Alaska XV

Alaska Vietnam memorial, Anchorage.

It is always difficult for me to choose just which pictures of the Alaska Vietnam Memorial to feature. It is such a magnificent site that no one pic can come close to doing it justice. to see additional pictures, please go here and here. A magnificent tribute to the 57 Alaskans who "gave all" in 'Nam.

Today, a little more honor for a couple of them.

Michael Dean Banta

PFC Michael Banta died in combat three days before his 21st birthday. In his brief, heroic live he was awarded two Bronze stars: One for Valor and one for Merit. He was lost on October2, 1970 to "small arms fire..." at Phouc Long.

David Henry Elisovsky

SGT David Elisovsky was on a mission to "check out" a village for V. C during the 1966 Tet cease fire. While there, they were ambushed by the Viet Cong. David was lost on January 23, 1966, near Tuy Hoa.

David Alan Lape

WO1 David Lape was lost while attempting to reach his helicopter at Sok Trang. He was killed by a mortar round explosion on November 27, 1967.

All of these men were from Cordova, Alaska.

Next time, on July 27th, we will return to Arizona, 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.