry that the Sioux, and others, mined for its soft stone out of which they made their ceremonial pipes. Cool!

The memorial sits at the intersection of  N. Main Street and  Center Street.     .

Next time, come with me to Mississippi to visit a small memorial in a town made famous by William Faulkner, one of my favorite writers. See you at 9:00am on the 26th of November.


To see other memorial from Minnesota, or any other state, click on the states name from the list on the left side of this page,

Minnesota IV

This memorial is located in a park along the lake in Winona, Mn. It is but one of a number of memorials within the park including Gold Star Mothers and POW/MIA sites.

The inscription on the memorial reads;

IN HONOR OF ALL
VIETNAM VETERANS
WHO ON LAND, AIR AND SEA
SERVED WITH COURAGE
COMPETENCE, FORTITUDE
AND HONOR.
WE SALUTE YOUR
COMMITMENT, VALOR
AND LOVE OF COUNTRY
YOU EPITOMIZE THE
BEST OF THE AMERICAN SPIRIT

In addition, the memorial totals the statistics from Vietnam and these, of course, vary by the information known at the time the memorial was built.

Note that this site specifies 1958 as the beginning of the war and, also, note the pavers surrounding the wall that helped pay for it. The gazebo behind the first picture is used for some of the ceremonies held here each year.

On Veterans day a 24 hour vigil is held along with brief ceremonies to honor all who are remembered in this lovely setting.

The park is located on Lake Park Drive and Park Drive in Winona, Minnesota.

Minnesota III

The memorial in Duluth, Minnesota is called the Northland Vietnam Veterans Memorial. It sits on a beautiful lake walk area between a railroad track and lake Superior. It faces to the east and catches the sun as it rises. The light boxes allow the sun to flow across the names enshrined here; recognizing and honoring each one, each day.

The Northland Memorial, built like a bunker, protects those who are silently here while allowing visitors to honor them in inclement weather. A light shines to the sky at night to guide home the POWs and MIAs who have not yet returned to the Northland and their families and loved ones.

The five "fingers" seen in the third picture bear the insignias of and represent the five branches of the military. It is also said that these represent a wave coming from Lake Superior and the bunker is protecting the wall and the names within.

Dedicated on May 30, 1992, the site has an information stand that tells its story. Two passages from it stand out for me.

"Read their names, read them in a whisper, read them with your fingertips, read them with your eyes, read them in your heart; however you do it; they will hear you."

and

"They are heroes in our minds,
men in our eyes and
beloved in our hearts."

The Northland memorial, while in Duluth, honors those from 6 Minnesota and two Wisconsin counties.

If in Duluth I believe that anyone could direct you to this amazing site. It is in lakeside park and is near the old Fitgers building

Minnesota II

The first place I stopped in Minnesota was Stillwater. I met the fellow from the St. Paul planning committee here and he showed me the memorial in town.

As you can see, it is a bit unusual. When I asked him about the design, he said, "just take a look around!" As I slowly turned about and surveyed the surrounding town, the reason became obvious. The memorial is reflective of the spires seen in the architecture throughout Stillwater. I could find no good way to photograph the town to clearly show this, but it is quite remarkable as you stand there. Not only are there spires in churches, as expected, but also in the design of a number of other buildings in the town.

This memorial is a Veterans memorial but seems to be predominately Vietnam. When there was discussion about what to call the war, it was my friend who came up with "The Helicopter War" as seen on the plaque in the second picture. I have never met anyone who was in country who does not say they can still here a "Huey" coming from miles and miles away.

Minnesota

I had the great fortune of hooking up with a fellow who was on the planning committee for the Minnesota Vietnam Memorial. He met me in a neighboring town and showed me the memorial there (more on that, later) before taking me on to St. Paul to see the state site.

The site in St. Paul is one of those that has had every detail thought out and meticulously planned.

The general layout of the site is in the shape of the State including Lake Superior and the lower Mississippi River with a massive dark green granite wall bearing the 1125 names of Minnesota's fallen.

The plaza area created by the wall and surrounds is made up of 68,000 squares of (mostly white) tiles representing each of those who served. Within this layout are 1125 dark green squares denoting each of the fallen or MIA. These are placed in the correct geographic location for each hero. So, one sees many around Minneapolis-St. Paul and other population centers and single squares in other areas denoting, honoring, one lost soul.

Facing the wall is the facade of a home to which those listed here will never return.

If you look carefully at the right side of the wall you can see that it appears to be lighter in color than the rest. This is due to vandalism which when repaired caused this aberration. By the time the funds were raised to repair the repair this lightening had become part of character of the site and it was decided to leave it as is. When I first saw it I thought it was a patch of sun light, illuminating the names. My friend told me that others had described it in the same way.

After the years of planning, funds raising, planning and work, the wall was unveiled on September 25th 1992 and dedicated the next day. On this wall the dates begin in 1962 as that is when the first of Minnesota's heroes fell. During these ceremonies the bells of the magnificent St. Paul's Cathedral pealed, speeches were made, songs were sung and hearts were put on the path to healing.

Minnesota has honored her lost with great beauty, dignity and respect. If you have the opportunity, see it and do the same.

You can find it on the State Capitol grounds at 108 Aurora Ave, St Paul, Minnesota and you can find more info here;

http://www.mvvm.org/