Birth 07OCT39 Rank SSGT Date of Death 11APR71 P. of birth France Service Army (Draft) Place Quang Ngai, S. Vietnam Town of Record Tacoma Unit 11th LIB, A Co, 1st Bn, 20th Inf Death Code Hostile, Died; Ground Casualty; Gun, Small Arms Fire Hometown   service # 539383661 Panel 04WEST - 118   married Single MIA -   Medals   Tour Date 15OCT70 Comment   Cemetery

Tacoma Soldier Loses Life in Vietnam War S.Sgt Jean Pierre Humbert, 32, of 4511 Tacoma Ave. S., was killed Sunday in action in Vietnam. He was born in France and lived in the Tacoma area since 1963. He had served in the Army since 1958 and he had made two tours of duty in Vietnam. He was a member of the Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. Survivors include his mother, Mrs. Lucie Jackson, of Tacoma; two sisters, Mrs. Herschel (Lienne) Boumann, of North Carolina, and Mrs. Maurice (Simone) Taylor, of Nebraska; and his grandfather, Logan Jackson, of California Services will be announced by Brookside Mortuary. (Tacoma News Tribune, Tacoma WA, 16 Apr 1971)

Alan Hans HOLM

Birth 20JUL49 Rank PFC Date of Death 01MAY71 P. of birth LaJunta CO Service Army (Draft) Place S. Vietnam Town of Record Othello Unit 5th Inf Div, A Co, 1st Bn, 11th Inf Death Code Hostile, Died; Ground Casualty; Other Explosive Device Hometown   service # 536440068 Panel 03WEST - 21   married Single MIA -   Medals   Tour Date 2JAN71 Comment   Cemetery Bess Hampton Memorial Garden

Combat Claims Local Soldier
A 21-year-old local man became Othello's first combat casualty in Vietnam when he was killed in action last Saturday. Pfc. Alan Hans Holm, son of Mr. and Mrs. Hans C. Holm, 905 Elm, Othello, was reported killed by a land mine while in combat in Vietnam. Holm became the third local local soldier to die in the southeast Asia war. However, two other casualties lost their lives in non-combat related accidents. The local man had joined the Army on 22 Jul of last year (1970) and had been sent to Vietnam in January of this year. Born 20 Jul 1949 in LaJunta CO, the soldier came to Othello when he was four years old. He attended Hiawatha and Lutacaga elementary schools and graduated from Othello High School in 1968. He was a four-sport letterman at Othello High School participating in football, basketball, wrestling and track. He attended Grays Harbor Community College following graduation and played football there. Survivors include his parents; one sister, Celeste, at home; and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Holm of Swink CO. Funeral services will be arranged by Muscott Funeral Home and are pending arrival of the body. Services are expected to be next week and will be at the Presbyterian Church. Burial will be at the Bess Hampton Memorial Garden (Othello Outlook 6 May 1971)

George William WINKLES Jr.

Walla Walla High School Walla Walla WA 1967

Birth 29OCT49 Rank PFC Date of Death 11MAY71 P. of birth   Service Army Place Gia Dinh, S. Vietnam Town of Record College Place Unit 596th Sig Co Death Code Non-Hostile, Died Illness/Injury; Ground Casualty; Accidental Self-Destruction Hometown   service # 535502964 Panel 03WEST - 32   married Single MIA -   Medals   Tour Date 29JAN71 Comment   Cemetery

Robert Graham BRUCE

Birth 07JUL48 Rank WO Date of Death 20MAY71 P. of birth   Service Army (Reserve) Place Pleiku, S. Vietnam Town of Record Federal Way Unit A Trp, 7th Sqdr, 17th Cav Death Code Hostile Died; Helicopter - NonCrew; Air Loss Crash - Land Hometown   service # 536509896 Panel 03WEST - 42   married Married MIA -   Medals   Tour Date 19JAN71 Comment   Cemetery

Kevin Paul FORCUM

Birth 19FEB50 Rank SP4 Date of Death 02JUN71 P. of birth Everett WA Service Army (Draft) Place Chuong Thien, S. Vietnam Town of Record Everett Unit 1st Avn Bde, C Trp, 16th Cav Death Code Hostile Died Wounds; Air Loss Crash on Land - Helicopter - Crew Hometown   service # 538462168 Panel 03WEST - 63   married Single MIA -   Medals   Tour Date 18AUG70 Comment   Cemetery   Marysville High School, Marysville WA, 1968

Kevin Paul Forcum, Sp4, U.S. Army, died June 2 from injuries received during combat in Vietnam. Kevin was born 19 Feb 1950 in Everett and had attended Madison elementary school, Evergreen Jr High and Marysville High School. He was a member of V.F.W. Post 2100 of Everett. He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. Lorn (Dorothy) Joyce, mother and Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Forcum, father: all of Everett, sister, Mrs. Robert (Kathie) Reid, Kingston WA; brothers, Patrick and Timothy of Everett; grandmother, Mrs. Jewell Elswick, Joplin MO; a niece, two nephews, aunt and two uncles. Arrangements will be announced by the Purdy and Walters Funeral Home (Everett Herald 1971 )

Kimber Lynn HALL

Birth 20NOV49 Rank SP5 Date of Death 04JUN71 P. of birth   Service Army Place Hau Nghia, S. Vietnam Town of Record Seattle Unit 11th ACR, F Trp, 2nd Sqd, 11th Cav Death Code Hostile Died Wounds; Ground Casualty; Misadventure Hometown   service # 532506524 Panel 03WEST - 65   married Single MIA -   Medals   Tour Date 17APR71 Comment 11th Cav/ Blackhorse Cemetery

Patrick Bennett "Ti-Coup" MORRIS

Birth 25DEC49 Rank SP4 Date of Death 30JUN71 P. of birth   Service Army (Draft) Place Quang Nam, S. Vietnam Town of Record Spanaway Unit F Troop, 17th Cav, 196th Inf Bde Americal Div Death Code Non-Hostile Died; Ground Casualty; Vehicle Loss Crash Hometown   service # 532526534 Panel 03WEST - 95   married Single MIA -   Medals   Tour Date 24AUG70 Comment   Cemetery

Spanaway Man Killed In Vietnam Spec. 4 Patrick B. Morris, 21, of Rt. 1, Box 1275, Spanaway, was killed last Wednesday in an explosion of an ammunition truck at Da Nang, Vietnam. Spec. Morris was a 1969 graduate of Bethel High School and a member of Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church. Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bud Morris, of the home; two sisters, Mrs. Connie Hopkins, of Spanaway, and Susan, of the home; four brothers, Mark, Jack and Donald, all of the home, and Timothy, with the Army in Virginia; and his grandmothers, Mrs. Lillian E. Beckman, of Spanaway, and Mrs. Bert Shoemaker, of Puyallup. Services will be announced by Dryer Mortuary. (Tacoma News Tribune, Tacoma WA, 6 Jul 1971)

Steven Jeffery MINKLER

Birth 24JUL52 Rank SP4 Date of Death 18JUL71 P. of birth Shelton WA Service Army Place Binh Dinh, S. Vietnam Town of Record Lynnwood Unit D Trp, 7th Sqdr, 17th Cav Death Code Non-Hostile Died; Ground Casualty; Accidental Self-Destruction Hometown   service # 538549588 Panel 03WEST - 110   married Single MIA -   Medals   Tour Date 07DEC70 Comment   Cemetery Heather Garden, Floral Hills Cemetery, Lynnwood WA

Steven J. Minkler 18 of 20214 73rd Ave. W, Lynnwood, died July 18 in Vietnam. He was a Specialist 4th class in the U.S. Army. He was born 23 Jul 1952 in Shelton WA. He leaves his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Glen V. Minkler of Lynnwood; a brother Dennis G. at home; his grandparents Mr. Glenn Pence Sr. of Hillsboro OR and Mr. and Mrs. Victor Minkler of Shelton WA. Services will be 1 pm Wednesday in Floral Hills Funeral Home, with Dr. Newton E. Moats of the Edmonds Methodist Church officiating. Military personel will be provided by the United States Army. Interment will be in the Heather Garden at Floral Hills Cemetery. (Everett Herald 1971)

Richard Lee PAGE

Birth 27JUL49 Rank SP4 Date of Death 19JUL71 P. of birth   Service Army Place Binh Duong, S. Vietnam Town of Record Olympia Unit 520th Trans Bn, 34th GS Grp Death Code Hostile, Died; Ground Casualty; Misadventure Hometown   service # 534488534 Panel 03WEST - 112   married Single MIA -   Medals   Tour Date 15NOV70 Comment   Cemetery

Specialist-4 Richard Lee Page was killed in action in the Thu Loi area of Vietnam. He had been a radio operator. Born 27 Jul 1949, in Kennewick, he is survived by his mother, Mrs. Paul Sorenson, 2329 Southeast 59th Lacey; his father Brian E. Page; a brother Ronald E., Pullman; two sisters, at the family home. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The funeral service is tentatively scheduled for next week in Kennewick. Mueler Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. (The Olympian, Olympia WA 11 Sep 66)

Bruce Allan BERG

Birth 22APR50 Rank SGT Date of Death 07AUG71 P. of birth   Service Army Place Quang Tri, S. Vietnam Town of Record Olympia Unit Special Forces RT Kansas Death Code Hostile, Died Missing; Ground Casualty; Gun Small Arms Fire; BNR Hometown   service # 531526688 Panel 03WEST -125   married Single MIA - BNR Medals Silver Star Tour Date   Comment   Cemetery

(Remebrance of Bruce Berg by Bruce Rusty Lang)
    I have additional information regarding Bruce Allen Berg. he combat actinon in which Berg was lost is described in the last chapter of John L. Plaster's new book SOG: The Secret Wars of America's Commandos in Vietnam (1997 Simon & Schuster). The day of Berg's loss I heard the story somewhat differently, and I told Plaster that by phone a couple of weeks ago. Surviving witnesses are Staff Sergeant Tony Andersen, USA (he was the one who told Plaster his version of the story), and Sergeant William Ramundi [Rimundi?] who told me his account immediatly after returning from the battle in which Berg was lost. Ramundi has not yet been located for comment.
    On his previous mission Berg was second in command (One-One) on Recon Team Mississippi, which I commanded (mixed USASF and Montagnard commandos). I was not on the mission in which he was lost the following week.
    Berg's unit TF1AE (Task Force One Advisory Element), was previously known as CCN (Command & Control North) [MACVSOG].
    Berg's Aug. 7, 1971 loss was near Khe Sanh. Berg was a member of Command & Control North (CCN was renamed Task Force One Advisory Element "TF1AE", Training Advisory Group [TAG] in 1971), which was based on the North side of Marble Mountain in Da Nang. Berg had been second in command of Recon Team Mississippi on his previous mission, and he was attached to RT Kansas at the time of his loss. Six US Army Special Forces and eight Montangnards made up RT Kansas for Sergeant Berg's last mission. Other than Berg, Rimumdi [Ramondi ?], and Anderson, the other USASF team members were Sergeant Bill Queen, Staff Sergeant Oran Bringham, and Lieutenant Loren Hagen. I do not have the names of the Montangard commandos who survived that combat action.
    As described in Plaster's book (SOG), although they weren't aware of it at the time, RT Kansas had inadvertently set up their defensive perimeter almost within sight of the Hanoi High Command's most critical new venture, the first 6-inch fuel pipeline laid across the DMZ and down the Cam Lo River valley, absolutely essential in the next few months when entire tank battalions would roll through there for the war's largest offensive. The NVA 304th Division, plus a regiment of the 308th Division was already massing nearby, in preparation for the offensive.
    According to Chief SOG Colonel John Sadler, an entire NVA regiment, supported by a second regiment, stormed the hill top position of RT Kansas that day. At a mismatch seven times greater than the Alamo, it was the most one-sided battle of the war.
    A few hours after that action I was told by Ramondi that Berg was standing inside their perimiter when he was apparently hit in the shoulder, or head, by what he thought was a B-40 rocket or mortar round. According to Ramondi the blast knocked Berg outside of their perimeter. Hagan went after him, and never returned. In Anderson's account (as told by Plaster) he states that Berg was inside a bunker which was hit with an RPG, and that Hagan was killed while attempting to reach Berg's position. In your posted biographical sketch of Berg you describe how an "indigenous soldier reported that Sgt. Berg was hit in the head by small arms fire about six feet from the bunker."
    Immediately after Berg was hit by the initial volly (whether by an RPG, or mortar round, or whatever) of enemy fire on the teams position, Hagan apparently made a valiant attempt to reach Berg. Hagan received the CMH postumously for his unsuccessful effort. Although Hagan's body was recovered later that day, Bruce Berg was never found. He was declared Killed/Body Not Recovered (in 1973 ?).
    Bruce was an Army Special Forces non-com officer assigned to the highly classified Command & Control North [renamed Task Force One Advisory Element, Training Advisory Group in 1971], Studies and Observations Group (SOG). Berg earned his green beret in 1969. He received a Combat Infantry Badge, a Silver Star, and several other commendations; as well a Presidential Unit Citation for SOG from George W. Bush in April 2001.
Sincerely,
Dr. Bruce Rusty Lang
Project 404, Laos, 1970
CCN, MACVSOG, 1971
RustyLang@aol.com

More information available at:
Pownetwork.org
A Surprise in Pant Leg
Last Stand of Recon Team Kansas

Robert Lee WEISSER

Birth 13DEC49 Rank SP4 Date of Death 30AUG71 P. of birth Seattle Service Army Place Quang Tin, S. Vietnam Town of Record Tacoma Unit 11th LIB, Trp E, 1st Cav Death Code Hostile, Died Missing; Ground Casualty; Artillery, Rocket, Mortar Hometown   service # 537525467 Panel 02WEST - 06   married Single MIA -   Medals   Tour Date 13SEP70 Comment   Cemetery

Tacoma Man Died in Vietnam. Spec. 4 Robert L. Reeves Weisser, 21, of 1765 S. 36th St. died 30 Aug (1971) in Vietnam. He was born in Seattle and lived in Tacoma most of his life. He graduated from Lincoln High School, where he had been on the football and track teams. He also attended Stewart Junior High School. He was a member of McKinley Park Christian Church. Survivors include his stepfather and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Norman (Esther) Scott, of Tacoma; and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Ted Graham, of Anacortes, and Mrs. Alice Thayer of Tacoma. Services will be announced by Mountain View Funeral Home. (Tacoma News Tribune, Tacoma WA 5 Oct 1971)