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.