South Carolina IX

We have visited Patriots Point, near Charleston, in the past and today I want to feature names from the 896 (I have, also seen 980 from other sources) dog tags on display at this really outstanding site.

All of these names are from York, South Carolina:

Jonny Phillip Costner

SGT Jonny Costner was lost in Ninh Thuan Province "non-hostile...other causes..." on November 10, 1970. Sadly, it was reported that he took his own life.

This is the best photo I could find

On March13th 1971 SP4 Robert Good was lost in the Binh Dinh Province reports disagree about the cause of his death. Some sources report "accidental homicide" while others say, "intentional homicide...."

Abraham Harris

PVT Abraham Harris was lost at Long An on October 13, 1967, to "multiple fragmentation wounds..."

It is interesting and a little disturbing to learn that of the three soldiers lost from York, South Carolina that one was murdered and one committed suicide.

I repeatedly whine about the lack of information about our lost soldiers, but the lack of good pictures is another issue. I recall that we were all taken, during basic, to have portraits taken. Was this only at Ft. Bragg? I assumed that it was done everywhere, perhaps not. Please comment if you did or did not have a photo taken.

Next time on May 28th, we will return to South Dakota, 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 two) 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 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.

Pennsylvania XXXIV

 I posted about the relatively new memorial at Gettysburg College a while back, you can see that here.

Today, I would like to honor a few of them.

Ronald F. Thomson

Capt. Ronald Thomson did not die in Vietnam, but I think he deserves a mention here. Like all the others on this memorial plaque, he graduated from Gettysburg College. In 1960 he enlisted in the Marine Corps and actually returned from Vietnam after his tour. He became a member of the renowned Blue Angels. He was killed in a plane crash his first week with the Angels. He was originally from Hempstead, Maryland where he is buried. He died on February 2, 1967.

Edgar Brower Burchill III

CPL Edgar Burchill was on patrol in the Quang Nam Province when someone tripped a booby trap. Several were wounded and CPL Burchill and another soldier were lost. He was originally from New York and was lost on June 4, 1966.

Joseph Patrick Murphy

CAPT Murphy and his co-pilot were lost on March 24, 1967, after taking off from their aircraft carrier 36 miles from Vietnam. Both bodies were recovered; he was awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross. He was originally from Long Beach, California and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery

Next time on May 18th, we will return to Rhode Island, 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.

Oregon XXXIII

Once more I return to this great Veterans Park in Albany, Oregon. It is called the Timber-Linn Memorial Park and honors those from our 20th Century wars.

 

This rustic looking memorial to those lost in 'Nam is one of two listing the same names, although in different order. There is no explanation as to why there are two.

Today, I will highlight a few of the heroes honored here.

Rollie Lee bolden

SP4 Rollie Bolden was lost at the infamous La Drang Valley along with 151 of his fellow soldiers. He gave all on November 17, 1965, he was lost to "Small arms fire..."

Daniel F. Debotts

PSGT Daniel Debotts (I have, also, see Debottis) was among several lost to an early morning VC attack on the base camp at Quan Loi in the Binh Long Province. He was lost on July 11th, 1967.

Wright Bartwyn Hamill

PFC Wright Hamill was another lost in the La Drang fighting. He was awarded the bronze star for "gallantry in action..." I couldn't find additional information, but he was lost to "small arms fire..." on November4, 1965/

Next time on May 13th, we will return to Pennsylvania, 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.

Oklahoma XI

Kay County, Oklahoma's War Memorial is located on Main Street in Newkirk. It honors many from various wars including Vietnam.

Today, a few of our brothers:

Donald S. Allen III

SSG Donald Allen III was lost in a firefight on December 21, 1967, near Bien Hoa. He was among four lost and 15 wounded repelling a Viet Cong attack. He enlisted at 17 to follow in his Father's footsteps. His Father served in Vietnam.

James Johnson jr.

LCPL James Johnson was lost on May 11, 1967, in the Quang Tri Province. He was lost in "Hostile action... to Small Arms fire" or "Rocket, mortar, artillery" depending upon what source you read. VVMF says "Rocket, mortar, Artillery..."

Clarence Leon Rouse

SGT. Clarence Rouse was in the Dinh Toung Province when he was lost to "Hostile action...Small arms fire." I read on a site that Sgt Rouse had been awarded The Bronze Star, but have been unable to verify this

As I have lamented, so many times, it breaks my heart to be able to learn and share so little information about the brave men and women, heroes all, who gave their lives for our efforts in Vietnam.

Next time on May 8th, we will return to Oregon, 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.