FACES FROM THE WALL

VIETNAM WAR

JEFFERSON WASHINGTON

PICTURES
for
Nordland

Monte Raoul DE VERE MSGT Army 10JAN70 S. Vietnam HOSTILE,KILLED Full Obituary Below Biography

Port Townsend

Stepen Ray LOPEMAN PFC Marines 11MAY69 S. Vietnam HOSTILE,KILLED Full Obituary Below Biography	Timothy James MC MAHON HM3 Navy 18SEP66 S. Vietnam HOSTILE,KILLED Full Obituary Below Biography	John Everett PADDOCK LCPL Marines 11SEP66 S. Vietnam HOSTILE,KILLED Full Obituary Below Biography
Marvin Glen SHIELDS CMA3 Navy 10JUN65 S. Vietnam HOSTILE,KILLED Full Obituary Below MEDAL OF HONOR Biography	William Thomas SMITH CPL Marines 03APR70 S. Vietnam HOSTILE,KILLED Full Obituary Below Biography

OBITUARIES

Monte Raoul DE VERE
Sgt. Monte DeVere, formerly of Norland, was reported killed in action this week, an Army spokesman has announced. Sergeant DeVere was assigned to the 483rd Military Police Platoon of the third brigade, 9th Infantry Division. He was serving his third tour of duty in the Republic of Vietnam. He is survived by a daughter Patricia Gayle 13, a student at Chimacum. The sergeant was last home 25 Aug,1969. Details surrounding Sergeant DeVere's death are not known at this time. Services for the sergeant will be announced as soon as disposition is known. (Port Townsend Leader, Port Townsend WA 15 Jan 1970)

Funeral Friday for Sgt DeVere, killed in Vietnam. Full military honors will be accorded Sgt Monte R. DeVere who was killed last week in action in Vietnam. Funeral services for Sergeant DeVere are set for 1pm. Friday at Owyen Funeral Home with burial following at Fort Worden Cemetery. Sergeant DeVere had been a professional soldier 27 years, entering the service at Downey,Cal.18 Oct. 1942. He was 48 when he was killed in action in Long An Province, Republic of Vietnam,Jan.10th.Survivors include two daughters, Beatrice Fields of California and Patty Gayle DeVere of Norland; his mother, Mrs. Nellie DeVere of Willow Springs, MO; two brothers, Dwayne of Willow Springs and Ted of Tacoma; three sisters, Susanna Lee and Soha of San Coulee, Mont., and Quanita McCarty of Colorado Springs, CO. Also two grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. (Port Townsend Leader, Port Townsend WA 22 Jan 1970)

Stepen Ray LOPEMAN
Marine PFC Steve Lopeman killed in Vietnam action. Viet Nam war taken for granted? by so many struck Port Townsend this week with the announcement that 19 year old Steve Lopeman youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Alva Lopeman, 50th (?)kman was killed in action. Word was received by the family Tuesday when representatives of the Marine Corps visited the Lopeman home. Stephen a 1968 Port Townsend graduate, died from wounds received while his unit was in a search and clear mission in Quang Nam Province of Viet Nam, the scene of heavy Marine fighting this week. He died Sunday, May 11-Mothers day. Lopeman entered the Marine Corps 9 Jul 1968. He was promoted to the rank of Private first class two weeks before his death. He celebrated his 19th birthday May 1. In high school Stephen was a member of the football team, playing both guard and tackle. He joined the Junior Odd Fellows of Chimacum Lodge at the age of 12, and this past December was inducted into the senior lodge by his father. Mrs. Lopeman reported that she received a letter from Stephen Monday noting his unit is playing hide and seek with the Viet Cong. "He was in the worst zone. There has been heavy fighting there all week. The [daily] paper reported some 19 marines had died in action this week." In high school Stephen was active in Boy's Club, T-Club and the Safeteens. He was a member of the San Jaun Baptist Mission. Besides his parents, surviving brothers and sisters include Leo Lopeman of Kelso; Fred of Olympia; Army Capt. Ronald Lopeman of Washington D.C.; Donald of Chicago; Mrs. Jennetta Lue Warner of Louisiana; Mrs. Jaunita Sue Strobel, and Colletta Rue Lopeman of the family home. Funeral arrangements will be announced later. (Port Townsend Leader, Port Townsend WA 15 May 1969)

Funeral Services were held Saturday afternoon at the First United Presbyterian Church for Stephen R. Lopeman, 19 year old Marine PFC killed in Viet Nam 11 May during action against the enemy. The Rev. Lance Cubley officiated at the services, Jack Mendro sang ' At the Eastern Gate" and " Beautiful Isle of Somewhere", accompanied by Sheila Pray. Interment was in Greenwood Cemetery at Chimacum with Marines serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were Jon Bill, Robert Cook, Tom Hall, Raleigh Haynes, Don Coulter, Robert Coulter, Tom Johnson, Jimmie Porter, Owen Porter, Mike Hurd, Jim Bishop and Bill Stewie. A son of Mr. and Mrs. Alva L. Lopeman of Port Townsend, the young Marine was born in this city on 1 May 1950. He graduated from the local high school before entering the service last July. He was a member of the San Jaun Baptist Mission, Junior Odd Fellows Subordinate Lodge at Chimacum. Surviving in addition to the parents are three sisters, Jennetta Warner of Morgan City, La, Jaunita Strobel of Olympia and Colletta Lopeman of Port Townsend; four brothers, Leo of Kelso, Fred of Olympia, Donald of Chicago and Captain Ronald G Lopeman of Washington D.C. The family suggests that remembrances be in the form of contributions to the Odd Fellows Building Fund, in care of Robert Lowerre, (Port Townsend Leader, Port Townsend WA 22 May 1969)

Timothy James MC MAHON
The war in Viet Nam claimed its third victim from the local area Saturday when Navy Medical Corpsman Timothy James McMahon was killed in action while serving with a Marine unit in the Danang area. McMahon, 20, was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Morel J. McMahon of Port Townsend. His death occurred as the result of a gunshot wound while " engaged in action against hostile forces "As a corpsman, McMahon was the only unarmed member of the American force involved in the action and was the unit's only casualty. Another Port Townsend man, Marine Lance Corporal John Paddock, was killed in action in the Danang area just six days earlier. McMahon entered the Navy on 1 Dec 1964, and following recruit training at San Diego was, assigned to the Naval Hospital there. He was attached to Marine Corps unit at Camp Pendleton and sent to Viet Nam just six weeks ago. Born 7 March 1946, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, McMahon moved to Port Townsend with his family about 16 years ago. He graduated from Port Townsend High School in 1964 and worked at the local Crown Zellerbach Mill [where his father is employed] before entering the Navy later that year. He had also worked, while a student at St. John Hospital, where his mother was a supervisor. Survivors, in addition to his parents, include two brothers, Patrick a veteran of the Navy service, and Michael an Air Force veteran, both of Long Beach, California; a sister, Mary at home here; his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Hester Johnson, and two aunts Mrs. Bryon Ruby and Mrs. Ernest Sievert all of Port Townsend. Navy Officers were here Sunday to inform the parents of the tragedy. Funeral arrangements pending. (Port Townsend Leader, Port Townsend WA 22 Sep 1966)

John Everett PADDOCK
John Paddocks died in action with Marine Corps in Vietnam. The war in Vietnam struck close to home again this week with the announcement Monday of the death in action of Marine Corps Lance Corporal John Everett Paddock 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. Vincent Paddock of Port Townsend,. His death occurred near Danang at about 7:30 am, VietNam time, on Sunday, when he was struck by fragments from a mine which detonated when run over by a vehicle in which he was riding. Marine Corps officers came this Monday morning to inform his parents of the tragedy. Memorial services for Lance Corporal Paddock will be held at 2pm Sunday at the First United Presbyterian Church, of which he was a member. His parents asked remembrances be in the form of donations to a John Paddock Memorial Fund being established at the church. Lance Corporal Paddock was serving in Headquarters and Service Company,1st Battalion,1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, in the war zone in recent months. He enlisted 10 Sept 1964, and following basic training at San Diego, Calif., he attended radio operators school and then served for a time at Camp Pendleton before going to Viet Nam. Upon graduation from radio school he was awarded the Meritorial Mast for finishing first in his class and was named acting student non-commissioned officer. Born here 13 March 1944, he graduated in 1962 from Port Townsend High School, where he played on the football and basketball teams and preformed in the school bands. As a youth he also assisted his mother in conducting her dance and music studio here. He was a first string forward on the Redskin basketball team which won third place in the state tournament in 1962 and was an end on the PTHS football team which tied for the Olympic League [combination A and AA] championship in 1961. Following high school he attended Olympic College, Bremerton, for a year and then worked in the machine and beater department at the Crown-Zellerbach mill here from June 1963 until reporting for service in the Marines.

Marvin Glen SHIELDS
Marvin Shields killed in Viet Nam. Jefferson County felt the tragic impact of war on a remote battlefront last Thursday when word was received that Marvin Glenn Shields 25, of Discovery Bay had been killed in action in Viet Nam. Shields died at Dong Xoai, ? miles south of Saigon. There one of the bloodiest engagements of the war erupted Wednesday night. He had been attached to a Navy SeaBee unit constructing an airstrip there- and was one of a 9-man Seabee squad located in a headquarters building, along with an 11 - man Army special forces team, when Dong Xoai [ a district capital] was overrun by 1,5000 VietCong troops. The battle for Dong Xoai ended temporarily on Friday when the routed Viet-Cong left district headquarters in ruins, with the dead including some 150 civilian men, women and children. American casualties, heaviest of the war, included 6 dead, 13 wounded and 13 missing. Shield's wife, the former Joan Murray, and his mother, Mrs. Victoria Casselberry, of Discovery Bay were notified of his death by the, Navy, Thursday. He is also survived by a year old daughter Barbara. A 1958 graduate of Port Townsend High School, Shields was one of the first employees on the Mineral Bas? in Mining Development at Hyder, Alaska, when the locally organized project was initiated there by Walt Moa of Discovery Bay. He worked at Mineral Basin during the summer before graduating from school and returned there as a full time construction worker in 1958. He was called into the Navy early in 1962, and was due to be discharged in January. He held the rate of CM 3 and was attached to the SeaBee Battalion STAT, 1104th detachment, on the battlefront in Viet-Nam (Port Townsend Leader, Port Townsend WA 17 Jun 1965)

Marvin Shields laid to rest at Gardiner. The Gardiner Community Church was full to overflowing last Saturday afternoon for the funeral of Marvin Glenn Shields. Rev. John Thomson presided at the first half of the service while the second half was under the auspices of the Jefferson Masonic Lodge No. 107,Gael Stuart was the soloist, accompanied on the electric organ by Elizabeth Ammeter. Marvin was buried in the most beautiful spot of the Gardiner Cemetery which overlooks Discovery Bay. An honor guard of Marines fired a volley over the grave followed by the sounding of taps by the Navy. The American flag which draped the casket was folded by two of the Navy men and presented to Marvin's widow Joan by Melville Williams, USN, who had accompanied Marvin's body from San Francisco. Mellville who is from Discovery Bay was a very close friend of both Joan and Marvin. The Rev. Mr. Thomson read a letter during the service which had been received only the day before by Joan, It was from Marvin's commanding officer . In it were cited many of Marvin's heroic deeds and expressions of esteem as voiced by his associates in Viet Nam and also how well he was regarded by the natives. Many beautiful floral pieces from family and friends were arranged at the church. (Port Townsend Leader, Port Townsend WA Article dated 24-Jan 1965 by Mrs. Peter Jorgenson.)

Citation - MEDAL OF HONOR
*SHIELDS, MARVIN G. Rank and organization: Construction Mechanic Third Class, U.S. Navy, Seabee Team 1104. Place and date: Dong Xoai, Republic of Vietnam, 10 June 1965. Entered service at: Seattle, Wash. Born: 30 December 1939, Port Townsend, Wash. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Although wounded when the compound of Detachment A342, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, came under intense fire from an estimated reinforced Viet Cong regiment employing machineguns, heavy weapons and small arms, Shields continued to resupply his fellow Americans who needed ammunition and to return the enemy fire for a period of approximately 3 hours, at which time the Viet Cong launched a massive attack at close range with flame-throwers, hand grenades and small-arms fire. Wounded a second time during this attack, Shields nevertheless assisted in carrying a more critically wounded man to safety, and then resumed firing at the enemy for 4 more hours. When the commander asked for a volunteer to accompany him in an attempt to knock out an enemy machinegun emplacement which was endangering the lives of all personnel in the compound because of the accuracy of its fire, Shields unhesitatingly volunteered for this extremely hazardous mission. Proceeding toward their objective with a 3.5-inch rocket launcher, they succeeded in destroying the enemy machinegun emplacement, thus undoubtedly saving the lives of many of their fellow servicemen in the compound. Shields was mortally wounded by hostile fire while returning to his defensive position. His heroic initiative and great personal valor in the face of intense enemy fire sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. (U.S. Army Center of Military History )
Photo provided by Home of Heroes

William Thomas SMITH
Vietnam Victim's Courage to the End Letter, The Leader: Bill Smith - a 20 year-old boy. He was my friend during the last ten years of his life. He was killed last week by enemy fire on a night mission in Vietnam. With a name like Bill Smith you might expect him to be an all American boy. This he was. He loved and he feared a physical challenge. I talked with him on this last leave last fall before he left for Vietnam. He was frightened and he was excited. He wanted to be the best Marine our country had fighting over there in spite of his fears. He successfully met this challenge and he met it in just six short months of battle. In perhaps the last tape Bill made before he died he talked of returning home to Port Townsend not as a boy of 20 but as a proud man of 20 with an exciting future before him. He had many aspirations, not the least of which were to achieve financial success, travel the world and perhaps eventually to settle down as family man. These were the aspirations of a boy and a man who felt he had met the most important challenge of his young life and was now ready to go on to bigger and better challenges. For Bill, his service to his country had given him a great dealit (sic) had also taken his life....VAL KOSCHNICK (Port Townsend Leader, Port Townsend WA 9 Apr 1970)