Missouri XII

So, as is happening far too often lately I am late with this post. Without trying to make excuses, I just have not felt very well since around New Years. Nothing major, just seemingly run down. Advancing age perhaps.

Anyway, today we return to Missouri to honor a few of her lost heroes.

Kirkland has two memorials. One to those who served and one to those lost. They differentiate on the one to the lost as to whether it was in combat or by other means. Not the details, per se, but grouped separately. In addition, MIAs are listed in a third grouping.

Today, a few of the lost from combat.

John W. Goeglen

Maj. Goeglen was a pilot on one of the several "Jolly Green Giants" famous throughout 'Nam. (IYKYK)

His chopper was shot down on a rescue mission in Laos. No remains were ever recovered. He was awarded the "Distinguished Flying Cross."

Martin Biondi

Sp4 Biond was lost on March 19, 1968, at Gia Dinh to "fragmentation" wounds. This is the sum total of what I can find. If you have further information or resources, I would love to know.

Jerome Rawlings

SP4 Jerome Rawlings and SP5 Manuel Moore were military policemen serving with the 4th MP Company. On April 30, 1968, they and two other MP’s were ambushed with small arms fire while conducting civil affairs duties in a supposedly friendly Montagnard village outside of Camp Enari in Pleiku Province, RVN. The following is a personal account of the incident by Michael P. May: On April 30, 1968, three months after the Tet Offensive, the NVA shelled Camp Enari. As usual, we grabbed our weapons, flak jackets, and steel pots and ran to the DTOC (Division Tactical Operations Center). Sometime after that, someone gave the all clear. As we walked toward the Company area, Jerome commented that even if we got hit again, he had made his last dash from there to the DTOC. He explained that he was going on his last civil affairs mission that day. He would then spend the next couple of days processing out of the MP Company and out of Vietnam which he was scheduled to leave for good on May 5, 1968. He never made it. That morning, April 30, Jerome left Camp Enari through its south gate accompanied by SP5 Manuel (Sweetpea) Moore and Curtis Spivey. They never made it to their destination, the Montagnard village whose people they were trying to help. They encountered an ambush. In the course of trying to help his Montagnards, Jerome Rawlings died. So did Sweetpea, with whom I traveled to Vietnam from Oakland Army Base. (Narrative by Michael P. May) [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and thewall-usa.com]

I reprint this story because, as many of you know, I bitch all the time about the lack of information available about these fallen heroes, so when I actually find something, I want to tell their story.

Next time, on March 5th, we will return to Montana 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.

New Jersey XIV

The memorial here began as a single stone honoring those who served and the four from the area that were lost in WWII.

At some later date, a second stone was added to give the same recognition and honor to those who were lost in Korea and Vietnam.

As recently as 2008 there were only two names on the second monument, one from Korea and one from Vietnam.

As you can see, this has changed significantly.

This painted stone was left, probably by a child, for someone they might have never met.

The small, lovely, park is a very pleasant and calming place to visit and honor these brave patriots.

The memorial is located in the Kirkwood area of Voorhoos, near the intersection of Spruce Drive and Burnt Mills Road near the fire station.

Next time, on the 14th, we'll stay in the slip across the river to New York. Meet me there, as usual, at 9:00am.

To see other memorials from New Jersey, or any other state, please click the state name on the left side of this page.

Missouri IX

On a corner,in Kirkwood, Mo., among many trees are several memorials to various wars.

This one, to our Fathers and Grandfathers, caught my attention, first.

Further exploration discovered this one to our fellow soldiers. The delineations are interesting here. You rarely see such groupings as these.

Just wandering around turned up this, presumably, older memorial to those lost. It seems to be exactly the same as the newer, larger one. They both remember and honor the 10 from the area that were lost.

 Kirkwood is about 13 miles southwest of St. Louis and the memorial is located between city Hall and the RR tracks. near the intersection of S. Kirkwood road and Argonne Drive.

Again, very little available info. about this site. as always, let me know, if you know.

Next time, on the 21st, we will take another look at Nebraska, so, join me there,as always, at 9:00am.

To see other memorials from Missouri, or any other state, click the state name on the left side of this page,