New York XXXIII

This small, local memorial in Port Jervis, New York honors ten from the area including two who were MIAs.

Today, a few of them.

Peter Paul Bohnwagner

SGT Peter Bohnwagner was lost October 26, 1970, at Lam Dong to small arms fire.

Thomas J. Case

PFC Thomas Case was lost on May 9, 1967, to an "explosive device" at Quang Nam.

Peter H. Garms

PFC Peter Garms was born in Port Jervis but grew up in Pennsylvania. He was lost 5 days after arriving in 'Nam in a training accident with a hand grenade. He was destined to be a clerk. Tragic: as were all the losses.

Next time on 18th, we will return to North Carolina, so join me there, 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.

New York XXIV

I happened into Port Jervis, New York after a PBS radio interview about this Vietnam Memorial project. It happened to be a day of come celebration as there was a soap box derby race and other festivities taking place. All really hometown and great fun, except, perhaps, for finding a parking space.

The Veterans Memorial Park is located directly in front of the church for which Stephen Crane's father was the pastor and within the park is a memorial to those lost in the Civil War. Crane lived in Port Jervis for a time.

 

Veterans Memorial Park.

 

Within the park there is also a Vietnam memorial. Consisting of two separate pieces it joins memorials to many other wars including the Revolutionary War which is the most recent placement. 

This piece lists the local men who served and highlights with a star the one who was lost.

The second piece is catalogues history. When I first saw it several soap box derby racers were parked directly behind it.

We now know that these numbers have been corrected through an audit by DoD and The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, but these are very close to being accurate. I especially like to see that they have included the correct years, most memorials and many people don't, choosing to use the more widely accepted, though incorrect, 1959 to '75 or, often, the years that reflect when the first soldier from a given site was lost. I have even seen as late as 1978 as the end of the war. So, again, good job to those who created this marker.

As many of you know, I take a week or two off from writing about memorials at the holiday season, so come back on the 21st to see different pics from different places. Could be Alaska or the southwest desert, or some other unusual site. Join me then at 9:00am, as always for something different.

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