Hawai'i' VII

I've recently returned from Hawai'i', where I found a small memorial west of Honolulu. It honors a story we don't hear too much about.

Back in the 60's era the National Guard was often seen as a means to avoid going to Vietnam. Rightly or wrongly, this was too often the case.

The Guard just didn't get sent to 'Nam.

Or so we thought.  

We thought wrong.

Many thousands of Guard troops ended up in 'Nam and nearly 1100 from Hawai'i from the 29th Infantry served there: 29 of them made the ultimate sacrifice.

Today, I will share their memorial and, at a future date, some of the heroes all of whom are memorialized on a wall of photos inside the building adjacent to the memorial.

 

The memorial may be found on Enterprise Street in Kapolei, about 30 min. west of Honolulu.

Next time, on September 10th, join me in Idaho. Sees you, as always, at 9:00 am.

If you have been 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 (several times now), Colleen from Pennsylvania (now three times!) Elli from Maryland and Peg and Ray from Florida (more than once!), among others have responded to my request to send me memorials you have seen in your area or from where you have traveled. I even got one from Ireland!

These generous submissions have help to expand the knowledge of how we remember and honor the men and women who served in or were lost in Vietnam.

If YOU have any such photos or knowledge about these memorials and sites not already here, I would love to know of them. Please send them along to the email address on the left side of this page and I will gladly share them here.

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

Georgia XXVI

Georgia lost some 1500+ (the 10th highest among the states.) I will honor three of them today.

Artis Wesley Anderson

PFC Artis Anderson was lot in a crossfire ambush that killed 12 and wounded an additional 19 soldiers. He was lost at Phuoc Tuy Province on May 17, 1966. Little other information seems to be available.

Gus Terry Allen

CPL Gus Allen was lost at Thua Thien. He was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor for his actions, but I could find no details of them. He was lost on July 23,1970, when hit by a mortar round.

Willie Frank Amos

PVT Willie Amos was lost at Quang Nam to "enemy fire..." He was lost on April 19, 1969.

It has been my habit lately to try to feature those from small, less well known, often overlooked places but due to some tech problems I have been unable to access many of my usual sites'. If/when these issues are corrected, I will return, at least most of the time to my usual practice.

All of these heroes were from Atlanta.

Next time, on September 5th, join me in Hawai'i' where I will tell a story that many have not heard. See you, as always, at 9:00 am.

If you have been 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 (now three times!) 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 from where you have traveled. I even got one from Ireland!

These generous submissions have help to expand the knowledge of how we remember and honor the men and women who served in or were lost in Vietnam.

If YOU have any such photos or knowledge about these memorials and sites not already here, I would love to know of them. Please send them along to the email address on the left side of this page and I will gladly share them here.

I hope all these listed here will encourage YOU to send along photos and join the group!

Florida XXIX

We return today to the site Peg and Ray sent me from Florida on a relatively recent visit. These are a few more from the National Vietnam War Museum not too far from Orlando built in 1982 and later renamed for Cpl. Larry Smedley, as previously noted.

You can see the original posts here and here.

Mock-ups of a bunker site, one of the many features at the Museum. There are a few sites I've seen around the country that try to show some of these other conditions that so many endured. It always pleases me to find sites that tell a little more of the story. Always more complex than we sometimes think.

I will post more from here as time goes on. 

The Museum is located at 3400 N. Turner Road, Orlando.

Next time, on August 31st, we will return to Georgia, so join me, as always, at 9 am.

If you have been 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 (now three times!) 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 from where you have traveled. I even got one from Ireland!

These generous submissions have help to expand the knowledge of how we remember and honor the men and women who served in or were lost in Vietnam.

If YOU have any such photos or knowledge about these memorials and sites not already here, I would love to know of them. Please send them along to the email address on the left side of this page and I will gladly share them here.

I hope all these listed here will encourage YOU to send along photos and join the group!

Delaware XXXI

Delaware has three counties and each has its own memorial. Only this one holds all the names from "The First State." Read more about it here.

Wilmington Vietnam Memorial

Today, however, I will be honoring a few from the state who made the ultimate sacrifice.

On the way to the Delaware and Maryland beaches, I always drive through Ellendale. I learned today that two of her sons were lost in Nam.

Reginald Wayne Burriss

SP4 Reginald Burriss was among several lost to "misadventure, friendly fire" Following is a report I found on VVMF's Wall of Faces.

"At 1:35 AM on August 19, 1969, the base camp of Headquarters, 3rd Brigade, U.S. 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), at a landing zone near Quan Loi in Binh Long Province, RVN, received a ground probe from an unknown-size enemy force using small arms and automatic weapons. The troopers fired back with unit weapons and were supported by artillery, helicopter gunships, and tanks from an element of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment collocated at the camp. At 2:00 AM, the enemy withdrew. Their losses were unknown. During the action, a Sheridan tank accidently fired on an American bunker near the northwest perimeter of the base. The discharged projectile was an anti-personnel “beehive” round which fires hundreds of tiny razor-sharp darts. Nine troopers were killed in the incident and another five were wounded. The lost Americans were SP4 Raymond J. Ashnault, SP4 Reginald W. Burris, PFC Gaspar Cruz-Lebron, SGT William J. Dawson, SP4 John A. Kolwyck, SP4 Jimmie Miller, PVT Joseph P. Mobus, SP4 Robert G. Solomon, and PFC Paul A. Sparks. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Tank Accident Kills 8 GIs.” Pacific Stars & Stripes, August 21, 1969."

Donald Philip Hamilton

PFC Donald Hamilton was lost on December 19, 1969, to "other explosive device" at Quang Nam.

The next town over from Ellendale on the way to those beaches is Greenwood. She, too, lost a son.

Elmer Lee Faulkner

PFC Elmer Faulkner was lost in the Quang Tri Province on June 18, 1968 to "small arms fire.'

The following is from the VVMF's Wall of Faces site.

"Operation Robin (June 2–19, 1968) was a U.S. Marine Corps operation southeast of Khe Sanh in Quang Tri Province, RVN. In late May 1968, U.S. aerial reconnaissance detected a North Vietnamese Army (NVA) supply road being constructed through the jungle from the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos parallel to, but fifteen kilometers (9.3 miles) south of, National Route QL-9 in an area known as the "Vietnam Salient" where Vietnam protrudes into Laos. Operation Robin was a two-stage operation with the 1st Marine Regiment in Operation Robin North engaging recently infiltrated NVA 88th and 102nd Regiments of the 308th Division south of QL-9, while in Operation Robin South the 4th Marine Regiment would conduct airmobile operations further south and locate and destroy the NVA supply road. In the predawn darkness of June 18th, an NVA sapper unit crawled to within 30 feet of the perimeter of a bivouacked Company K, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines near the jungle road. Preceding their assault with a mortar preparation, the enemy sprang from their positions and quickly penetrated Company K’s lines. The Marines held their ground, fighting back with artillery, aerial units, and a platoon from Company M, 3/4 to help repulse the rampaging NVA. After four hours of fighting, the Marines drove back the Communist troops. Three Douglas A-4E Skyhawks of Marine Attack Squadron 311 pounded the retreating enemy, killing many. Sporadic fighting continued through the day; the Marines engaged enemy snipers and automatic weapons emplacements left behind to cover their withdrawal. When the last resistance ended, 129 North Vietnamese lay dead in and around Company K's position. Marine casualties numbered 15 killed and 30 wounded. The lost personnel included (from H&S/3/4) Pvt James E. Degnis and LCpl Carey L. Johns; (from K/3/4) Pfc Robert L. Ball, Cpl Fergus J. Carroll, Pfc Ronald D. Fogard, Pfc William T. Gibson, LCpl Steven B. Lavigne, Cpl James M. Mathews, LCpl Elwood Owens, LCpl Rito Silva, and SSgt Albert R. Taylor II; (from M/3/4) Sgt Jose R. Moncayo and Cpl John R. Schurrer; (from A Co, 3rd Eng Bn) Pfc Elmer L. Faulkner Jr. and Pfc Calvin L. Terrell. [Sourced from coffeltdatabase.org and virtualwall.org]"

Next time, on August 26th, we will return to Florida, so join me, as always, at 9 am.

If you have been 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 (now three times!) 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 from where you have traveled. I even got one from Ireland!

These generous submissions have help to expand the knowledge of how we remember and honor the men and women who served in or were lost in Vietnam.

If YOU have any such photos or knowledge about these memorials and sites not already here, I would love to know of them. Please send them along to the email address on the left side of this page and I will gladly share them here.

I hope all these listed here will encourage YOU to send along photos and join the group!

Connecticut XX

There is an interesting story about how the Connecticut Vietnam memorial came to be. One woman's determination eventually led to the honor of many. Take a moment and read about it here.

Connecticut Vietnam memorial, Coventry

Today, I will honor a few from Connecticut: 

Gerald Lee Bourdeau

PFC Gerald Bourdeau was lost in Tay Ninh Province on November 6th, 1966, to "small arms fire." He was on a Search and Destroy mission when unseen enemy opened up with machine gun fire. It was so dark that night that it was nearly impossible to return fire as the solders could not determine exactly where the enemy was located. Six others were lost on this mission.

Robert Jonh Leska

SGT Robert Leska was lost on May 5, 1968, in Binh Dinh Province to "burns" received from a surprise rocket attack. He was awarded a bronze Star for "Meritorious Service."

Stephen Grady Peck

SP4 Stephen Peck was lost on March 6, 1967, in the Binh Dinh Province to "small arms fire." He was a Forward Observer, an extremely dangerous job, and was lost on a mission as were so many FOs. Several others were also lost on this mission on this day

These three were all from Trumball, Connecticut.

Next time, on August 21st, we will return to Delaware, so join me, as always, at 9 am.

If you have been 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 (now three times!) 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 from where you have traveled. I even got one from Ireland!

These generous submissions have help to expand the knowledge of how we remember and honor the men and women who served in or were lost in Vietnam.

If YOU have any such photos or knowledge about these memorials and sites not already here, I would love to know of them. Please send them along to the email address on the left side of this page and I will gladly share them here.

I hope seeing all these listed here will encourage YOU to send along photos and join the group! 

Colorado XLVI

Those from Colorado had an unexpected hero who led the fight for their recognition and honor. Today, I will tell what I can about three who are honored by his efforts, but you can read more about him here.

Colorado Vietnam Memorial, Pueblo.

Stanley Loyd Baker

LCPL Stanley Baker was killed when his convoy was ambushed in Thuy Thein. He was lost to "Artillery, rocket, or mortar..." He was lost on February 7, 198. He is buried at Ft. Logan National Cemetery in Colorado.

Jerry Lee Borgans

PFC Jerry Borgans was killed instantly while attempting to secure a bridge site over a river in Phuoc Long. He was lost on March 13, 1967, and his buried at Ft. Logan, too.

Ronald Coleman Toth

LCPL Ronald Toth was lost to "small arms fire" in the Quang Tri Province. He was lost o September 7, 1967. He is buried at Ft. Logan.

All three of these lost heroes were from Westminster, Colorado which is just north of Denver.

Next time, on August 16th, we will return to Connecticut, 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 ed in Neillsville. The site was chosen because the and I will gladly share them here. 

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

California LII

Someone sent me a picture from, California and asked if I was aware of the site. I recognized it immediately as one I visited years ago. I was sure I had posted about it but discovered that I must have only thought about doing so, as it is nowhere to be found here.

 

About 11 miles slightly Northeast of Sacramento, Carmichael claims to have the first Vietnam memorial in California. It is located in the Koobs Nature Area which must have been closed on the day I ventured there. I couldn't find a way in.

I ended up climbing a fence to gain access. (Boy, are those days behind me!) I've since read that the site has limited access, so that may have been my problem.

Students at La Sierra High School wanted to pay tribute to their fallen classmates and constructed the memorial in a metal shop class.

 

Originally dedicated to 14, 15 when I visited, and I have recently learned that the total is now, 18. Changes in the number of honored at these sites change all the time as new information is found. For those who may not know, names are added to The Wall in DC on a regular basis. One wonders if we will ever reach the end.

 

I remember reading somewhere that the memorial is actually made from mining equipment but have been unable to verify that. 

Great job from a bunch of thoughtful, dedicated High school kids.

Next time, on August 11th, we will return to Colorado, so join me, as always, at 9 am.

If you have been 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 (now three times!) 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 from where you have traveled. I even got one from Ireland!

These generous submissions have help to expand the knowledge of how we remember and honor the men and women who served in or were lost in Vietnam.

If YOU have any such photos or knowledge about these memorials and sites not already here, I would love to know of them. Please send them along to the email address on the left side of this page and I will gladly share them here.

I hope seeing all these listed here will encourage YOU to send along photos and join the group!