Idaho XI

While searching through my many photos for something new to post I began looking in folders that i thought were complete.

I came across those from my visit to Mountain Home AFB in Idaho and decided to take one more look at what was there. I found just a couple that I liked and decided to share them with you today.

I am always attracted to flags and this one from under the wing of an aircraft with the beautiful autumn colors still somewhat on the trees just appealed to me. You might be surprised about how difficult it is to get three flags unfurled like this in a photo!

This F-111is the last of the several I photographed here. As you can see from the adjacent plaque it flew over 'Nam, Cambodia, and participated in the Mayaguez incident. This display plane is honored with the tail numbers of the first F-111 to be lost in 'Nam.

 

 

Again a flag shot that I like. the plane featured in this and the opening shot on the page can be found featured in an earlier posting from Idaho. Check it out by clicking on Idaho on the left side of this page and scrolling through 'til you find it.

Next time, on the 22nd, we will revisit Louisiana, so join me there, as always, at 9:00am.

 

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

Delaware XIX

I have traveled to Delaware on a couple of occasions to find and photograph this memorial. One time, I just could not run down exactly where it was, the next time having resolved that issue, I found that the common area was closed to all due to some kind of construction. This time, more determined than ever, I followed my GPS instructions to the letter only to find, once again, the way blocked by tarp covered fencing.

 

 

After driving around trying to find access to the area I was about to throw in the towel once again. But, I pulled back into the closed area and noticed a door open to the maintenance facility. I wondered in and this really nice guy explained where it was and even took me through some buildings to show me how to get to it. He said he would not chance just leaving my car where it was as it might be ticketed or towed.

I drove around some more with a better feeling for what I was looking for and found some metered parking. I left the car and headed out and before too very long I had found the Memorial Hall. I knew I was in the right area and wandered around to the north side of the building and, finally located the stone and metal marker.

 

 

It is quite small but is unique in its wording as you will see.

 

I have never seen the use of the words "Asian conflicts" on any other memorial. I am not quite sure that the Persian Gulf qualifies as an Asian conflict, but...

 

I traveled on in Delaware to find other sites but was just plain out of luck. The last on was on Dover AFB but was closed by the time I arrived, so another time I'll venture back.

Next time, on the 17th, we will return to Idaho, so join me there at 9:00am.

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

California XXXVII

California as demonstrated here as many, many memorials to those who served in the Vietnam war. with a population of roughly 40 million people, perhaps this should not be a surprise. While searching out sites, I ended up in Westlake Village which is in Los Angeles County, but practically on the border with Ventura County.

A relatively small area with a population of under 10,000, it is quite wealthy and a number of very wealthy and well known individuals call it home.

I could find no specific Vietnam memorial but ran across this beautiful cemetery and decided to check it out.

 

 

The POW/MIA flag caught my attention and I thought that perhaps there was a memorial here.

This turned out to not be the case but I did come across a number of grave sites for some of our comrades.

 

 

The arches in the center of the many sites have an eternal flame which sadly you cannot actually see in this pic.

 

As I was preparing to leave, I ran across this marker and while not quite a memorial it stills feels powerful.

 

So, the visit turned out to be quite moving. the name of the cemetery is The Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park and can be found at 5600 Liydero Canyon Road in Westlake village.

 

Next time, on the 12th, I hope to have been back to Delaware, so join me there, as always, at 9:00am.

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

Virginia XXIV

Spotsylvania, Virginia Courthouse is located at 9101 Courthouse Road. I place this first on this post because I had such a hard time locating this memorial. The GPS, without the actual street address, drove me around and around and around the area before actually locating the site.

 

 

The memorial is dedicated to many and was placed by the American Legion in 1969. This would have made it a rather early memorial if Vietnam had been included at the time.

 

 

Added at some time later, these heroes seem almost an afterthought. Perhaps they were waiting to see what the actual count would end up being. That does not seem unreasonable to me, but one would think that they might have been added in the same manner as the others here. Virginia is steeped in history and while trying to find information, any information, on this site, I came across hundreds of memorials to the Civil War and those lost, but virtually none to these. Maybe it takes a hundred years.

 

 

Next time, on the 7th, we will return to California, so join me there at 9:00am.

 

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

Pennsylvania XXXV

I have posted from Bedford before and you can find that post elsewhere on this site. I returned because I learned that an addition was made to the existing memorial.

The addition is a tribute to Robert Hartsock. He was a dog handler who in an act of unimaginable courage and love threw himself on a satchel bomb to protect others. He survived the blast and lay down additional fire to protect his comrades. He died while still firing his weapon. His dog, Duke, died along side him.

 

 

This, alone is quite a story, but as I started reading up on him, it became even more interesting.

It seems West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania all claim he is a native son.. It does seem that he went to Everette High School near Bedford, at least according to the local newspaper. I have been unable to determine where he was actually born.

 

 

The statue sits in the Bedford Veterans Grove directly across from the courthouse, on Julianna Street, in Bedford.

 

 

One of the reasons it was placed where it was is that the town realized that many visitors walked up to the existing memorial and then walked on, they never looked at the back where many names are listed.

One of the more interesting features of the monument is the circular impressions on its base. Vietnam veterans from the area were asked to come and put their thumbprints in the design. I have never seen anything quite like this in a memorial before.

A film was made about Bob Hartsock called Forgotten Heroes: The Robert Hartsock Story (2019) - IMDb , that you can find several places on the internet, including obviously IMDb above.

Robert Hartsock was awarded the Medal of Honor, the only dog handler to ever receive the nation's highest military honor.

Next time, on the 1st of October, we will return to Virginia. Meet me there, as usual, at 9:00am.

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

Maryland XXXII

On a visit to Williamsport to see my granddaughter perform in a concert at the local American Legion, I discovered that right outside the building was a memorial. It consists of several components including one to Vietnam. 

It was late when we were there so I made a trip back specifically to see and record the memorial.

The statue had just been placed and was the reason for the concert mentioned above.

 

 

The soldier is edged by several markers, each to a different war.

 

Note the dates here as in so many places they differ from the actual dates of the war.

 

 

There are no names here and one hopes that means no one from this town was actually lost and that this is just an honorarium to all who served. Sadly, a little research shows that this is not the case. LCPL. Kenneth Lamar Deavers jr. and PFC John Franklin Hutzell were both lost. 

R.I.P.

As is often the case, someone has visited and left a memento. I find is comforting that people still remember and care.

Next time, on the 21st, we will return to Pennsylvania, so meet me there at 9:00am.

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

Delaware XVIII

Fewer than ten miles northeast of Wilmington, right along the Delaware river, is Claymont.

In the news recently for the dedication of a beautiful memorial to those lost in the GWOT, the town also has a POW/MIA memorial.

Located on Commonwealth Avenue near E. Brandywine, it rests in the middle of the median strip. I find this just a little odd and can find no information about its placement or history.

Simplicity itself and yet still dignified and important.

While not actually Vietnam specific the whole POW/MIA issue seems to have grown out of the Vietnam war and these memorials will always scream 'Nam to me.

Next time, on the 21st, we will return to Maryland, so meet me there, as always, at 9:00am.

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