Michigan XVIII

Sorry about today's post time delay, sometimes things just don't go as planned. Hope to better next time!

Michigan, as previously mentioned, is one of several states with, at least, two major "Official" memorials. One is located in Ann Arbor near the Capitol and the other is in Mt. Pleasant. Each is worthy of a visit. 

You can preview them here, here, and here.

Today, however, I am going to highlight some of Michigan's heroes from a smaller site: Freedom Hill County Park in Macomb County.

Leonard Michael Ackerman

EO3 Ackerman was transporting Marines between sites in Quang Nam Province when the truck he was driving hit a 100lb land mine. He was lost on March 20, 1970, and all 13 of his passengers were wounded.

 

 

Charles Leroy Baldwin

Capt. Baldwin was lost on August 27, 1969 at Phouc Long. His loss is attributed to "Hostile small arms fire." Once again, I decry the lack of information available about these men and women who gave their lives to this war. They deserve more and the lack of information just seems disrespectful to me. Just for one example, I have spent a couple of hours today trying to track down this story and you see above everything I have found.

 

Robert Charles Benoit

 

SGT Benoit was lost in the Binh Long Province on September 7, 1969. He was lost to"explosive device" as is all too often the case this is all I can find about ANOTHER who gave all for very little remembrance.

 

And, while I am whining about this stuff, what is with so many of the photos? Many are not good. Don't I remember the Army marching us all over for "Official" photos ? Surely, they are available.

 

Next time, on February 10th, we will return to Minnesota 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.

Michigan XVII

I return to Michigan to honor a couple more of those lost in our efforts in 'Nam. These three were among those listed at a memorial I chanced upon in Macomb County. 

You can see the original posts here and here.

It saddens me to say that this is the only picture VVMFs Wall of Faces seems to have. It will have to do, I suppose, but it in no way diminishes his sacrifice, service or heroism.

 

These are but three honored here. I will post others in the not too distant future.

These are all located in Freedom Hill County Park, along 16 Mile Road in Macomb County, Michigan.

Next time, on the 11th of May, we will venture, again, to Minnesota to honor a few of the fallen, so, join me, as always, 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.

Michigan VIII

Last time, Michigan VII, I promised to post a few more from this great site in Freedom Hill County Park.

This was the first time I have seen this particular information; losses categorized by Unit. And, rarely do you see the number of women who served listed, note that one of the 8 women killed in 'Nam was from Michigan.

If you follow this site with any regularity, you have heard me complain, on a couple of occasions, about the use of non-Vietnam era helmets on The Field Cross. Well, they did it right here. Good job, folks.

Those lost are featured on individual bricks too, while others, who were not lost, are honored on bricks of different colors. This, too, is something I have not seen before this visit.

A final pic of a Vietnam Service Ribbon that was placed upon the pole that supports the Huey at the site. Makes sense tome as I believe that there is no other more iconic image of the war than the Huey.

Next time, we will travel to Minnesota to see a small town memorial there. So, please join me on the 2nd of August, as always, at 9:00am.

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

Michigan VII

A Phantom II, a Huey, and a wall of names. These are all located in Freedom Hill County Park, along 16 Mile Road in Macomb County, Michigan.

The 149 honored here will be forever remembered by family, friends, loved ones, and anyone who happens upon this solemn remembrance.

Sponsored, largely, by VVA Chapter 154, there are several components here that should be noted. In addition to the aircraft, there is the marker with a soldiers words upon it, a marker to those lost to their wounds, physical or otherwise at a later time.

Many quotes are often included at these sites. In fact, you see the same ones in many places,This one, however, seems to be unique.

I suspect that no one foresaw the havoc that Agent Orange and other calamities that would befall vets, but we need to keep reminding those who make decisions to send other peoples sons and daughters to war of what the real cost may be.

Next time, on the 28th, I will post a few more interesting elements of this site. So, join me, as usual, at 9:00am.

To see other sites from Michigan, or any other state, click the state name on the left side of this page.