Faces From the Wall - 1960 - 1964 - Montana & the Vietnam Wall, KIA

FACES FROM THE WALL

MONTANA and VIETNAM WAR

April 1967 - JUNE 1967

Birth	1945-02-28	Rank	WO	Date of Death	1967-04-06
P. of birth		Service	US Army	Place	South Vietnam
Town of Record	Helena, Montana	Unit	1st Avn Bde, 128th Aviation Co, 11th Avn Bn, 12th Avn Grp	Death Code	Non-Hostile Died-Air Loss, Crash - Land-Helicopter - Pilot
Hometown	Helena	service #	W3154786	Panel	17E - Row 111
Married	Single	MIA -	BR	Medals
Tour Date	1967-01-11	Comment		Cemetery

Helena Helicopter Pilot Killed in Vietnam War
James Leo Darcy, 22-year-old Army warrant officer from Helena, was killed Thursday while returning from a fire support mission in Vietnam. He was the pilot of a U81D helicopter that crashed for unknown reasons. Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Darcy of the Helena Valley were notified that their son was missing after the helicopter went down at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. At that time an investigation and search was in progress. Sunday Army officials notified the Darcys that their son's body had been found. He died as the result of injuries received in the crash.
A 1963 graduate of Helena High School, Darcy entered the Army in November, 1965, and had been in Vietnam since 13 Jan (1967). He was a member of the 128th Assault Helicopter Co. Darcy, who was 22 on 28 Feb (1967), received his flight wings at Fort Rucker AL in December. He then returned Home on furlough before leaving for Vietnam, arriving there 13 Jan (1967).
In addition to his parents, Darcy is survived by a brother, Bill, who is a student at Montana State University; a sister, Margaret Strachan of Helena; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral Scheduled Here. The body will be returned to Helena for burial.
Darcy is the second Helena man to become a combat fatality in Vietnam. The first was Marine Cpl. Bruce Backenberg, 19, who was killed last Sept (19 Sep 1966), by missile fragments in combat action.
Yeoman 2/C Jack I. Dempsey of Helena was killed 17 Jun 1966, when the C130 Hercules air transport plane he was in crashed into the East China Sea off the coast of South Vietnam. He was one of eight U.S. Navy crewmen killed in that crash but this was not considered a combat death.

Jack Herbert ANDERSON

Birth	1935-09-15	Rank	2LT	Date of Death	1967-04-12
P. of birth		Service	US Marine Corp	Place	Quang Tri South Vietnam
Town of Record	Livingston, Montana	Unit	3rd Mar Div, A Co, 3rd Tank Bn	Death Code	Hostile, Died-Artillery, Rocket, Mortar-Ground Casualty
Hometown	Livingston	service #	096029	Panel	18E - Row 017
Married	Married	MIA -	BR	Medals	Purple Heart
Tour Date		Comment		Cemetery

Rites for Lt. Anderson To Be Conducted Here
The body of Marine Lt. Jack H. Anderson, 32, formerly of Bigfork, is being forwarded to the Waggener & Campbell Funeral Home. Funeral arrangements for Lt. Anderson are to be announced.
Lt. Anderson was killed when the tank in which he was riding struck a mine about eight miles south of the demilitarized zone near Quang Tri in Vietnam 11 Apr (1967).
He was the son of Arthur Anderson of Weiser ID, formerly of Bigfork, and was born in 1935. He was a 1952 graduate of Bigfork High School
Lt. Anderson was preceded in death by his mother. He is survived by his widow, Roberta, and three sons, Dan, Dennis and Deland, at the family Home in Oceanside CA; his father, five sisters, Mrs. Don (Bertha) Corrigan of Polson, Mrs. Harold (Shirley) Stahlberg and Mrs. Bill (Bonnie) Clark, both of Kalispell, Mrs. Jan Hillman of Portland and Mrs. Norma Fochtman of Weiser; a brother Robert Anderson in Idaho and his grandmother Mrs. Herbert Conant of Polson.
Memorial services were conducted at the Marine Memorial Chapel at Camp Pendleton CA, today. (Daily Inter Lake, Kalispell MT, 19 Apr 1967)

In Viet Nam
Second Lt. Jack H. Anderson, USMC, son of Arthur A. Anderson, formerly of Bigfork, was killed by enemy fire in Viet Nam 12 Apr (1967). He was a brother of Mrs. Don Corrigan of Polson. He arrived at Quang Tri, close to the border between North and South Viet Nam, the last of February of this year.
Anderson graduated from Bigfork High school in 1953, and entered the Marine Corps that summer. He served in the Korean conflict. Upon discharge he attended MSU in Bozeman for 2 quarters and then went to work for the FBI in Butte for a few years. He remained active in the Marine Reserves but later rejoined the Corps to make it a career.
While living in Butte he married Roberta Clark of Livingston. He is survived by his wife and three sons, Danny, 10; Dennis, 7; and Deland, 5, all of Ocean Side CA. Other survivors are: His father, Arthur A. Anderson, now in Weiser ID; five sisters, Mrs. Roland Hillman of Salem OR; Mrs. Don Corrigan, Polson; Mrs. Orville Focthman, Weiserer ID; Mrs. Bill Clark, and Mrs. Bud Stahlberg, Kalispell. A brother, Robert A. of Ida. and grandmother, Mrs. H. M. Conant of Polson.
Funeral arrangements are pending arrival of the body at the Wagner and Campbell Chapel in Kalispell. (Daily Inter Lake, Kalispell MT, 20 Apr 1967)

Howard Daniel VANDENACRE

Birth	1946-11-18	Rank	PFC	Date of Death	1967-04-14
P. of birth		Service	US Army	Place	Long An South Vietnam
Town of Record	Conrad, Montana	Unit	9th Inf Div, C Co, 2nd Bn, 60th Infantry	Death Code	Hostile, Died-Multiple Fragmentation Wounds-Ground Casualty
Hometown	Conrad	service #	56372668	Panel	18E - Row 027
Married	Single	MIA -	BR	Medals	Purple Heart
Tour Date	1966-12-01	Comment		Cemetery

Conrad Man Dies in War; First From Pondera County
Pfc. Howard D. VandenAcre, 20, Conrad, became the first Pondera County man to die in Vietnam when a Viet Cong mine exploded 14 Apr (1967) near his guard position on his unit's perimeter. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. John VandenAcre, who ranch north of Conrad, received word of the death Sunday.
VandenAcre entered the Army in September 1965 and arrived in Vietnam 22 Dec 1966. He was taking part in Operation Enterprise in South Vietnam when death occurred from "fragmentation." His units was Company c, 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry, Ninth Infantry Division.
A native of Montana, VandenAcre was born in Plentywood, 18 Nov 1946, and attended schools in Conrad. He was a member of the Christian Reformed Church there.
Survivors, in addition to his parents, are a brother, Jerry, and sister, Patricia, bath at home, and a grandmother, Mrs. A. M. Westphal, Plentywood.
Funeral services will be held in Conrad at a time to be announced after arrival of the body. ( Tribune - Leader, Great Falls MT, 17 Apr 1967)

HOWARD VANDENACRE FIRST FROM PONDERA TO BE KILLED IN VIETNAM
Services for Pfc. Howard D. Vandenacre, the first Pondera County man to be killed in Vietnam, will be held in the First Presbyterian church tomorrow (Friday) at 2 p.m. Rev. Harold DeJong will officiate. The Veterans of Foreign Wars will be in charge of military honors at the graveside.
His parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Vandenacre of Conrad were notified Sunday of their son's death. He was killed Friday (14 Apr 1967) in Vietnam, while on Perimeter 1 defense when hit by fragments from a hostile command detonated Claymore mine.
Howard was born 18 Nov 1946 in Plentywood, and attended schools in Conrad. He was baptized a member of the Conrad Christian Reformed church. He entered the service 12 Sep 1965, and was stationed at Fort Ord CA and Fort Riley KS before going overseas 22 Dec 1966. He was taking part in Operation Enterprise in South Vietnam when death occurred from "fragmentation.: His unit was Company C, Second Battalion, 60th Infantry, Ninth Infantry Division.
Survivors, in addition to his parents, are a brother, Jerry and a sister, Patti. Among other relatives are an aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Julien Sorlie of Conrad and grandmother, Mrs. A. M. Westphal of Plentywood.
Sgt. Jerry N. Nelson was the military escort accompanying the body to Great Falls by plane where he was met Wednesday night by E. F. Wyse and Son, who are handling funeral arrangements.
Instead of flowers the family would prefer donations for a memorial for the proposed new hospital. (Independent-Observer, Conrad MT, 20 Apr 1967)

Stephen Carl NELSON

Birth	1947-05-01	Rank	PFC	Date of Death	1967-04-25
P. of birth	Rochester MN	Service	US Marine Corp	Place	Quang Tri South Vietnam
Town of Record	Great Falls, Montana	Unit	3rd Mar Div, K Co, 3rd Bn, 3rd Marines	Death Code	Hostile, Died-Artillery, Rocket, Mortar-Ground Casualty
Hometown	Great Falls	service #	2222442	Panel	18E - Row 087
Married	Single	MIA -	BR	Medals	Purple Heart
Tour Date		Comment		Cemetery

Falls Youth is Killed In Vietnam Action
Dr. and Mrs. Carl G. Nelson, 3642 5th Ave. S., were advised Friday of the death of their son, Marine Pfc. Stephen C. Nelson, killed in South Vietnam 25 Apr (1967) when he sustained a fatal mortar wound in ground action. Nelson, killed six days before his 20th birthday, was attached to a weapons platoon of the Third Marine Regiment, Third Division. It is believed his unit was one of those hunting down an enemy company in Quang Tri province when it came upon them entrenched in positions on a hill and were thrown back.
Casualties in the encounter are listed as 37 Marines killed and 84 wounded. The battle took place in the northwest corner of southwest Vietnam, according to Thursday's report of the ground struggle and combat air support which followed.
Nelson was born in Rochester MN, 1 May 1947. The family lived in Great Falls when he was five and he attended local schools. graduating from Great Falls High School in 1965. After two quarters at the University of Montana, Nelson enlisted in the Marine Corps in February, 1966, and went overseas last August.
In addition to the parents, the youth is survived by a sister, Jame; and brothers, Neil and Thomas, all at home. There are also uncles, aunts and cousins surviving.
Funeral services will be held at the First Congregational Church here at a time to be announced. Arrangements will be in charge of Chapel of Chimes Funeral Home.
(Tribune Leader, 30 Apr 1967)

Douglas Wayne TALLON

Birth	1948-12-09	Rank	SP 4	Date of Death	1967-05-02
P. of birth		Service	US Army	Place	South Vietnam
Town of Record	Eureka, Montana	Unit	359th Trans Co, 8th Trans Grp	Death Code	Non-Hostile, Died -Vehicle Loss, Crash-
Hometown	Eureka	service #	56412051	Panel	19E - Row 018
Married	Single	MIA -	BR	Medals
Tour Date	1967-02-02	Comment		Cemetery	Tobacco Valley Cemetery, Eureka MT

D. W. Tallon Killed In Vietnam Troy -- Douglas W. Tallon, 18, a member of the 359th Transport Company in Vietnam, was killed 2 May (1967) about 4:15 p.m. when a large gas tanker he was driving blew up, it was reported today. No further details were included in the wire received by his father William Tallon of Troy. The soldier had joined the army a year ago in January in Eureka. Funeral arrangements are pending arrival of the body Friday at the Gompf Funeral Home with burial to be at the Tobacco Valley Cemetery in Eureka. The father, presently a resident of Troy, is employed by the Heintz Construction Company and though he had lived in Troy for about a year and a half, he and the boy's stepmother had come from Eureka. He is also survived by one brother William Tallon who is with a transport company in the Army in Alaska. The brother was due to arrive in Eureka shortly. (Daily Inter Lake, Kalispell MT, 10 May 1967)

Joseph Gordon KLEMENCIC

Birth	1946-11-28	Rank	PFC	Date of Death	1967-05-09
P. of birth		Service	US Marine Corp	Place	Quang Tri South Vietnam
Town of Record	Great Falls, Montana	Unit	3rd Mar Div, F Co, 2nd Bn, 3rd Marines	Death Code	Hostile, Died-Gun, Small Arms Fire-Ground Casualty
Hometown	Great Falls	service #	2222617	Panel	19E - Row 072
Married	Single	MIA -	BR	Medals	Purple Heart
Tour Date		Comment		Cemetery

FALLS YOUTH IS KILLED IN VIETNAM FIGHTING
Joseph G. Klemencic Jr., 20, 3108 6th Ave. S., son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph G. Klemencic Sr., same address, was killed Wednesday (9 May 1967) in Vietnam while serving with the U.S. Marines, according to information received here Wednesday night by his parents. He is believed to be the 49th Montanan and the third Great Falls youth to die in Vietnam.
Klemencic, who enlisted in the Marines about a year ago, had been overseas about six months and was assigned to the Second Battalion, Third Marines, Third Marine Division.
Born here 28 Nov 1946, he was graduated from St. Thomas School and Great Falls Central High School in the class of 1965. While at Central he participated in football and wrestling. His engagement to marry Cheryl Kay Luckey of Great Falls was announced here last fall before he left on his overseas assignment. He was a member of Holy Family parish.
The eldest of six children, he is survived by brothers Jim, John, Jeff Jerry, and a sister, Janet, in addition to his parents. Also surviving is his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Ann Griffiths of Great Falls. Great Falls Tribune, Great Falls MT, 12 May 1967)

Daniel Warren BEARY

Birth	1946-09-06	Rank	PFC	Date of Death	1967-05-14
P. of birth	San Diego CA	Service	US Army	Place	Quang Ngai South Vietnam
Town of Record	Hardin, Montana	Unit	A CO, 2ND BN, 35TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 25 INF DIV	Death Code	Hostile, Died Wounds-Multiple Fragmentation Wounds-Ground Casualty
Hometown	Hardin	service #	56407735	Panel	19E - Row 115
Married	Single	MIA -	BR	Medals	Purple Heart
Tour Date	1967-03-17	Comment	Virtual Wall	Cemetery

Hardin Youth Dies in Vietnam
PFC Daniel Warren Beary, 20, son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Beary of Hardin, died Sunday at Second Sugical Hospital in Vietnam of wounds received in combat. He is the second young man from Hardin who has given his life fighting in the southeast Asia police action.
PFC Beary was injured Saturday when he was hit by fragments of a hostile booby trap. His parents learned of his death early Tuesday.
He was born 6 Sep 1946, in San Diego CA and moved to Hardin with his parents as a baby. The family has lived here ever since. Dan attended elementary schools here and was graduated from Hardin High School in 1964. He played basketball and football for the Hardin Bulldogs.
He attended the University of Montana at Missoula and Eastern Montana College before he entered the Army in October, 1966. He received training at Fort Lewis WA and Ft Jackson SC, before leaving for Vietnam on 17 Mar (1967) of this year.
He was a member of the Congregational Church.
He is survived by his parents of Hardin; two sisters, Mrs. Donalee LaBar of Missoula and Jeanie Beary of Hardin; a brother, Robert Beary of Hardin; his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Maud Warren of Hardin and his grandfather, W. A. Beary of Sewal IA. His fiancee, Miss Joyce Papiel, makes her home in Billings.
Funeral services are pending the arrival of the body from Vietnam. (unknown newspaper, 18 May 1967)

Edward Roy FRANK Jr.

Birth	1928-05-30	Rank	LTC	Date of Death	1967-05-18
P. of birth		Service	US Army	Place
Town of Record	Helena	Unit	MACV, Adv Team 3	Death Code	Hostile, Ground Casualty, Multiple Fragmentation Wounds
Hometown	Hardin	service #	O89964	Panel	20E - Line 26
Married	Married	MIA -	BR	Medals	Purple Heart
Tour Date		Comment		Cemetery	Golden Gate National Cem., San Bruno CA�

Fourth Capital City Victim
ARMY OFFICER FROM HELENA KILLED IN VIETNAM WAR
Helena's fourth serviceman to die in Vietnam combat was Army Lt. Col. Edward R. Frank Sr., 38, who was killed Thursday during a mortar and rocket attack. Word of the colonel's death was received Friday by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John F. Frank, 1827 Boulder. Mrs. Frank left Saturday to be with the colonel's widow and children.
Entered Army in 1946
Frank, who would have been 39 on 30 May (1967) and would have been eligible for retirement in a year. He was a graduate of Helena High School
The Green Beret, who spent most of the past five or six years is a training instructor in Vietnam, was on detached duty from his Home outfit, the 101st Airborne Paratroopers. His military service, throughout much of the world, included working at the Pentagon for about two years, 1957-58; duty in Alaska and Iceland and his first overseas tour of duty in Italy. He studied Russian and Chinese for about two years in Monterey CA, preparatory to his Vietnam assignment.
<.b> was Helena Athlete
During his years at Helena High School, he was active in sports, as a player and manager of football and basketball teams. In 1945, Frank was a fielder for the Helena American Legion baseball team, captained by Herb Plews, shortstop. Col Frank was an Independent Record newsboy in about 1943 and later was employed in the advertising department. Prior to entering the army, he worked at Retz Funeral Home.
Survivors include his widow, Margie; a son, Edward Roy Jr., 13; a daughter, Margie, 12; brothers, John, Helena, and David, with the Marines in Okinawa; sisters, Mrs. Martha Smith and Mrs. Margaret Roddy, and a grandmother, Mrs. Effie Millegan, all of Helena; aunts and uncles and numerous nieces and nephews, most of them of Helena.
The colonel and his family last visited Helena in 1957.
(Independent Record, Helena MT, 21 May 1967)

Lt. Col. Frank Will be Buried in California Funeral services were scheduled today in Salinas CA, for Lt. Col. Edward R. Frank Sr., 38, former Helena resident, who was killed in action in Vietnam last Thursday (18 May 1967). An officer with the 101st Airborne, Frank will be buried in Golden Gate National Cemetery at San Brun CA, according to word received from his mother, Mrs. John F. Frank, who left Helena Saturday to be with the colonel's widow and two children in Salinas. Word of the colonel's death was received Friday by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John F. Frank, 1827 Boulder. Killed during a mortar and rocket attack, he was the fourth Helena service man to die in Vietnam combat. Frank who would have been 39, 30 May (1967), was a graduate of Helena High School. He entered the Army in March 1946, and would have been eligible for retirement next year. (Independent Record, Helena MT, 25 May 1967)

Terry Michael ELSHIRE

Birth	1948-02-08	Rank	SP 4	Date of Death	1967-05-21
P. of birth		Service	US Army	Place	South Vietnam
Town of Record	Juliet, Montana	Unit	25th Inf Div, B Co, 2nd Bn, 35th Infantry	Death Code	Non-Hostile, Died Other-Accidental Homicide-Ground Casualty
Hometown	Joliet MT	service #	19879900	Panel	20E - Row 073
Married	Single	MIA -	BR	Medals
Tour Date	1966-09-06	Comment		Cemetery	Joliet cemetery

JOLIET MAN DIES IN VIETNAM
The war in Viet Nam was brought Home with a shock to Carbon County folks this week as the War Dept. reported to Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Elshire of Joliet that their son Terry, 19, had been killed there.
The boy died after an accident with a .45 pistol. He had been in Viet Nam since September of last year (1966), a forward observer and radioman with the 25th Infantry Division.
Services with military honors will be conducted today, Thursday, at 2 p.m. from the Joliet Christian church, Rev. John Moore officiating. The Juliet VFW and the Frombers American Legion Post. will observe graveside services, at the Joliet cemetery.
Terry and his family came to Joliet in 1956; Mr. Elshire has worked for Continental Trailways as a bus driver for 27 years and last November the Elshires began operating Bell's Store at Joliet. Terry attended Joliet schools, and enlisted in the army in February of 1966.
He is survived by his parents; a brother Airman 1-C Martin Elshire, who is now stationed at Glasgow AFB after returning from Viet Nam; a sister, Mrs. Duane Barr of Great Falls; paternal grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Albert Elshire of Rapid City SD and maternal grandmother, Mrs. Dagmar Jensen of Santa Barbara CA. (Carbon County News, Red Lodge MT, 1 Jun 1967)

Gordon Marshal TRIPLETT

Birth	11AUG46	Rank	LCPL	Date of Death	28MAY67
P. of birth	Renton WA	Service	Marines	Place	Quang Nam, S. Vietnam
Town of Record	Seattle	Unit	BTRY F, 3 Bn, 11 Mar, 1 Mar Div	Death Code	Hostile, Died; Ground Casualty; Misadventure
Hometown		service #	2164185	Panel	21EAST - 07
married	Single	MIA -		Medals
Comment		Tour Date		Cemetery	Missoula MT

VIET WOUNDS FATAL TO GORDON TRIPLETT
Gordon M. Triplett, USMC died 28 May (1967) near Da Nang, Vietnam of wounds received while on a firing mission, it was learned Wednesday. Triplett came to Missoula with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harold (Bordy) Triplett, 725 Edith, and attended Missoula County High School. He entered the Marines 13 Aug 1965 and had been Home on leave during April. He was born 11 Aug 1946 in Renton WA. He is survived by his parents; two sisters, Mrs. Sharon Dingman and Christine Ann Triplett; a brother, Randy J., all of Missoula; paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Roby Triplett of Milltown, and maternal grandfather, William H. Otto of Seaside OR. Funeral arrangements are pending at Squire-Simmons-Carr Mortuary. (unknown newspaper clipping, 8 Jun 1967)

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Montana
Index 3rd St Books
home page June - July 1967

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