Birth 05AUG48 Rank CWO Date of Event 03JAN71 P. of birth Skykomish Service Army (Reserve) Place S. Vietnam Town of Record Seattle Unit 61st Assault Helicopter Co. "Lucky Stars" 268th Aviation Bn, 17th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade Death Code Non-Hostile Died Missing;Fixed Wing - NonCrew; Air Loss Crash - Land Hometown   service # 535483999 Panel 05WEST - 22  married Single Link Virtual Wall Medals   MIA - BNR Comment   Cemetery

Remembrances Tom Okerlund was a Skykomish boy with extended family throughout Snohomish County. I got his bracelet in 1971 at a barber shop on Pine St in Snohomish and have worn it ever since. When I sent to surgery they had to tape it on because I wouldn't let them take it off. While I talk about Tom I'm thinking of my grandson who's home on leave and will be going back to Iraq for his third tour. He's a "sitting duck" in that hummer because he's the machine gunner. I'm so proud of my grandson and of Tom for their committment to our country!!!
Marge Wolfer - Remembrance from the Tulalip Wall August 2005

(MIA extracted material from the P.O.W. Network)Thomas Richard Okerlund was born 5 Aug 1948 in Everett WA. His town of record is Seattle. He was a member of Unit: 61st Assault Helicopter Company "Lucky Stars", 268th Aviation Battalion, 17th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade On 3 Jan 1971, he was a passenger aboard a U6 "Beaver" on an administrative support flight from Qui Nhon to Ban Me Thuot, South Vietnam, to collect replacement helicopters for the company. The plane was an older, fixed wing aircraft with a cruising speed of 106 mph. No flight plan was filed, the weather reports not checked and the weather not good. A delay in the search was caused by the pilot's plan to stay over night at Ban Thuot. No sign of a crash was found.
for more information P.O.W. NetWork

Picture and detailed remembrance at Virtual Wall

William Raymond ZEYEN

Birth 09MAR50 Rank SP4 Date of Death 15JAN71 P. of birth   Service Army Place Binh Thaun, S. Vietnam Town of Record Seattle Unit USARV Death Code Non-Hostile Died Other; Ground Casualty; Burns Hometown   service # 445486783 Panel 05WEST - 47   married Single MIA -   Medals   Tour Date 14MAY70 Comment   Cemetery

Zeyen, William R. 1501 1st Ave. N. Step-son and Son of Captain and Mrs. Robert R. Gales, Clark Air Base, Philippines, Grandson of Mr. and Mrs. P. W. Benson, Seattle. Brother of Onda Marie, Jodeane Marine, Katherine Marie, Michelle Marie, and Cella Marie Gales, Clark Air Base Philippines. Services Monday 1 p.m. St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, Under direction West Home Chapel. Seattle Times, Seattle WA, 24 Jan 1971)

John Charles STRAUSER

Birth 28JUN39 Rank SFC Date of Death 2FEB71 P. of birth San Fernando CA Service Army Place Hua Nghia, S. Vietnam Town of Record Coos Bay OR Unit MACV Advisors Death Code Hostile, Ground Casualty; Artillery, Rocket, or Mortar Hometown   service # 54420776  Panel 05WEST - 74   married married MIA -   Medals   Tour Date 29AUG70 Comment Tacoma   Cemetery

Sergeant, 13 Years In Army, Dies Sgt. 1.C. John C. Strauser, 31, of 1018 S. Geiger St., died 2 Feb (1971) in Vietnam. He was born in San Fernando CA, and served in the U. S. Army for the past 13 years. Sgt. Strauser was a member of Highland Hill Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife, Linda; a son, John, of the home; two daughters, Tamra L. and Kelly, all of the home; a brother, Ronald K., of Coos Bay OR; three sisters, Mrs. Kenneth (Connie) Graves and Mrs. Gordon (Bonnie) MIckelson, both of NOrth Bend OR, and Mrs. Dennis (Vonnie) Dickson, of Coos Bay; and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Melton, of Coos Bay. Services will be announced by Mountain View Funeral Home. (Tacoma News Tribune, Tacoma WA, 8 Feb 1971)

Melvin James FELTON

Birth 16JUN49 Rank SGT Date of Death 09FEB71 P. of birth   Service Army (Draft) Place Quang Tri, S. Vietnam Town of Record Spokane Unit I FF, Btry C, 8th Bn, 4th Arty Death Code Hostile, Died; Ground Casualty; Artillery, Rocket, Mortar Hometown   service # 538528866 Panel 05WEST - 91   married Married MIA -   Medals   Tour Date 27JUL70 Comment   Cemetery       North Central High School, Spokane WA, 1965

Robert Arthur EISENBEISZ

Birth 16SEP46 Rank 1LT Date of Death 11FEB71 P. of birth   Service Air Force (Reserve) Place Quang Tri, S. Vietnam Town of Record Seattle Unit 389 TAC FIGHTER SQDN Death Code Hostile, Died Missing; Fixed Wing - Crew; Air Loss, Crash - Land Hometown   service # 539447395 Panel 05WEST - 95   married Married MIA -   Medals   Tour Date 29OCT70 Comment   Cemetery Washelli West Seattle High School, Seattle WA, 1964

University of Washington Seattle WA 1966

Eisenbeisz, 1st Lt. Robert A. 2659 45th SW. (Seattle). Services Monday, 1:30 p.m., Hope Luternan Church under direction of West Home Chapel. Interment, Washelli. Seattle Times, Seattle WA, 24 Jan 1971)

Steve Craig ENGLISH

Birth 14FEB50 Rank PFC Date of Death 12FEB71 P. of birth   Service Army Place Quang Tri, S. Vietnam Town of Record Seattle Unit 11th LIB, A Co, 4th Bn, 3rd Inf Death Code Hostile, Died; Ground Casualty; Gun, Small Arms Fire Hometown   service # 534486271 Panel 05WEST - 98   married Single MIA -   Medals   Tour Date 15JAN71 Comment   Cemetery

Gary Wayne LARSON

Birth 08JAN47 Rank 1LT Date of Death 12FEB71 P. of birth Tacoma Service Army (Reserve) Place Quang Tri S. Vietnam Town of Record Arlington VA Unit 5th Inf Div Mechanized Death Code Hostile, died of wounds; Ground Casualty; Gun, Small Arms Fire Hometown   service #   Panel 05WEST - 99   married single MIA -   Medals Bronze Star and Purple Heart Tour Date 11SEP70 Comment Tacoma   Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery

A memorial mass for Army Lt. Gary Wayne Larson, 24, a former Tacoman, who died 12 Feb of wounds received last 25 Dec in Vietnam, will be held at 7:45 p.m. Thursday in St. Frances Cabrini Church. Lt. Larson was born in Tacoma, attending local schools, the University of Washington and Western Washington State College. He formerly resided at 7501 S. J St. He had been in the service about 2 years and had received the Bronze star for bravery and the Purple Heart for wounds received. Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Larson, of Arlington VA; a brother, Charles Jr., of Arlington; and numerous uncles and aunts in Tacoma. Burial with full military honors will be Tuesday at Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D. C. (Tacoma News Tribune, Tacoma WA, 12 Feb 1971 )

James Robert JESKE

Birth 01FEB44 Rank SGT Date of Death 14FEB71 P. of birth   Service Army Place Ba Xugen, S. Vietnam Town of Record Spokane Unit MACV, Adv Team 71 Death Code Non-Hostile; Ground Casualty; Intentional Homicide Hometown   service # 538428244 Panel 05WEST - 103   married Married MIA -   Medals   Tour Date 23JUL70 Comment   Cemetery

Tagipo Vaoga TAUALA

Birth 26JUL45 Rank SP4 Date of Death 15FEB71 P. of birth   Service Army Place Tay Ninh, S. Vietnam Town of Record Seattle Unit 1st Avn Bde A Trp 17th Cav Death Code Hostile, Died; Ground Casualty; Gun, Small Arms Fire Hometown   service # 576469081 Panel 05WEST - 109   married Single MIA -   Medals   Tour Date 01JUL70 Comment   Cemetery

James Patrick THOMPSON

Birth 02FEB50 Rank SP5 Date of Death 15FEB71 P. of birth Tacoma Service Army Place Binh Thuy, S. Vietnam Town of Record Tacoma Unit 20th Eng Bde, 557th Eng Co, 31st Eng Bn, 79th Eng Grp Death Code Non-Hostile Died; Ground Casualty; Accidental Homicide Hometown   service # 534529116 Panel 05WEST - 109   married Single MIA -   Medals   Tour Date 22SEP70 Comment   Cemetery

Spec. 5 James Patrick Thompson, 21, of 4206 N. Huson St., died 15 Feb (1971) in Vietnam. Mr. Thompson was born in Tacoma and was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church. Survivors include his father, Ronald W. Thompson; his mother, Mrs. Ruth E. Thompson; three brothers, Richard, Patrick and David; two sister, Rona Rae and Margaret Ann and his grandmother, Mrs. Irene Thompson, all of Tacoma. Funeral services will be announced by Cassedy and Allen Mortuary. (Tacoma News Tribune, Tacoma WA, 23 Feb 1971)

Gregory Stephen CRANDALL

Birth 18JUL49 Rank WO1 Date of Death 18FEB71 P. of birth Oakland CA Service Army (Reserve) Place Laos Town of Record Tacoma Unit Troop C, 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry, 101st Airborne Division Death Code Hostile Died Missing; Helicopter - Crew; Air Loss Crash - Land Hometown   service # 499526352 Panel 05WEST - 115   married Single MIA - ID'd 06/93 Medals   Tour Date   Comment   Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery

(MIA Report Extracted from P.O.W. Network) Gregory Stephen Crandall was born 18 Jul 1948 at Oakland CA. His town of record was Tacoma. He was part of Operation Dewey Canyon II. He was a member of Troop C, 2nd Squadron 17th Cavalry, 101st Airborne Division and the pilot of a U.S. Army OH6A helicopter which was shot down about 8 miles east of Tchpone while conducting an aerial reconnaissance mission on 18 Feb 1971. There was one major and six seconary explosions. Although the crash was spotted it was not thoroughly investigated. On 17 Sep 1993 Gregory Stephen Crandall's remains were buried at Arlington National Cemetary.
for much more information P.O.W. Network

James Arthur LONG

Birth 06NOV38 Rank SFC Date of Death 18FEB71 P. of birth   Service Army Place Quang Tri, S. Vietnam Town of Record Seattle Unit MACV, Adv Team 1 Death Code Non-Hostile, Helicopter NonCrew; Air Loss, Crash on Land Hometown   service # 462604166 Panel 05WEST - 117   married Married MIA -   Medals   Tour Date 20OCT70 Comment   Cemetery

Christopher L. CLEARWATERS

Birth 15JUL47 Rank 1LT Date of Death 20FEB71 P. of birth Seattle Service Army Place Phouc Long, S. Vietnam Town of Record Seattle Unit 1st Cav Div, A Co, 5th Bn, 7th Cav Death Code Hostile Died; Helicopter - NonCrew; Air Loss Crash - Land Hometown   service # 565641508 Panel 05WEST - 123   married Single Link Virtual Wall Medals   Tour Date 02AUG70 Comment grad. Citadel 1969 Cemetery Punch Bowl National Cem., Honolulu Hawaii

Remembering Chris Clearwaters by his sister
    Chris was born in Seattle, as were my other brother, Boyd Lee Clearwaters, and my sister, Lynda Clearwaters Lewis, but our father (Boyd Henry Clearwaters) was a career Army man, and we were what is commonly referred to as Army Brats. Being a Brat, Chris went to several high schools, none of which were in Seattle. Our Grandmother (Genevieve Lynn White) and Grandfather (Richard F. White) lived in Seattle most of their lives, and died there too. Our aunts, uncles, and cousins went to school (some ended up in WSU, some at UW) their whole lives. Chris graduated from the Citadel (military college of South Carolina) in 1969 (after graduating from George Washington High School in Philadelphia PA in 1965.
    Chris volunteered for Vietnam. My brother Boyd Lee was also in Vietnam when Chris was killed. Boyd brought Chris' body "home" to Hawaii to be buried in the Punchbowl (the National Cemetery in Honolulu Hawaii).
    My father and mother retired to Hawaii when his military career ended. My father (who was born in Spokane) is buried in the Punchbowl near my brother. My mother (Priscilla White Clearwaters) currently resides in Hawaii. My brother Boyd lives in Florida. My sister Lynda lives in Silverdale, and I live in Germany.
    Candy Casper
email received 5 May 2003

Picture from and more remembrances at Virtual Wall

Services held in Honolulu for 1st Lt. Clearwaters
    Military funeral services for Army 1st Lt. Christopher L. Clearwater, 23, former Seattleite and member of a military family, were held Friday in Honolulu.
    Lieutenant Clearwaters, who was assigned to the 1st Air Cavalry Division in Vietnam, was killed 20 Feb (1971) when the helicopter in which he was riding crashed and burned after coming under enemy fire in Southeast Asia.
    Lieutenant Clearwaters was the son of Army Lt. Col. and Mrs. Boyd H. Clearwaters, former Laurelhurst residents, now of Honolulu. Colonel Clearwaters is widely known for his work in aiding Korean orphans.
    Born in Seattle, Lieutenant Clearwaters attended Laurelhurst Elementary School and graduated from high school in Philadelphia. He joined the Army after graduating with honors from The Citadel, Charleston SC in 1969. He went to Vietnam last summer.
    Survivors besides his parents are a brother, Army Capt. Boyd L. Clearwaters, in Vietnam; two sisters, Mrs. Robert Marsh, Fort Bragg, NC and Mrs. Q. E. D. Lewis, Gulfport MS, and his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Richard F. White, Seattle. (Seattle Times, Seattle WA, 5 Mar 1971)

John Vernon RAUEN

Birth 23OCT48 Rank WO Date of Death 20FEB71 P. of birth   Service Army (Reserve) Place Quang Tri, S. Vietnam Town of Record Seattle Unit USARV 498th Medical Co Death Code Non-Hostile, Died; Helicopter-Pilot; Air Loss, Crash - Land Hometown   service # 539443391 Panel 05WEST - 126   married Single Link Virtual Wall Medals   Tour Date 10JUN70 Comment   Cemetery   Chief Sealth High School, Seattle WA, 1966

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John V. Rauen, copter pilot, killed in war     Army Warrant Officer 1st Class John V. Rauen, 22, of Seattle, was killed 20 Feb (1971) in Vietnam when the helicopter he was piloting crashed and burned.     Mr. Rauen was an air craft commander of a medical evacuation helicopter with the 498th Medical Company. He enlisted in the Army in 1969 and went to Vietnam last June. He was a graduate of Sealth High School and attended Seattle University.     Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank T. Rauen, of 9344 Fauntleroy Way S.W.; a sister, Mrs. Melody Carroll, at home, and his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Atleson, Grant Pass OR.     Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Riverton Crest, directed by the West Home Chapel (Seattle Times, Seattle WA, 4 Mar 1971)

Mitchell Bruce SMITH

Birth 08NOV49 Rank SP5 Date of Death 21FEB71 P. of birth Wichita KS Service Army Place Binh Dinh, S. Vietnam Town of Record Tacoma Unit 404th Radio Research Det, 313th RR Bn, 509th RRS Grp Death Code Hostile, Died; Ground Casualty; Other Explosive Device Hometown   service # 539548894 Panel 05WEST - 130   married Single MIA -   Medals   Tour Date 12JUL70 Comment   Cemetery

Spec. 5 Mitchell Bruce Smith, 21, of 9402 S. Park Ave., who was killed in action in Vietnam last Sunday, was born in Wichita KS, and lived in the Tacoma area since 1957. Specialist Smith was in his third Army tour of Vietnam, and was a member of McChord Air Force Base Catholic Church. He was a 1967 graduate of Clover Park High School. Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs.. William H. Smith, of Tacoma; two brothers, Shawn Patrick, at home, and William H. Jr., of Seattle; a sister, Miss Sheila Jo, at home; and his grandmother, Mrs. Elizabeth O. Smith, of California. (Tacoma News Tribune, Tacoma WA, 26 Feb 1971)

Ronald Gay CURTIS

Birth 24MAY49 Rank SGT Date of Death 22FEB71 P. of birth Tacoma Service Army (Draft) Place Thua Thien, S. Vietnam Town of Record Eatonville Unit B Co, 1st Bn, 327th Inf Death Code Non-Hostile Died Other Ground Casualty Other Accident Hometown   service # 535417925 Panel 05WEST - 131  married Single MIA -   Medals   Tour Date 25OCT70 Comment Cemetery

Army Spec. 5 Ronald G. Curtis, 21, of 152 Mashell Ave., Eatonville, who died last Thursday in Vietnam, was born in Tacoma and lived his entire life in this area. He was a 1968 graduate of Eatonville High School. survivors include his parents, Mrs. Delia Sjoblom, of Eatonville, and A. Ray Curtis, of Morton; three brothers, Ray, of Morton, Jerry and Glen, both of Eatonville; four sisters, Mrs. Pat (Edwinna) VanEaton, of Morton, Mrs. Jim (Aleta) Daniel, and Mrs. Greg (Louetta) Hollyfield, both of Eatonville, and Miss Tammy Lynn, of the home; and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Chauncey Curtis, of Milton. Services will be announced by Dryer Mortuary. (Tacoma News Tribune, Tacoma WA, 25 Feb 1971)

Monty Lewis HARBIN

Auburn High School Auburn WA 1968

Birth 30JUN50 Rank SGT Date of Death 22FEB71 P. of birth Bellingham WA Service Army Place Phuoc Long, S. Vietnam Town of Record Auburn Unit 1st Cav Div, A Trp, 1st Sqdr, 9th Cav Death Code Non-Hostile, Ground Casualty - Burns Hometown Auburn service # 534509564 Panel 05WEST - 131   married Married MIA -   Medals   Tour Date 17AUG70 Comment   Cemetery Mt. View Cemetery

City soldier killed in Viet accident
Military burial services are pending for a 1968 Auburn High School who was killed in an accident this week in Vietnam. Spec. 4 Monty L. Harbin, 1210 25th St. SE died Monday at a base camp in Song Bay, Vietnam. He was 20. Born 30 June 1950 in Bellingham, he came to Auburn in 1963, attending Olympic Junior High And Auburn High Schools. He was a member of the high school band. On 23 Jan 1970, he married the former Margaret Mary Waggoner at Holy Family Catholic Church. Survivors include his wife, Margaret, Auburn; parents, Mr. and Mrs. Floyd A. Harbin, Auburn; a brother, Matthew Harbin, Auburn, a sister, Mrs. Francis (Kathy) Morehouse, Lancaster WI; grandparents, Mrs. Mildred Olmstead, Kent, and Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Harbin, Lyman WA. Funeral arrangements are pending at Price Helton Funeral Chapel with Military burial services planned for Mt. View Cemetery at a later date. The family requests that any memorials be sent to Medic 1 or the Children's Orthopedic Hospital and Medical Center in Seattle. (Auburn Globe-News, Auburn WA )

Monte Harbin Services for Army Spec. 4 Monte L. Harbin, 20, of 1210 25th St. SE., Auburn, who died 22 Jan (1971) in Vietnam, are announced by Prince-Helton Funeral Home, Auburn. He was born in Bellingham and came to Auburn in 1963 and graduated from Auburn High School in 1968. He joined the Army in 1969 and was a helicopter maintenance man in Vietnam. Survivors include his wife, Margaret M., his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Harbin; and a brother, Matthew, all of Auburn; a sister, Mrs. Kathy Moorehouse, of Wisconsin; and his grandparents, Mrs. Mildred Olmstead, of Kent, and Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Harbin, of Lyman. (The Tacoma News Tribune, Tacoma WA, 04 Mar 1971)

Terry Maxwell USHER

Birth 12AUG43 Rank 1LT Date of Death 23FEB71 P. of birth Indiana Service Army (Reserve) Place Laos Town of Record Tacoma Unit 1st Avn Bde, 173rd Aviation Co Death Code Non-Hostile Died Other Helicopter - Crew Air Loss Crash - Land Hometown   service # 311445077 Panel 04WEST - 01   married Single MIA -   Medals   Tour Date 17AUG70 Comment   Cemetery ? Cemetery, Indiana

(A Remembrance for Terry Usher by his brother William Usher (email received 9 Apr 03)) Terry was an Indiana boy who married a Washington State girl. He moved his family to Tacoma WA to be near her family. He had one daughter, Melanie. His body was returned to Indiana for burial.

Michael Henry KEYS

Birth 08NOV49 Rank SP4 Date of Death 24FEB71 P. of birth   Service Army Place Binh Duong, S. Vietnam Town of Record Manson Unit 1st Avn Bde, A Trp, 17th Cav Death Code Non-Hostile, Helicopter Noncrew - Air loss, Crash on Land Hometown   service # 553487490 Panel 04WEST - 03   married Single MIA -   Medals   Tour Date 23 Jul 1970 Comment   Cemetery

Spec. 4 Michael Keys, Manson, dies in War
Spec. 4 Michael H. Keys, 21, of Manson, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Keys, died 24 Feb (1971) while serving on the U. S. Army duty in Vietnam. Spec. Keys enlisted in the Army in January of 1970 and arrived in Vietnam last August. He was born 8 Nov 1949 at Billings MT and the next year he moved to Seattle with the family. In 1952 the family moved to Manson where he graduated from high school in 1968. He attended Central Washington State College at Ellensburg. He was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church at Chelan. Surviving besides the parents are five sisters, Mary, Sheila, Charlotte, Virginia and Angie, and the brothers, John and James, all at home; and the grandparents, Mrs. Vic Howell of Manson and Harlow Pease, Helena MT. Funeral arrangements will be announced later by Precht Rose Chapel of Chelan, pending arrival of the body and official Army escort. Manson article (Wenatchee Daily World, Wenatchee?)