Michigan XVIII

Sorry about today's post time delay, sometimes things just don't go as planned. Hope to better next time!

Michigan, as previously mentioned, is one of several states with, at least, two major "Official" memorials. One is located in Ann Arbor near the Capitol and the other is in Mt. Pleasant. Each is worthy of a visit. 

You can preview them here, here, and here.

Today, however, I am going to highlight some of Michigan's heroes from a smaller site: Freedom Hill County Park in Macomb County.

Leonard Michael Ackerman

EO3 Ackerman was transporting Marines between sites in Quang Nam Province when the truck he was driving hit a 100lb land mine. He was lost on March 20, 1970, and all 13 of his passengers were wounded.

 

 

Charles Leroy Baldwin

Capt. Baldwin was lost on August 27, 1969 at Phouc Long. His loss is attributed to "Hostile small arms fire." Once again, I decry the lack of information available about these men and women who gave their lives to this war. They deserve more and the lack of information just seems disrespectful to me. Just for one example, I have spent a couple of hours today trying to track down this story and you see above everything I have found.

 

Robert Charles Benoit

 

SGT Benoit was lost in the Binh Long Province on September 7, 1969. He was lost to"explosive device" as is all too often the case this is all I can find about ANOTHER who gave all for very little remembrance.

 

And, while I am whining about this stuff, what is with so many of the photos? Many are not good. Don't I remember the Army marching us all over for "Official" photos ? Surely, they are available.

 

Next time, on February 10th, we will return to Minnesota 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.

Massachusetts XXXVII

The last time I posted from Massachusetts, I featured a memorial in Boston that I had spent many years trying to track down, only to discover that my nephew lived directly across the street from the park in which it stands. Less than a five-minute walk from his home. You can see that post here.

Today, I return there to honor just a couple of the many who are honored here.

Frederick V. Arens

FN Frederick Arens was lost on May 24th, 1968 in Go Cong Province. He was considered MIA and was suspected of having drowned. His body was recovered.

Linwood L. Baker

SSGT Baker was killed by small arms fire. His record says "accidental homicide" with no further information. He was lost on July 26, 1971 after being injured several days previous and is listed as a "Ground casualty." He was lost in Vinh Long Province.

Thomas Evans Bennett

WO Bennett was about to land his chopper, about 20 feet off the ground, when a small explosion was heard and the chopper dropped straight down. All seven on board were lost. The reason seems to have never been determined. He and the crew were lost on February 24, 1971 in the Binh Long Province.

These men are among the many from Boston listed on this and various other memorial throughout the area.

Next time, on February 5th, we will return to Michigan 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.

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.

Maine XXIII

 In the Statehouse in Augusta there are a couple of memorial plaques that reference Vietnam. 

There are only three names singled out for additional recognition. 

They all were recipients of the Medal of Honor.

Today, I honor them here.

Brian Buker

Sgt Buker was lost on April 5, 1970. He was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously.

Medal of Honor award citation:

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Sergeant Brian Leroy Buker), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Detachment B-55, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, in action against enemy aggressor forces at Chau Doc Province, Republic of Vietnam, on 5 April 1970. Sergeant Buker distinguished himself while serving as a platoon adviser of a Vietnamese mobile strike force company during an offensive mission. Sergeant Buker personally led the platoon, cleared a strategically located well-guarded pass, and established the first foothold at the top of what had been an impenetrable mountain fortress. When the platoon came under the intense fire from a determined enemy located in two heavily fortified bunkers, and realizing that withdrawal would result in heavy casualties, Sergeant Buker unhesitatingly, and with complete disregard for his personal safety, charged through the hail of enemy fire and destroyed the first bunker with hand grenades. While reorganizing his men for the attack on the second bunker, Sergeant Buker was seriously wounded. Despite his wounds and the deadly enemy fire, he crawled forward and destroyed the second bunker. Sergeant Buker refused medical attention and was reorganizing his men to continue the attack when he was mortally wounded. As a direct result of his heroic actions, many casualties were averted, and the assault of the enemy position was successful. Sergeant Buker's extraordinary heroism at the cost of his life are in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.

Nothing I can say to this or any of the following is necessary.  

Thomas Joseph McMahon

Medal of Honor Citation

Thomas Joseph McMahon

DATE OF BIRTH: June 24, 1948
PLACE OF BIRTH:
Washington, D. C.
HOME OF RECORD:
Portland, Maine

Medal of Honor
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING Vietnam War
Service: Army
Battalion: 2d Battalion
Division: Americal Division
GENERAL ORDERS:
Department of the Army, General Orders No. 46 (August 28, 1970)
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Specialist Fourth Class Thomas Joseph McMahon (ASN: 52895360), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an Aid Man with Company A, 2d Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 196th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division, in action against enemy aggressor forces at Quang Tin Province, Republic of Vietnam, on 18 March 1969. When the lead elements of his company came under heavy fire from well-fortified enemy positions, three soldiers fell seriously wounded. Specialist Fourth 

Class McMahon, with complete disregard for his safety, left his covered position and ran through intense enemy fire to the side of one of the wounded, administered first aid and then carried him to safety. He returned through the hail of fire to the side of a second wounded man. Although painfully wounded by an exploding mortar round while returning the wounded man to a secure position, Specialist Fourth Class McMahon refused medical attention and heroically ran back through the heavy enemy fire toward his remaining wounded comrade. He fell mortally wounded before he could rescue the last man. Specialist Fourth Class McMahon's undaunted concern for the welfare of his comrades at the cost of his life are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

Donald Skidgel

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life

above and beyond the call of duty. Sergeant Skidgel distinguished
himself while serving as a reconnaissance section leader in Troop D. On a road near Song Be in Binh Long Province, Sergeant Skidgel and his

section with other elements of his troop were acting as a convoy security and screening force when contact occurred with an estimated enemy battalion concealed in tall grass and in bunkers bordering the road.

Sergeant Skidgel maneuvered off the road and began placing effective
machine - gun fire on the enemy automatic weapons and rocket - propelled grenade positions. After silencing at least one position, he ran with his machine - gun across 60 meters of bullet swept ground to another
location from which he continued to rake the enemy positions. Running
low on ammunition, he returned to his vehicle over the same terrain.
Moments later he was alerted that the command element was receiving
intense automatic weapons, rocket - propelled grenade and mortar fire.
Although he knew the road was saturated with enemy fire, Sergeant
Skidgel calmly mounted his vehicle and with his driver advanced toward

Update: Don't know what happened to the end of this post. I am having crazy issues with the software.

Comeback on the 26th to see a new post from Maryland. Hopefully issues will be resolved by then!
the command group in an effort to draw the enemy fire upon himself.
Despite the hostile fire concentrated on him, he succeeded in silencing
several enemy positions with his machine - gun. Moments later Sergeant
Skidgel was knocked down onto the rear fender by the explosion of an
enemy rocket - propelled grenade. Ignoring his extremely painful wounds, he staggered back to his feet and placed effective fire on several other enemy positions until he was mortally wounded by hostile small arms fire.
His selfless actions enabled the command group to withdraw to a better
position without casualties and inspired the rest of his fellow soldiers to

gain fire superiority and defeat the enemy. Sergeant Skidgel's gallantry at the cost of his life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the

United States Army.

Next time on the 27th, we will return to Maryland to honor a few of her heroes. These will post, as usual, at 9:00 am. 

As mentioned above, 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.

Louisiana IX

Louisiana has joined the vast majority of states by dedicating an official state Vietnam memorial. I am not sure why it took so long, but they are not the only state to have not done this, at least 'til now!

Molly Macdonald, a frequent contributor here has sent me these pictures from a recent visit to Louisiana. the memorial honoring all 8885 from the state who were lost or are missing is located. I have posted at least one other memorial that honors all, but it was not placed by the state. You can see that post here.

The new memorial, dedicated in March 2025, is located in St. Charles about an hour West and South of New Orleans.

There are several additional features that I will post at a later date. I am just very happy to have a memorial to show you. A huge thanks to Molly for forwarding these to me and I hope that her contributions will encourage others to send me ones they have seen, too.

I list some of the other contributors below. Please consider adding your name to the list. Each of you add to the knowledge of this effort and therefore, honor to their names.

Next time on the 21st, we will return to Maine to honor a few of her heroes. These will post, as usual, at 9:00 am. 

As mentioned above, 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.

Kentucky IX

Today, we return to regular posts honoring those individuals who were lost served or memorials to those who served and/or were lost.

Three from Kentucky will be honored today. Their names are listed on the memorial in Simpson County.

Paul Douglass Aton

PFC Aton     was lost on July 29th, 1968. He was involved in ground combat and drowned. He was born in Texas but moved to Kentucky, enlisted from there and was buried there.

Ronnie L. Clayburn

LCPL Clayburn was lost 0n June 7, 1969 at Quang Nam Province by rocket or artillary fire. He, like PFC Aton above was from Franklin, Kentucky.

Earl W. Frye

PFC Frye was lost to artillary, rocket, or mortar fire on March 26, 1968.

The memorial honoring these men, among others, is located at the Franklin City Hall.

Next time, on January 16th, we will return to Louisiana and a brand new memorial to all 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. 

Season's Greetings #3 (2025/6)

So, I am up and running (walking, limping... you get the idea) so, I will finish off the variations from normal memorial postings today.

Today's pics come from a December trip to Arizona. I went to see various illuminations in Tubac, the botanical Garden in Tucson, and the Illuminations at Tohono Chul in north western Tucson. All were worth the trip.

I did not go to photograph them, simply to enjoy, so no "good " cameras went along. 

However, some of the sights were cool enough that I had to snap a few with my phone.

Today, to kick off this new year, a few of those.

Enjoy!

Tohono Chul horse sculpture as a Reindeer

Above photo illuminated

Next time on the 11th, we will return to Kentucky and additional faces to honor, 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.