Washington XIV

 The 1047 from Washington lost in Vietnam are remembered and honored here, in Olympia, forever. You can read a little more about this beautiful site here.

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As I have been doing of later, today, I will add some knowledge and honor to a few.

Jerry Wayne McGlothlan

SP4 McGlothlan was aboard a chopper on a mission. The weather was so bad that they were ordered back to base. That was the last that was heard from them. Some days later the crash site was located and McGlothlan was positively identified. He "died while missing" presumably on the day of the crash, June 9, 1970, in the Tay Ninh Province.

As an aside, his Purple Heart was stolen from of a car and ended up some years later in a pawn shop. A Marine vet saw it, paid over 200 bucks for it and tracked down McGlothlan family to return it to them. In 1916 they were trying to locate his son who had been adopted, to give it to him. I cannot track down if this effort weas successful.

Ronald Edgar Playford

LCPL Ronald Playford was lost on March 24, 1969, at Quang Tri Province. He was lost to "other explosive device..."

Lonnie Melroe Swinson

MSGT Lonnie Swinson was lost when his vehicle hit a mine on September 11, 1970, in the Tay Ninh Province. He was awarded several medals for his gallant service.

All three of the above heroes were from Yelm, Washington.

Next time, on July 2nd, we will return to West Virginia, 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 (now three) 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.

Washington XXIII

Anacortes is located on Fidalgo Island and is easily accessible via bridges to the mainland. I have featured the memorial here before and you can see that post here.

The three from Anacortes who were lost are:  

Darwin Engman

WO1 Engman was piloting a chopper near Thanh Son when it was shot down. Several others were lost in the crash of from ground fire while trying to escape the chopper.  

Russell Hibler

SGT Russell Hibler was lost on March 30, 1970 to multiple fragmentation wounds. He was lost in the Thua Thien Province.

Gordon Logan

CPL Gordon W. Logan was a paratrooper who was lost on November 12, 1969 at Binh Dinh. On his VVMF page it specifies "other explosive device" without further explanation. I could find no other information about this hero. How very sad that is. 

Next time, on September 9th, we will return to West Virginia, to honor others so worthy of our admiration and never ending respect. Join me there, at 9:00 am., as always.

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!  

Washington XXII

I discovered another overlooked memorial while browsing through my pictures from one of my several trips to Washington.

I had really incomplete information about just where this memorial was located and the little I had was of little use to my GPS. So, around and around I drove, nearly giving up, more than once.

Located in Sunset Gardens Cemetery (915 Bypass Highway) in Richland, finally found it overlooking a pretty duck pond.

Placed by VFW Post 7952, it honors 48 from the area.

Next time, on the 15th, we will return to West Virginia, so join me there, as usual, at 9:00am.

To see additional memorials from Washington, or any other state, please click the 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. Please send them to the email at the left or directly to me at Ldddad@comcast.net. Thanks!

Washington XXI

When I last wrote of Washington, I discovered that I had completely overlooked the wonderful Spokane memorial. You can find that post here. Today, I want to focus on the face of the statue. In this ongoing Faces of Remembrance segment I hope to capture the emotion of the subject and the skill of the artist in capturing it.

So, here he is, the sole representative of the 300 named here. To me, he seems war worn, tired, resigned. I wonder what you see? Let me know at the email on the left.

The memorial was created by Deborah Copenhaver Fellows and it can be found in River Front Park.

I played around a bit with the image, and after some effort, I still think he looks tired and sad.

Next time, on the 14th, we will revisit West Virginia. Meet me there, as usual, at 9:00am.

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

I will ask, at the end of 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 from the list at the left.

Washington XX

In what often feels like a never ending pursuit of something to write about here, I was once again searching through files, trying to find something new. I came across a close-up, portrait like, photo from the memorial I had seen in Spokane, Washington.

I checked the site to make sure that I had not already posted this in my Faces of Remembrance series and was astonished to find that not only had I not published it there, but had not posted about the memorial at all. Yet, I feel as if I did. This has happened before. I discover that I have not posted about memorials that I have distinct memories of writing about. Sometimes I think there are two, perhaps parallel, versions of this effort! Enough crazy talk!

On the upside, I can now tell you about this fantastic site. A friend told me about it but I had a hard time finally getting there as Spokane is over 300 miles east of Seattle. Once I did it was well worth the effort.

I arrived late in the evening and found a hotel that was just across the street from a large park. the park was alive with lights and lanterns and festive decorations. It was beautiful even from my hotel window.

The next morning I headed over and discovered that the memorial was in the same park so I started heading for it. I kept running into shrouded chain link fences every time I got near it. After trying several attempts to access it I was frustrated and ready to quit. Then I heard some voices behind the fence that had been completely shrouded to prevent observation. So, I took a chance and started talking to the voices (yeah, I know..) Finally someone answered. It turns out the portion of the fencing I was near was around the maintenance area for the park. The guys finally, after hearing that I had traveled 3,000 miles to take these picks, let me in. They couldn't have been nicer and one of them even escorted me a distance off to the correct area so I could complete my task.

Nestled among some trees, on a rise, it was difficult to back up enough to capture the large memorial.

Called the Inland Northwest Vietnam Veterans Memorial it is located along the Riverfront Park.

About 300 from the are who were lost are listed around the base.

Note the letter in his hand

The memorial was dedicated in 1985 and in 2021 a renovation was undertaken. There is also a movement to move it from this Highground to the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena to join other memorials. There is some controversy over this and I have not been able to determine if a final decision has been made. One side thinks the Highground was chosen for a reason and is appropriate although it is a little hard to get to, and others think it should be among other war memorials. As I say, If learn the results I will update here.

Next time, on the 19th, we will return to Arkansas, so join me there at 9:00am.

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

Washington XIX

While scrounging around in my files for something to post, once again I found some pictures. As I have noted previously the pandemic is keeping me home, I have not taken any new photos in months so am always on the lookout within my own files for something new.

These are from a site in Ellensburg, Washington and I actually thought I had posted them some time ago. These are not the best quality as the day was wet, cloudy, and just not very nice.

The field Cross here is a more recent version of the tradition begun in the Civil War. Each version of it is updated to the boots, weapons, and helmet of the particular war.

There are about 4,000 of these bricks but the majority do not yet have names on them. I found these dedicated to our comrades in Vietnam. There were more, most likely. And, many more bricks wait to be engraved with our sons, daughters and, eventually, our grandchildren.

Once again, please pretend not to notice the poor quality of these pics.

Next time, on the 29th, we will make another visit to West Virginia, so join me there at 9:00am.

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

Washington XVIII

I have searched literally for years to discover where this memorial is located. I believed that it was in the Northwest, Washington or Oregon, maybe but could not remember exactly where I saw it.

Searching through my files was of little use as I have over 60,000 photos from this journey and I have been in the Northwest several times. If nothing else, it is clear that I should get better at filing systems!

So, I finally made the breakthrough and confirmed that it is located in Cable Bridge Park in Kennewick, Washington.

It honors 62 from the area lost or missing in 'Nam.

Impressions in the walls are of choppers and other iconic military equipment.

 So next time, on the13th, we will revisit Alabama, so meet me there, as always, at 9:00am.

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

Washington XVII

This is at least the third memorial I have found in Whatcom County and it is beautiful, and a bit confusing at the same time.

Set in this lovely memorial park it honors many of various wars.

 On this first wing, honoring all lost: world-wide deaths in the southeast Asia conflicts, American deaths, and Whatcom County deaths.

On this wing, the 28 names from Whatcom County.

 Pavers around the base name other who served.

The park may be found at King and E. Maryland Streets in Bellingham.

Next time, on the24th, we will return  to Alabama, so meet me there at 9:00am.

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

Washington XVI

I've posted previously about the Veterans Memorial Garden and Vietnam memorial on the campus of the VA in Vancouver, Washington.

Nearby, is a converted WWII radio building that now houses much memorabilia from many wars, including Vietnam.

The day Steve and I visited there were two volunteers on duty, both 'Nam vets who were eager to show us around.

The Vietnam artifacts took up a good deal of room within the small, two room building.

I was surprised to find this Landing Craft on display. I spent many months at Fort Eustis, Virginia learning to operate these and many other sea going vessels.

It was interesting to find this POW/MIA display, also. I have seen them a couple of times in my travels and they seem to be growing in popularity a I see more now than previously.

Nearby, was this explanation of the various components of the display.

So, from here we will move on to Arizona for a special Veterans Day post, please join me there at 11:11am on the 11th of November.

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

Washington XV

Sarg Hubbard Park is in Yakima, Washington and is about 150 miles southeast of Seattle.

Part of the Yakima Greenway,it is in a conservation/recreation area and is extremely beautiful. The area has over 20 miles of biking, hiking paths as well as many other outdoor facilities.

Up a winding hill from the entrance you will find this combination Korea-Vietnam memorial.

These paves do not explain whether the names listed are for the lost or honoring someone who served and returned home.

The dedication plaque has the unusual feature of mentioning both Laos and Cambodia, places that we denied being for many, many years. I have seen this only very rarely in my travels.

 

 

Next time, on September 5th, we will head back to Alabama, so, join me there at 9:00am.

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

Washington XIV

It would be very easy to miss this small memorial as Steve and I nearly did. after circling around a bit we were finally able to find it.

Located in a lovely spot on the side of the road, it was very nice on a sunny day.

The weather had been raining off and on all day, but when we arrived it stopped and the clouds began to break up some.

Someone had recently left a few flowers.

The simple plaque commemorates and honors a local Medal of Honor recipient.

These small, intimate, touching memorials are always special to me and one hopes they bring some sense of peace to those who loved those so remembered.

Next time, on the 9th, we trek back to Wisconsin, so join me there, as always, at 9:00am.

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

Washington XIII

North of Bellingham, in Ferndale, is a park called Hovander Homestead Park. I had read that there was a Vietnam memorial there, but when Steve and I arrived the park seemed to be closed. We could not find anyone anywhere, although the chain was down at the entrance.

We wondered around and around with no idea where the memorial might be located.

Not too surprisingly for the area, everything was wet and somewhat marsh-y (should such a word exist) but we squished on and on and to our surprise and delight located the memorial.

It rests along a path with no announcement signs or markings, we really just stumbled upon it.

 Two benches are provided for those who visit.

Notice that the plaque has a image recalling The Wall.

28 are honored here and I noticed that it they are the fallen from Whatcom County, elsewhere on this site you can find another memorial to Whatcom's lost and you may notice that this memorial includes two that are not listed on the previously posted site in Bellingham.

Hovander Homestead Park is located at 5299 Nielson Avenue

Next time, on the 24th we will revisit Alabama, so join me there at 9:00am.

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