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

FACES FROM THE WALL

MONTANA and VIETNAM WAR

JANUARY 1967 - MARCH 1967

Birth	1946-01-31	Rank	HM 3	Date of Death	1967-01-08
P. of birth		Service	US Navy	Place	Thua Thien South Vietnam
Town of Record	Harlem, Montana	Unit	H&S CO, 3D BN, 26TH MAR	Death Code	Hostile, Died Wounds-Gun, Small Arms Fire-Ground Casualty
Hometown	Harlem	service #	5423755	Panel	13E - Row 125
Married	Married	MIA -	BR	Medals	Purple Heart
Tour Date		Comment		Cemetery

Raymond Dale HOERNER

Birth	1945-12-05	Rank	SP 4	Date of Death	1967-01-10
P. of birth		Service	US Army	Place	Binh Duong, South Vietnam
Town of Record	Butte, Montana	Unit	25th Inf Div, B Co, 1st Bn, 27th Infantry	Death Code	Hostile, Died Wounds-Multiple Fragmentation Wounds-
Hometown	Butte	service #	56372856	Panel	14E - Row 005
Married	Single	MIA -	BR	Medals	Purple Heart
Tour Date	1966-04-19	Comment		Cemetery

Kalispell Jaycees last week set out the flags at the Doughboy Monument in honor of Raymond D. Hoerner, Columbia Falls, who died of wound in Vietnam 10 Jan (1967). the project is a continuing one of Jaycees to pay tribute to Montana servicemen who give their lives in the Vietnam war. Daily Inter Lake, Kalispell MT, 25 Jan 1967)

Weston Henry REECE

Birth	1945-12-16	Rank	CPL	Date of Death	1967-01-13
P. of birth		Service	US Army	Place	Binh Duong South Vietnam
Town of Record	Butte, Montana	Unit	1st Inf Div, A Co, 1st Bn,,28th Infantry	Death Code	Hostile, Died-Misadventure-Ground Casualty
Hometown	Butte	service #	56407323	Panel	14E - Row 024
Married	Single	MIA -	BR	Medals	Purple Heart, Bronze Star
Tour Date	1966-09-14	Comment		Cemetery	Sunset Memorial Gardens

Butte soldier killed in war cited for bravery, devotion.
Weston H. Reece, 21, Butte soldier killed in action in Vietnam 13 Jan (1967) has been posthumously awarded the Bronze Star medal for "outstanding display of aggressiveness, devotion to duty and personal bravery in action."
Word of the award was received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W. Reece, 1101 Maryland, from the headquarters of the First Infantry Division, San Francisco. Earlier the young soldier had been posthumously awarded the Army Commendation Medal, Purple Heart and a battlefield promotion from private first class to corporal.
The citation accompanying the Bronze Star, a second for the soldier, read, "Pfc. Reece was a rifleman in Operation Cedar Falls in dense jungle area of the Iron Triangle. His unit surprised a large force of Viet Cong. Artillery fire was called to block the Viet Cong escape routes and the unite pushed forward to capitalize on initial shock advantage and moved to the insurgents' position. Although wounded, with others, from hostile fire and artillery concentration. Pfc. Reece moved among his comrades to administer first aid. While so doing, he was mortally wounded, but not before he saved many lives. His outstanding display of aggressiveness, devotion to duty and personal bravery were in keeping with the finest traditions of the military services and reflected great credit upon himself, the First Infantry Division and the Army."
Reece attended local schools and was graduated from Butte High School. He was a hunting guide in Alaska when he entered the Army. He was prominent in amateur boxing here and was a Golden Gloves winner in state and regional competition. Funeral services were held here 23 Jan (1967). Interment was in Sunset Memorial Gardens.
Montana Standard, Butte MT, 12 Apr 1967)

Pfc. Weston H. Reece, victim of Vietnam war, buried here
Services for Pfc. Weston H. Reece were conducted Monday in Sayatovic - White's Funeral Home. Mrs. Mae Hinkley of Christian Science Church read services. Committal prayers were said in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers were Jack Atcheson, William Clark, Frank Shone, robert Murtha, James Dowland and Richard McMeekin.
Military services were conducted by Troop F, 163rd Armored Cavalry, Montana National Guard. Members were Lt. William Harrington, Staff Sgts. 4 C. Joe Slouber, John Heistrom, Dave Gianni and Dennis Henderson. Pvt. Joe Cunningham, Cadet Jack Walsh, Staff Sgts. Jack Walsh and Tom Foley and Bill Daly of the United Council of Butte.
Pfc. Reese was the second Butte man to die in the Vietnam war.
Montana Standard, Butte MT, 24 Jan 1967)

Francis John ZINDA

Birth	1933-06-17	Rank	RM 1	Date of Death	1967-01-14
P. of birth		Service	US Navy	Place	Gia Dinh South Vietnam
Town of Record	Wibaux, Montana	Unit	USS BRISTER (DER-327), 7TH FLEET	Death Code	Non-Hostile, Died Illness/injury-Illness, Disease-Ground Casualty
Hometown	Wibaux	service #	4324016	Panel	14E - Row 031
Married	Single	MIA -	BR	Medals
Tour Date		Comment		Cemetery	Wibaux Cemetery, Wibaux MT

Navy Man Buried With Military Honors.
Requiem Mass was celebrated for RM1 Francis John Zinda at 10 o'clock a.m. Tuesday morning at St. Peter's Catholic Church. Rev. Fr. Michael Guinan officiated. Burial was made in the Wibaux Cemetery, the military rites being performed by the Wibaux VFW Post No 5611, and committal rites by Fr. Guinan. A military escort to the final resting place was provided, with Ralph Begger and Al Begger carrying the U.S. and Post flags. Color guards were Bernard Braden and John Marciniak. Edward Wosepka acted as Guard at Larg. Gilbert Park, Vincent Knanke-- (missing part of article) sounded by Lt. Commander Lee and HMC R. R. Brown of the Naval Reserve of Billings. Lt. Maj. Jerome Bruski presented the flag to deceased's mother. The ceremonies were directed by local post commander Jim Roberts.
Pallbearers included: Dominic Begger, Roland Quade, Gilbert Quade, James Brophy, John Kahl and Robert E. Blome.
Francis John Zinda died at 3rd Field Hospital, Saigon, on Saturday, 14 Jan 1967, the victim of severe anemia. His body was flown to Billings and brought to Wibaux on Sunday, where he lay in state at the Crescent Funeral Home until removed to the church.
SF1 Daniel H. Watson, USN of San Francisco was the military escort.
Wibaux Pioneer-Gazette, Wibaux MT, 26 Jan 1967)

Louis John WANDLER

Birth	1946-11-28	Rank	SP 4	Date of Death	1967-01-21
P. of birth		Service	US Army	Place	Binh Duong South Vietnam
Town of Record	Stevensville, Montana	Unit	4th Inf Div, B Co, 3rd Bn, 22nd Infantry	Death Code	Hostile, Died-Gun, Small Arms Fire-Ground Casualty
Hometown	Stevensville	service #	56407041	Panel	14E - Row 065
Married	Single	MIA -	BR	Medals	Purple Heart
Tour Date	1966-09-24	Comment		Cemetery

L. J. Wandler of Stevensville Killed in action Washington (AP) -- The Defense Department Monday said Army Spec. 4 Louis J. Wandler of Stevensville MT has been killed in action in Vietnam. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig J. Wandler, Route (unreadable) Stevensville. (Montana Standard, Butte MT, 24 Jan 1967)

James F. Mc ELYEA

Birth	1948-03-28	Rank	PFC	Date of Death	1967-02-05
P. of birth	Salina KS	Service	US Army	Place	Kien Tuong, South Vietnam
Town of Record	Escondido CA	Unit	199th LIB, C Co, 4th Bn, 12th Infantry	Death Code	Non-Hostile, Died Other-Air Loss, Crash - Land-Helicopter - Crew
Hometown		service #	18836173	Panel	14E - Row 124
Married	Single	Local	Missoula	Medals
Tour Date	1967-01-07	Comment		Cemetery

Local Woman's Son Killed in Vietnam
James F. Mcelyea, 18, was killed Sunday in Vietnam when hit by hostile sniper fire while on a combat operation.
He was the son of Mrs. Emma Kay Adams of 1326 Harrison St.. and Ralph W. Mcelyea of Escondido CA.
Born 28 Mar 1948 in Salina KS, he received most of his school in California. A member of Boy Scouts as a youngster, he joined the United States Army in August., 1966. He had been in Vietnam since 5 Jan (1967).
Survivors include his parents; his stepfather, John Adams, Missoula; two brothers, Kenneth R., Ft. Sill OK and Michael R., Escondido; a sister, Annette, Missoula, and his maternal grandmother in Pennsylvania;
Services are pending the arrival of the body in California. Missoula - Sentinel, Missoula MT, 9 Feb 1967)

William Jay ROBBINS

Birth	1943-01-08	Rank	WO	Date of Death	1967-02-06
P. of birth	Absarokee	Service	US Army	Place	South Vietnam
Town of Record	Absarokee	Unit	Americal Div, 71st Asslt Hel Co, 14th Avn Bn	Death Code	Non-Hostile, Died Other-Air Loss, Crash - Land-Helicopter - Crew
Hometown	Absarokee	service #	W3154250	Panel	14E - Row 131
Married	Married	MIA -	BR	Medals
Tour Date	1966-10-06	Comment		Cemetery

Bill Robbins Killed in Viet Nam W.O. William J. Robbins of Absarokee was killed in Viet Nam last. Thursday (6 Feb 1967) when he went down in the helicopter he was piloting. He had been in Viet Nam since last October (1966). Robbins is a native of Absarokee, and attended High school there. He was married to Pamela K. Smith in 1965. Other survivors include one daughter, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jay Robbins of Absarokee; one brother, Jack Robbins, of Absarokee; a sister, Judy Robbins, Spokane WA. Funeral services have been set for Thursday afternoon at 1:30 in the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Absarokee, pastor Erickson, officiating. (Unknown newspaper, 16 Feb 1967)

Edward Norman LETCHWORTH

Birth	1941-12-21	Rank	LTJG	Date of Death	1967-02-27
P. of birth		Service	US Navy	Place	Off Shore North Vietnam
Town of Record	Libby, Montana	Unit	Helicopter Support Squadron 1, Detachment Lima, USS BON HOMME RICHARD CVA 31	Death Code	Non-Hostile, Died Other-Air Loss, Crash - Sea-Helicopter - Crew
Hometown	Walla Walla	service #	692598	Panel	15E - Row 106
Married	Married	MIA -	BNR	Medals
Tour Date	1967-02-27	Comment		Cemetery

Walla Walla High School, Walla Walla WA, 1960

MIA information extracted from the PowNetWork.org
Edward Norman Letchworth was born 21 Dec 1941. He was assigned to Helicopter Support Squadron 1, Detachment LIMA on board the USS Bon Homme Richard. On 27 Feb 67, Letchworth was a crewmember aboard a UH2B helicopter that was launched from the air craft carrier. The craft lifted tail high, flipped, partially recovered and then struck the water breaking apart on impact. A search helicopter was immediately over the scene and two Navy destroyers joined in the search for the 4 man crew. No one was found.
For more information Please visit Pownetwork.org

Douglas Gerald STREET

Birth	1943-05-22	Rank	LCPL	Date of Death	1967-02-28
P. of birth	Spokane WA	Service	US Marine Corp	Place	Quang Tri South Vietnam
Town of Record	Whitefish, Montana	Unit	3rd Mar Div, G Co, 2nd Bn, 3rd Marines	Death Code	Hostile, Died-Gun, Small Arms Fire-Ground Casualty
Hometown	Whitefish	service #	2190987	Panel	15E - Row 123
Married	Single	MIA -	BR	Medals	Purple Heart
Tour Date		Comment		Cemetery

Douglas Street Killed in South Vietnam
Whitefish -- Marine Lance Cpl. Douglas G. Street, 24, was killed in action in Vietnam 28 Feb (1967)
Street, the son of Russell and Mary Jane Street of Whitefish, sustained fatal gunshot wounds while engaged in action against. hostile forces at Quang Tri, a report from the U.S. Marine.
Street enlisted in the National Guard for six months duty in 1963 and was active in the Guard for six months duty in 1963 and was active in the Guard when he enlisted in the Marine Corps.
He was in Vietnam action since 1 Oct 1966 with the Third Marine Unit and 12 Dec (1966) obtained the rank of lance corporal. His parents were informed of his death Thursday.
Street was born 21 May 1943 in Spokane WA and moved to Whitefish in 1950 and attended grade school and High school in Whitefish. While in school, Street was active in football, skiing and baseball.
Survivors are his parents; one brother, Roger of Klamath Falls OR; grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. E. Street of Whitefish and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services are pending at the Catron Funeral Home.
(Daily Inter Lake, Kalispell MT, 3 Mar 1967)

Roger Paul RICHARDSON

Birth	1934-12-10	Rank	CAPT	Date of Death	1967-03-09
P. of birth		Service	US Air Force	Place	Quang Ngai South Vietnam
Town of Record	Great Falls, Montana	Unit	361ST RC SQ	Death Code	Hostile, Died -Air Loss, Crash - Land-Fixed Wing - Crew
Hometown	Great Falls	service #	3080539	Panel	16E - Row 048
Married	Married	MIA -	BR	Medals	Purple Heart
Tour Date	1966-08-28	Comment		Cemetery

Jacob Francis STEPAN

Birth	1939-07-12	Rank	CAPT	Date of Death	1967-03-10
P. of birth	Missoula	Service	US Army	Place	South Vietnam
Town of Record	Missoula	Unit		Death Code	Non-Hostile, Died-Air Loss, Crash - Land-Fixed Wing - Noncrew
Hometown	Missoula	service #	O99473	Panel	16E - Row 055
Married	Married	MIA -	BR	Medals
Tour Date	1966-08-10	Comment		Cemetery	Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C

CAPT. STEPAN DIES IN VIETNAM CRASH
Capt. Jacob F. Stepan, 27, 2520 S. 3rd St., was killed 10 Mar (1967) in an airplane crash in Vietnam, according to word received here. His death was confirmed Friday by U.S. Army officials. Capt. Stepan was listed as missing in action until his death was confirmed. Officials said he died aboard a C-47 airplane. Cause of the crash has not been announced.
He was the husband of Judith Anne Helms, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Helms, 445 North Ave. W., and a Missoula native. Capt. Stepan was born 12 Jul 1939, in Soudan MN and moved with his parents to Duluth as a child. He was graduated from Cathedral High School in Duluth. He was valedictorian of his class. A 1962 graduate of Seattle University, he entered active duty in the U.S. Army on 28 Aug (1962) of that year as a second lieutenant. He married Miss Helms 24 Nov 1960. He was a member of the Catholic Church.
Survivors beside the widow include a son, Jacob Francis Jr., and two daughters, Jill Marie and Jacqueline Michelle, all of the family home; his mother, Mrs. Martha Stepan of Duluth; six brothers, Martin, Joseph, and Paul, all of Duluth; Frank of Superior WI; John of Seattle, and Aloys, with the U.S. Marine Corps stationed in Hawaii, and a sister, Sister Jonathon, O.S.B.
Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C. The date has not been set.
(Missoulian, Missoula MT, 28 Mar 1967)

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Montana
Index 3rd St Books
home page April 1967 - May 1967

This site is done by Volunteers...We are making every attempt to place correct information online.
Mistakes happen if you do find a error Please contact Steve Jacobson
or if you wish to add more information or a remembrance... or A PICTURE!!!!
All Research is done by: Darilee Bednar and items will be added as she finds them.