Birth 21JUN47 Rank SP4 Date of Death 02APR67 P. of birth Snoqualmie Service Army (Draft) Place Binh Dinh, S. Vietnam Town of Record Fall City Unit 1st Cav Div, B Trp, 1st Sqdr, 9th Cav Death Code Hostile, Died; Ground Casualty; Gun, Small Arms Fire Hometown   service # 56421527 Panel 17EAST - 91 married Married MIA -   Medals   Comment   Tour Date 30Sep66 Cemetery Fall City Cem., Fall City WA

Remembrance He was a young restless kid. He was a friend of my sister-in-law and would hang out at my house as a teenager. I remember when he went into the service and when he and his wife, Sharon Haug Montgomery were married, and I remember that he didn't come home. I went to his funeral. What do you say. He was a good, typical 18 year old kid who thought he was doin' right. I'll never get back to Washington DC to see his name...
Tom Brice, Remembrance given at Tulalip Tribes Moving Wall... August 2005

Robert Montgomery
      Sp4c. Robert Allen Montgomery of Fall City died 2 Apr (1967) at the age of 19 while on duty in Vietnam.
      Born in Snoqualmie, he had lived in the Fall City Community 19 years. He was graduated from Mount Si high school in 1965 where he lettered in football, basketball and track.
      Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. 10 Apr (1967) at Snoqualmie Methodist Church, under the direction of Green's Chapel of the Valley, Redmond. Interment was in Cedar Lawn Memorial Park.
      He is survived by his wife, Sharon; his father, Alton Montgomery of Auburn; his mother, Mrs. Mary Montgomery of Seattle; two sisters, Roberta and Kay Montgomery, both of Auburn; his grandmother, Mrs. Mattie Montgomery of New Mexico. (East Side Journal, Kirkland, Wednesday, 12 Par 1967)

Donald Fredrick THULIN

Birth 21DEC46 Rank PFC Date of Death 04APR67 P. of birth Vancouver Service Army (Draft) Place Binh Dinh, S. Vietnam Town of Record Vancouver Unit 1st Cav Div, B Co, 1st Bn, 7th Cav Death Code Hostile, Died; Ground Casualty; Misadventure Hometown   service # 56928088 Panel 17EAST - 101 married Single MIA -   Medals   Tour Date 18FEB67 Comment ranger25.com Cemetery

Don Thulin Latest Clark War Casualty
    Donald F. Thulin, 20, has become the 8th casualty with local ties to die in Vietnam.
    Pfc.1C Thulin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur H. Thulin, 7821 N. E. 99th St., Vancouver, had been with the U. S. Army in Vietnam a little more than a month when he was fatally injured 4 Jul (1967).
    He was returning to camp from a patrol when the unit was hit by friendly artillery fire from U. S. ships off shore. Exact location of the tragedy was not given the family, nor was the fate of the other 20 to 30 men with Thulin on the patrol.
    The family was personally notified here Thursday morning. According to the report given the incident occurred in a clearing at 10 o'clock the evening of 4 Apr (1967).
    Thulin was born 21 Oct 1946, in Vancouver and had lived his entire life here. He graduated in 1966 from Battle Ground High School
    FFA MEMBER A member of the St. Johns Catholic Church, he also was active in the Future Farmers of America chapter in Battle Ground during school.
    Thulin was a carrier for The Columbian for three years.
    The young man was drafted 7 Sep 1966, and arrived in Vietnam in February. In a letter to his family on 18 Mar (1967) he noted that he had just "11 more months to go."
    Thulin was stationed with the first Battalion, Seventh Cavalry.
    In addition to his parents, he is survived by four brothers, Ernest and Daniel of Vancouver and Andrew and Roger at home; and four sisters, the Misses Elain, Thresa, Della and Eyvonne, all of the home. A grandmother, Mrs. Mary E. Carey of Newport OR, also survives.
    Funeral services will be announced later from the Vancouver funeral chapel.
    As the 8th Vietnam casualty, Thulin also is the 4th since this January. Four other men from this area died during the full 12 months of 1966.
    Vietnam casualties to date are Roy F. Harbison, 5 Mar 1966; Arthur H. Dyvig Jr., 25 Jul 1966; John J. Nussbaumer, 26 Oct 1966; Michael Moore, 30 Oct 1966; Harvey C. Harris, 10 Jan 1967; Monte V. Thomas, 21 Mar 1967; Edwin Sidney Garber, 31 Mar 1967; and Thulin 4 Apr (1967) (The Columbian, Vancouver WA, 7 Apr 1968)

Kenneth Martin KESSINGER

Birth 21MAY45 Rank CPL Date of Death 05APR67 P. of birth   Service Marines Place Quang Ngai, S. Vietnam Town of Record Govan Unit G Co, 2d Bn, 7th Mar, 1st Mar Div Death Code Hostile, Died; Helicopter Noncrew; Air Loss, Crash on Land Hometown   service # 2148170 Panel 17EAST - 105 married Single Link Popasmoke.com Medals   Comment   Tour Date   Cemetery Pines Cem., Spokane WA

Marines who died
  CREW Capt Alan James Dean, Co-Pilot; HM1 Thomas Aquinas Parker, Corpsman-Crew; Cpl Joseph Allen Scruggs, Crew; Capt Brooke McKay Shadburne, Pilot;
 PASSENGERS HN Glenn Truman Bristow, Corpsman 2/7 1st MarDiv; LCpl Robert Francis Cote, Passenger G/2/7 1stMarDiv; Sgt Ernest Bryan Cupp, Passenger G/2/7 1stMarDiv; PFC Bert Guerra III, Passenger G/2/7 1stMarDiv; HM2 Michael M Kauffman II, Corpsman-Pass 2/7 1st MarDiv: Cpl Kenneth Martin Kessinger, Passenger G/2/7 1stMarDiv; Moore, Leonard Irvin LCpl Passenger G/2/7 1stMarDiv; 2nd Lt Richard Toepritz, Passenger G/2/7 1stMarDiv;
  This was a Medivac. A Marine was injuried by a mine and the eyewitness said that the helicopter was hovering over the LZ because of the danger of mines. As a group of marines were loading the wounded marine onto the helicopter there was an explosion which destroyed the helicopter, its crew, the men aboard, and the most of the men on the ground. A second larger explosion (a 500lb bomb) took out Marines who were coming to the rescue. Much more information about this event available at Pop A Smoke.com

Kenneth Miles CROUT

Birth 19MAR45 Rank PFC Date of Death 07APR67 P. of birth Olympia Service Army (Draft) Place Tay Ninh, S. Vietnam Town of Record Olympia Unit 1st Inf Div, Co C, 2nd BN, 16th Regiment Death Code Hostile, Died; Ground Casualty;Gun, Small Arms Fire Hometown Olympia service # 36956851 Panel 17EAST - 115 married Single MIA -   Medals   Comment   Tour Date 6Mar67 Cemetery

Kenneth Miles Crout was killed in action in Vietnam last Friday. Kenneth Miles Crout was born in Olympia 19 Mar 1945, and had lived in this area most of his life. He had worked for the South Gate Builders Supply before entering the Army 26 Sep 1966. He attended Tumwater Grade School, Olympia High School and Tumwater High School. Surviving are his mother, Mrs. Caro Jones, Seattle: three sisters: Mrs. William [Barbara] Chilton, Kalispell MT. Mrs. Larry [Jo Anne] Suelzle, Banning CA, and Mrs. Al [Betty Joe] Pflaster, Hayward CA: a stepsister, Charletta Jones; a stepbrother, Ronnie F Jones, Seattle; and his grandmother, Mrs. Fannie Patten, Olympia. The funeral service will be announced later by Selene and Eros. (Daily Olympian, Olympia WA 11 Apr 67)

David Wayne LAURITSEN

Birth 23JUN47 Rank PFC Date of Death 08APR67 P. of birth   Service Army Place S. Vietnam Town of Record Seattle Unit 1st Cav Div, B Btry, 2nd Bn, 17th Arty Death Code Non-Hostile, Died; Ground Casualty; Drowned, Suffocated Hometown   service # 18974297 Panel 17EAST - 124 married Single MIA -   Medals   Comment   Tour Date   Cemetery     Chief Sealth High School, Seattle WA, 1966

Howard Lloyd LEROY Jr.

Birth 26MAY47 Rank LCPL Date of Death 08APR67 P. of birth Portland OR Service Marines Place Quang Nam, S. Vietnam Town of Record Vancouver Unit F Co, 2nd Bn, 4th Mar, 3rd Div Death Code Hostile, Died; Ground Casualty; Artillery, Rocket, Mortar Hometown   service # 2231319 Panel 17EAST - 123 married Single MIA -   Medals   Comment   Tour Date   Cemetery Willamette National Cem., Portland OR

H. L. LeRoy Ninth County War Victim
    Another victim of the Vietnam war was added to Clark County's list of war dead Tuesday when the Marine Corps officially confirmed the death in action of Lance Cpl. Howard Lloyd LeRoy Jr., 19 of Vancouver.
    LeRoy's death in the war was the second this month of Clark County members of the armed forces, and the fifty this year. Added to the four reported in all of 1966, the death toll for this area now stands at nine.
    According to the Marine Corps announcement, LeRoy was killed last Saturday while on patrol near Quan Nam. He reportedly died from fragmentation wounds caused by a Viet Cong mortar shell.
    The son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard L LeRoy of 2905 Weigel Ave., he had been in the Marines since 11 Feb 1966 and had been in Vietnam since last August. He was a machine gunner with a unit of the Fourth Marine Regiment.
    Time Swapped By a twist of fate, the young Leatherneck was on patrol when he was to have been out of the combat zone for a period of rest and recreation (R&R) according to his father, who said his son swapped his R&R with another Marine so he could go later. The senior LeRoy said the Mrs. LeRoy had just completed plans and made reservations to meet her son in Hawaii on R&R when news of his death came.
    LeRoy was born 26 May 1947 in Portland, but the family moved to Vancouver when he was about a year old. He attended Fort Vancouver High School, but was graduated from Pensacola (FL) High School.
    Survivors in addition to his parents, include a brother, Stanley, at home, and his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. F. C. McGraw of Pensacola FL.
    The Marine's body is expected to be brought back from overseas in about two weeks when funeral services will be held from Hamilton -Mylan Funeral Home. (The Columbian, Vancouver WA, 12 Apr 1967)

John Harry PERDUE

Birth 22OCT46 Rank PFC Date of Death 08APR67 P. of birth Missoula MT Service Army (Draft) Place Hua Nghia, S. Vietnam Town of Record Tacoma Unit 25th Inf Div, A Co, 4th Bn, 9th Inf Death Code Hostile, Died; Ground Casualty; Multiple Fragmentation Wounds Hometown   service # 56956604 Panel 17EAST - 127 married Single MIA -   Medals   Comment   Tour Date 22Feb67 Cemetery     Woodrow Wilson High School, Tacoma WA, 1965

Army Pfc. John Harry Perdue, 20, of 1204 Del Monte Ave., Fircrest, who was killed Saturday in Vietnam had served overseas since January. He was born at Missoula MT and moved to Tacoma in 1948. Pfc. Perdue was a graduate of Wilson High School and attended Olympic College in Bremerton. Survivors include his mother, Mrs. Ruth Meixner, of the home; his father, James L., of Arlington VA; two brothers, Todd Adam Meixner of the home, and James Richard Perdue, of the U. S. Navy; two sisters, Miss Anne Perdue, of Seattle, and Miss Lizbeth Ruth Meixner, of the home; his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Westbrook, of Olympia and Mr. and Mrs. James Adams, of Fircrest; and a great-grandmother, Mrs. DeLa Brown, of Tacoma. Services will be announced by Mountain View Funeral Home. (Tacoma News Tribune, Tacoma WA, 12 Apr 1967)

Jeffrey Allan 'Herbie' SCHWEIKL

Birth 09JUL48 Rank PFC Date of Death 08APR67 P. of birth   Service Marines Place Quang Nam, S. Vietnam Town of Record Enumclaw Unit Co F, 2/4th Mar, 3rd Mar Div Death Code Hostile, Died; Ground Casualty;Artillery, Rocket, Mortar Hometown   service # 2251130 Panel 17EAST - 129 married Single MIA -   Medals   Comment   Tour Date   Cemetery     Enumclaw High School, Enumclaw WA, 1965

Vietnam War Takes Life of Enumclaw Man
    The reality and poignancy of war reached into the Enumclaw community over the weekend when Mr. and Mrs. Robert Schweikl, route 3, Enumclaw were officially notified by the U.S.Marine Corps that their son, Jeffry, 18, had been killed in action in Viet Nam on Saturday 8 Apr (1967).
    Young Schweikl was a graduate of the Enumclaw High School Class of 1966. He would have been 19 years of age in July. He joined the Marine Corps on 12 Aug 1966 and left the United States for Viet Nam in January, 1967.
    Meager information available from the Marine Corps at the time of going to press indicated that Jeffry was on patrol in the Quang Nan area of the jungle country when he and his comrades became the targets of Viet Cong mortar fire.
    Besides his father and mother, young Schweikl was two sisters at the family home in Enumclaw, Cynthia, 15, a sophomore at Enumclaw High School and Rhonda, 10, a student at J. J. Smith Elementary School.
    Marine Corps officials have announced that young Schweikl body will be sent home to Enumclaw although the date of arrival is not immediately known. (Enumclaw Courier-Herald, Enumclaw, Thursday 13 Apr 1967)

Lloyd Palmer STEARNS

Birth 13APR46 Rank SGT Date of Death 08APR67 P. of birth   Service Army (Draft) Place Binh Dinh, S. Vietnam Town of Record Yakima Unit 1st Cav Div, B Co, 5th Bn 7th Cav Death Code Hostile, Died; Ground Casualty; Multiple Fragmentation Wounds Hometown Olga, Orcas Island service # 56390700 Panel 17EAST - 129 married Married MIA -   Medals Silver Star Comment   Tour Date 2AUG66 Cemetery Olga Cem., Olga, Orcas Island WA Orcas Island High School, Orcas Island 1968 yearbook dedicated to him

Viet Nam Casualty
    Sgt. Lloyd Palmer Stearns, 1st Cav. Div., USA, was killed in action 8 Apr (1967) at An Khe, Viet Nam.
    Burial services with full military honors were held 19 Apr (1967) in Eastsound on Orcas Island. Interment was at the Olga Cemetery at Olga WA.
    Sgt. Stearns was born at Providence Hospital in Everett 13 Apr 1946, at which time his parents were living in Granite Falls. He went into service 25 Oct 1965, and took his training at Fort Carson CO. He had been serving in Viet Nam for nine months. Sgt. Stearns expressed himself many times as strongly believing in what he was fighting for.
    He is survived by his wife, Mary; his parents, Palmer and Inez Stearns; and brother, Edwin, all of Olga; two sisters, Martha Gusdal of Everett, Edith Wickberg of Seattle; his grandmother, Helen Wiley of Granite Falls; and a number of aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews.
    Friends were asked to omit flowers, but if they do desired to contribute to a memorial to Sgt. Stearns which has been set up. Any one interested could leave his contribution at the Olga store.
    Lloyd's father was born in this area and went to school here when classes were held in what is now the Granville Grange. as a young man he went to California where he met and married Inez Wiley. They returned to Granite Falls in 1941 with two small daughters. They had lived on the James place, on the River Road, and on the Russian Road. Mr. Stearns worked in the rock quarry here until it ran out of good rock. The family then moved to Maple Falls and, when Lloyd was six months old, to Orcas where Mr. Stearns is still employed at the rock quarry.
    Lloyd was on the Orcas basketball team and played against Granite Falls several times. His parents hosted part of Granite Falls team when they played at Orcas. Lloyd was a frequent visitor at his grandmother's home in Granite Falls and became well acquainted with the students on Granite Falls High School that time.
    Lloyd graduated from Orcas High School in 1964.
Granite Falls Press, Granite Falls WA, Thursday 11 May 1967

Remembrance of pictures, obituary, and newspaper articles supplied by his big sister Edith Stearns Johnson, Tulalip Moving Wall, August 2005

Charles Henry HORN

Birth 27FEB19 Rank COL Date of Death 13APR67 P. of birth Spokane Service Marines (Draft) Place Thua Thien, S. Vietnam Town of Record Seattle Unit H&S Co, 3 MAF Death Code Non-Hostile, Died; Ground Casualty, Drowned, Suffocated Hometown   service # 9654 Panel 18EAST - 22 married Married MIA -   Medals Bronze Star with "V" device. Legion of Merit Comment   Tour Date   Cemetery National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu HI

Marine Col. Charles Horn
    Funeral services for Marine Col. Charles Henry Horn, 48, were held 22 Apr (1967). at the Makalapa Naval Chapel, Honolulu. Burial was in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu.
    Colonel Horn was killed when he fell off a bridge he was inspecting 13 Apr (1967) near Da Nang, Vietnam. He had been in Vietnam since August (1966).
    Born in Spokane, Colonel Horn was a 1942 graduate of the University of Idaho in mining engineering. He worked at The Boeing Co. here about a year in 1941. After joining the Marine Corps in 1942, he was stationed in California and did further study at Annapolis, Monterey CA, and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
    Colonel Horn was an instructor at Fort Belvoir VA, he served in Hawaii four years before going to Vietnam. He was awarded the Bronze Star with "V" device and the Legion of Merit.
    Surviving are his wife, Helen Jean; two daughters, Pamela Aurel Rene and Kimberly Kystina Horn, and a son, Matthew Horn, all of Honolulu; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Horn, and a sister, Mrs. L. W. Cushing, all of Seattle. (Seattle Times, Seattle WA, 7 May 1967)

Roy Earl SHULTS Jr.

Birth 26JUL24 Rank SMS Date of Death 13APR67 P. of birth Danville KY Service Air Force Place Khanh Hoa, S. Vietnam Town of Record Tacoma Unit 62MAL WG Death Code Non-Hostile Died Missing; Fixed Wing - Crew; Air Loss, Crash - Land Hometown   service # 34732615 Panel 18EAST - 24 married Married MIA -   Medals   Comment   Tour Date   Cemetery

Tacoman Killed in VN Action Sr. M.Sgt. Roy E. Shults Jr, 42, of 6626-81st SW,. was killed in Vietnam 13 Apr (1967), while serving with the Air Force. He was born in Danville KY and in 1967 came to Tacoma where he was stationed at McChord AFB. Survivors include his wife, Wanda M., of the home; two sons, Gary Richard, of Oaklyn NJ, and Robert Louis, of the home; his parents, Mr. and Mrs.Roy E. Shults Sr., of Birmingham AL, and a sister, Mrs. Eilene Eileen Turner, of Birmingham. Services will be announced by Mountain View Funeral Home. (Tacoma News Tribune, Tacoma WA, 23 Apr 1967)

Richard Dale WATSON

Birth 07JUL48 Rank SP4 Date of Death 16APR67 P. of birth   Service Army Place Quang Ngai, S. Vietnam Town of Record Clarkston Unit 1st Cav Div, A Co, 39th Eng Bn Death Code Hostile Died Missing; Ground Casualty; Other Explosive Device Hometown   service # 19871036 Panel 18EAST - 37 married   MIA -   Medals   Comment   Tour Date 23Jul66 Cemetery

Robert Joe COPE

Birth 09JAN47 Rank LCPL Date of Death 19APR67 P. of birth Gilmer, Upsher Co., TX Service Marines Place Quang Nam, S. Vietnam Town of Record Kennewick Unit H Co, 2nd Bn, 1st Mars Death Code Hostile, Died; Ground Casualty; Gun, Small Arms Fire Hometown   service # 2219811 Panel 18EAST - 48 married Married MIA -   Medals   Comment   Tour Date   Cemetery     Kennewick High School, Kennewick WA

Tri-Citian Killed in Battle. CPL Robert J. Cope not afraid. A 20 year old Kennewick Marine who "wasn't afraid of anything" was killed yesterday in Vietnam. He left behind his 18 year old wife and a 7 month old daughter he never saw. Lance Cpl. Robert J. Cope, son of Mrs. Doris Vinyard, 1107 S. Irby St., was shot in the head by an enemy bullet in combat near Da Nang, South Vietnam. He was the ninth Tri- Citian killed in Vietnam. A graduate of Kennewick High School, Cope leaves his wife Paula; daughter Brenda Kay, living with his wife's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Rose, 204 S. Grant St. Cope had been with the 2nd Battalion of the First Marines since 1 Oct 1966. He was married February, 1966 and entered the Marines Corps March 15. His father-in-law said letters from young Cope indicated he was constantly in the thick of the fighting." It seemed like he was always up at the front fighting. He wasn't afraid of anything" Rose said. (Tri-City Herald, Pasco, Kennewick, Richand WA )

John Harold SHERMAN

Birth 24MAR46 Rank PFC Date of Death 19APR67 P. of birth   Service Marines Place Quang Nam, S. Vietnam Town of Record Seattle Unit Co F, 2/5th Mar, 1st Mar Div Death Code Hostile, Died; Ground Casualty; Other Explosive Device Hometown   service # 2277376 Panel 18EAST - 50 married Married MIA -   Medals   Comment   Tour Date   Cemetery

Edward William WELLS

Birth 11SEP46 Rank WO Date of Death 23APR67 P. of birth Tenino Service Army (Reserve) Place S. Vietnam Town of Record Olympia Unit 1st Avn Bde, 129th Aviation Co Death Code Non-Hostile Died Missing; Helicopter-Crew; Air Loss, Crash-Land Hometown Tenino service # W3153194 Panel 18EAST - 77 married Single Link Helicopter Medals   Comment   Tour Date 16JUN66 Cemetery

Warrant Officer Edward W. Wells, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard E. Wells, was killed in Vietnam last Sunday (23 Apr 1967). Warrant Officer Wells was a helicopter pilot in the 129th Assault Company [Airmobile] Division. He was born in Tenino 11 Sep 1946. The family home is on Route Five [Box 314] near Offut Lake. Mr.Wells attended schools in Tenino and three years ago joined the Army. He became a helicopter pilot and had been overseas for nearly a year. Surviving besides his parents, are three brothers; Richard C. Wells, in the Marine Corps, Alson and Wayne Wells, both at home; two sisters, Miss Janice Lee, Olympia and Miss Mary Jo Wells, at home; the grandparents, Mrs. Emma Wells, Tenino and Mr. William Curtis, Centralia. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Mills and Mills. (The Olympian, Olympia WA 30 Apr 1967)

BRADLEY ALBERT NELSON

Birth 11AUG47 Rank PFC Date of Death 24APR67 P. of birth Longview WA Service Marines Place Quang Tri S. Vietnam Town of Record Portland Unit BTRY D 2 BN 12 MAR 3 MAR DIV Death Code Hostile, Died; Other Explosive Devices Ground Casualty Hometown   service # 2204121 Panel 18EAST - 80 Married Single In Service 1 yr Medals Purple Heart  Tour Date   Comment   Cemetery Willamette National Cem., Portland OR

Bradley A. Nelson
    Funeral for Bradley Albert Nelson, 4524 NE 70th Ave., who was killed recently in action in Vietnam, will be Friday, 5 May (1967) at Ross Hollywood Chapel with interment at Willamette National Cemetery with full military honors.
    PFC Nelson, a member of the U.S. Marine Corps, died 24 Apr (1967) in a bomb explosion at Quang Tri, Republic of South Vietnam. He was 19.
    A native of Longview WA, Nelson was graduated from Madison High School, Portland, in 1964. He had lived in Portland for 11 years.
    He was active as a photographer for the Madison High School annual during his senior year. He joined the Marines in December, 1965 and had served in Vietnam since September, 1965.
    He was a member of the Church of Christ.
    He is survived by the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harold D. Nelson, Portland; two sisters, Anna Christine and Ruby Gayle, both of Portland; a brother, Vernon; an aunt and Grandmother, Mrs. Lotta Oleson, McMinnville. The Oregonian, Portland OR, Wednesday, 3 May 1967)

Larry Wayne BUTLER

Birth 01APR46 Rank LCPL Date of Death 26APR67 P. of birth Coulee Dam Service Marines Place Quang Tri, S. Vietnam Town of Record Seattle Unit CO K, 3 Bn, 3 Mar, 3 Mar Div Death Code Hostile, Died; Ground Casualty; Gun, Small Arms Fire Hometown Bridgeport service # 2266206 Panel 18EAST - 91 married Single Memorial Bridgeport Medals   Comment   Tour Date   Cemetery Bridgeport Cemetery

Marine Butler Marine Private Larry W. Butler, son of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Butler, Bridgeport has been graduated from eight weeks of recruit training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at San Diego Ca. Under the supervision of veteran noncommissioned officer drill instructors, he learned small arms marksmanship, bayonet fighting, and methods of self-protection. He also received instruction in military drill, history and traditions of the Marine Corps, and other academic subjects. He will undergo four weeks of individual combat training and four weeks of basic specialist training in his military job field before being assigned to a permanent unit. (unknown source - newspaper clipping)

Marine Corps Trains Butler Marine Private Larry W. Butler, son of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Butler of 616 16th Bridgeport, has completed four weeks of individual combat training at Camp Pendleton CA. During the training period, he received more than 200 hours of instruction in guerlilla (sic) warfare, the use of infantry weapons, combat patrols, and squad tactics. His next assignment is four weeks of basic specialist training to prepare him for a specific job in the Marine Corps. Marines to be assigned to infantry units will be taught sub-specialties such as the technical operation of the machine gun, grenade launcher, or mortar. Those entering highly skilled occupational fields will receive advanced training at resident technical schools. (unknown source - newspaper clipping)

Bridgeport Man Missing in Viet Nam Action Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Butler, Bridgeport, were notified Saturday that their son, Lance Cpl. Larry Butler, had been reported missing in action in Viet Nam Wednesday. The announcement was made by the U.S. Marine Corps. Cpl. Butler, K Company, 3rd Battalion of the Marine Corps, was reported missing in action at Quang Tri. (unknown source - newspaper clipping, 4 May 1967)

Larry Wayne Butler Larry Wayne Butler, 21, died 26 Apr (1967) in Vietnam while serving with the U.S. Marine Corps. Larry was born 1 Apr 1946, at Coulee Dam. As an infant he moved with his parents to Oregon and lived there until moving to Bridgeport in 1955. He was graduated from the Bridgeport High School in 1965. He was active in high school athletics and played on the football, basketball and baseball teams and represented the district at the state track meets in high hurdles two years in a row. He was vice president of the student body and class president. Upon graduation he was awarded the American Legion Citizenship Award. He attended Wenatchee Valley College in 1965 and 1966 and played end on the football team. Larry enlisted in the Marine Corps 5 Jul 1965. Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Butler, two brothers, Rex and David, all of Bridgeport; and one sister, Mrs. Ron Norbby, San Luis Obispo CA. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of William Barnes. (unknown source - newspaper clipping)

On Wednesday, 17 May (1967), during the funeral services for Marine Lance Corporal Larry Butler - killed in action in Vietnam - all business in "Our Town" closed their doors in Memoriam. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank this wonderful little town with the great big heart. (unknown source - newspaper clipping)

Remembering Larry Butler from Lt. Col. Walter Belen (from Uruguay S.A.)
I knew Larry when he was really young. When I moved to Bridgeport, the Butler family became my neighbors and friends. His mother was the #1 Bowler in Bridgeport. Larry was a nice boy and a fine man. More important he fought for every country to put communists out. (oral remembrance Bridgeport WA 25 Oct 2003)

The Moving Wall October 2003 "The Moving Wall" was brought to Bridgeport by very dedicated volunteers ... Visit Bridgeport Wall of Remembrance to get the official version... or Remembering Bridgeport for my pictures and opinions. Researcher comment

David Eric SCHELVAN

Birth 02APR46 Rank SGT Date of Death 26APR67 P. of birth   Service Army Place S. Vietnam Town of Record Seattle Unit 1st Inf Div, B Co, 1st Bn, 28th Inf Death Code Non-Hostile Died; Ground Casualty; Burns Hometown Seattle service # 19804741 Panel 18EAST - 98 married Single Enlisted 31AUG64 Medals   Tour Date 13Feb67 Comment   Cemetery Evergreen-Washelli, Seattle WA Roosevelt High School, Seattle WA, Senior - Class of 1964: (no activities listed)

William Lee HARRIS

Birth 17MAY42 Rank LCPL Date of Death 28APR67 P. of birth   Service Marines Place Quang Tri, S. Vietnam Town of Record Seattle Unit HQ Co, 9 Mars, 3 Mar Div Death Code Hostile, Ground Casualty: Artillery, rocket, or mortar Hometown   service # 2197651 Panel 18EAST - 108 married Married MIA -   Medals   Comment   Tour Date   Cemetery Evergreen-Washelli Memorial Park, Seattle WA   Washington State University, Pullman WA, 1964

Cpl William L. Harris Funeral Funeral services for Marine Lance Cpl. William L. Harris, 24, of 1910 N. 37th St., will be at 11 a.m. tomorrow in the Bonney-Watson Broadway chapel. He was killed in action in Vietnam 28 Apr (1967). Burial will be in Evergreen-Washelli. Surviving are his wife, Sheila, at home; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A.L. Harris, and a brother, Tim Harris, all of Kent, and his grandmother, Mrs. Bonnie Harris, in Oklahoma. (Seattle Times, Seattle WA, 9 May 1967)

Charles Russell 'Rusty' PETCHNICK

Birth 05JAN47 Rank PFC Date of Death 29APR67 P. of birth   Service Army (Draft) Place Tay Ninh, S. Vietnam Town of Record Renton Unit 1st Inf Div, Co C, 2nd Bn,16th Regiment Death Code Hostile, Died; Ground Casualty;Multiple Fragmentation Wounds Hometown   service # 56956537 Panel 18EAST - 116 married Single Inducted 27AUG66 Medals Purple Heart Comment   Tour Date 4Jan67 Cemetery

'Rusty' Petchnick Dies in Vietnam "Russ says"... And then they realize again the news brought them by another soldier and telegrams from the War Department... Russ... PFC Charles Russell Petchnick... "we are sorry to tell you was killed in Vietnam while on a combat operation April 29 (1967) by framents from a hostile land mine." "Rusty," as he was known by class mates at Sartori and Renton High School, worked a year at Boeing after graduation in 1965, was inducted into the Army on 27 Aug 1966, and after training at Fort Lewis and Fort Polk, LA celebrated his 20th birthday on January 5 enroute to Vietnam. His next-door buddy and classmate, Carl Dinius, joined the Army with him and they were together until leaving for Vietnam Rusty's plane left three days earlier but was held up with engine trouble in the Philippines, so the two had a week together in Vietnam before separating for duty. Both were in the Big Red I Division - and they kept in touch with letters. The Charles Petchnicks in North Renton have asked that Carl be allowed to accompany the body of his friend home. "Russ would have liked knowing Carl was with him," Mrs. Petchnick says. They know that the coffin will arrive in the next day or two. Stokes Mortuary will arrange services here. Just a month ago, the Petchnicks received word that Rusty had been wounded and had received the Purple Heart. Rusty said little about it in his letters home and they still don't know the particulars. In addition to his parents, Rusty is survived by his brother and sister, twins Dennis and Dianne, Renton High seniors; brother Don Gunderson of Anaheim CA, and his grandmother, Mrs. George Frank in Shelby MT. (Record-Chronicle, Renton WA)

State Men Killed in Vietnam
    Pfc. Charles R. Petchnick, 20, of Renton and Staff Sgt. Barry J. Short of Tacoma yesterday were reported killed in Vietnam.
    Petchnick, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Petchnick, 534 Wells Ave. N., Renton was killed in a land-mine explosion 29 Apr (1967). He was in the 1st Infantry.
    Born in Renton, Petchnick was graduated from Renton High School in 1965. He worked for a year for The Boeing Co. Before he entered the Army in August 1966.
    Petchnick took basic training at Fort Lewis and further training at Camp Polk LA. He went to Vietnam 2 Jan (1967). He was wounded 2 Apr (1967) by fragments from friendly mortar fire and hospitalized briefly.
    Surviving besides his parents are a twin brother and sister, Dennis and Dianne Petchnick, at home; a half brother, Donald Gunderson, Buena Park CA, and his maternal grandmother, Mrs. George Frank, Shelby MT.
    Short, 25, the husband of Mrs. Kiyoko Short, was killed Sunday by small arms fire while on patrol. He had been in Vietnam since July. He was a member of the 8th Infantry, 4th Div.
    A native of Milwaukee WI, Short joined the Army seven years ago. He was stationed at Fort Lewis about two years before going to Vietnam.
    Surviving besides his wife are two sons, Rock, 2 1/2 and Kurt Short, 1, both at home, his mother, Mrs. Eleanor Wiernasz, Hale Corners WI; his father, Ben Short, Roseburg OR; three brothers, Garry, Tacoma, Tarry, Puyallup, and Larry Short Milwaukee; two sisters, Mrs. Sharon Gostomski, Wahoo NE, and Mrs. Sandra Blais, Los Angeles; and his grandfather, Abe Thorson, Medford WI.
    Funeral arrangements for Sergeant Short will be directed by the Mountain View Funeral Home, Tacoma. (Seattle Times, Seattle WA, Wednesday, 3 May 1967)

Marvin PAULSON Jr.

Birth 05MAY47 Rank LCPL Date of Death 30APR67 P. of birth Tacoma Service Marines Place Quang Nam, S. Vietnam Town of Record Seattle Unit K Co, 1 Bn, 3 Mar Div Death Code Hostile, Died; Ground Casualty; Misadventure Hometown Seattle service # 2314913 Panel 18EAST - 126 married Single MIA -   Medals   Comment   Tour Date   Cemetery

More State Men killed in Vietnam
    Two more Washington men have been killed in action in Vietnam, the Defense Deparment announced yesterday. They were Marine Lance Cpl. Marvin Paulson, Jr., grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Pingel, 9040 53rd Ave. S.., and Army Pfc. Bradley A. Walker, husband of Mrs. Darlynn C. Walker, Dayton, Columbia County
    Paulson, who would have been 20 tomorrow was born in Tacoma and reared in Seattle, Mrs. Pingel said she and her husband reared Paulson from infancy. "He was like a son to us." she said. Paulson was a 1965 graduate of Rainier Beach High School. He joined the Marine Corps about a year after graduation and had been in Vietnam about four months. Mrs. Pingel said, he had written a letter 25 Apr (1967) to the Pingels and their daughter, Linda, whom he considered as a sister. The letter said Paulson's unit was about to encounter the biggest Viet-Cong force yet. "I hope this isn't my last letter, but when the last Marines went down there, only a few came back." Paulson wrote. "If I make it back I will brobably be promoted again... but I"m not sure, I'm going to make it." (Seattle Times, Seattle WA, 4 May 1967)

Barry Jan SHORT

Birth 07NOV41 Rank PSGT Date of Death 30APR67 P. of birth Milwaukee WI Service Army Place Pleiku, S. Vietnam Town of Record Milwaukee WI Unit 4th Inf Div A Co 2nd Bn 8th Inf Death Code Hostile; Ground Casualty; Gun, Small Arms Hometown   service # 16651136 Local Tacoma married Married Panel 18EAST - 129 Medals   Tour Date 23JUL66 Comment   Cemetery

State Men Killed in Vietnam
    Pfc. Charles R. Petchnick, 20, of Renton and Staff Sgt. Barry J. Short of Tacoma yesterday were reported killed in Vietnam.
    Petchnick, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Petchnick, 534 Wells Ave. N., Renton was killed in a land-mine explosion 29 Apr (1967). He was in the 1st Infantry.
    Born in Renton, Petchnick was graduated from Renton High School in 1965. He worked for a year for The Boeing Co. Before he entered the Army in August 1966.
    Petchnick took basic training at Fort Lewis and further training at Camp Polk LA. He went to Vietnam 2 Jan (1967). He was wounded 2 Apr (1967) by fragments from friendly mortar fire and hospitalized briefly.
    Surviving besides his parents are a twin brother and sister, Dennis and Dianne Petchnick, at home; a half brother, Donald Gunderson, Buena Park CA, and his maternal grandmother, Mrs. George Frank, Shelby MT.
    Short, 25, the husband of Mrs. Kiyoko Short, was killed Sunday by small arms fire while on patrol. He had been in Vietnam since July. He was a member of the 8th Infantry, 4th Div.
    A native of Milwaukee WI, Short joined the Army seven years ago. He was stationed at Fort Lewis about two years before going to Vietnam.
    Surviving besides his wife are two sons, Rock, 2 1/2 and Kurt Short, 1, both at home, his mother, Mrs. Eleanor Wiernasz, Hale Corners WI; his father, Ben Short, Roseburg OR; three brothers, Garry, Tacoma, Tarry, Puyallup, and Larry Short Milwaukee; two sisters, Mrs. Sharon Gostomski, Wahoo NE, and Mrs. Sandra Blais, Los Angeles; and his grandfather, Abe Thorson, Medford WI.
    Funeral arrangements for Sergeant Short will be directed by the Mountain View Funeral Home, Tacoma. (Seattle Times, Seattle WA, Wednesday, 3 May 1967)