Birth 09APR35 Rank SSG Date of Death 01AUG67 P. of birth  Springfield Service Army Place Quang Ngai S. Vietnam Town of Record Eugene Unit 1st Cav Div B Co 5th Bn 7th Cav Death Code Hostile, Died; Guns, Small Arms Fire; Ground Casualty Hometown   service # 52466620 Panel 24EAST - 61 Married Married In Service   Medals Purple Heart   Tour Date 14FEB67 Comment   Cemetery

Soldier Dies, 'Mistaken for Hostile'
    A 32-year-old Springfield man, Staff Sgt. Robert Homer Hardenbrook, was killed Tuesday in Vietnam, it was learned here Friday.
    Hardenbrook was the 18th Emerald Empire serviceman to die during the Vietnam War.
    Hardenbrook, a 1953 graduate of Springfield High School, died at 9:30 p.m. from gunshot wounds received "while returning to the perimeter after checking a forward observation point when he was mistaken for a hostile force by friendly small arms fire." according to an Army spokesman. He was serving with Troop B, Fifth Battalion, Seventh Cavalry.
    Hardenbrook, who had re-enlisted in the Army in 1964 after having served from 1954-58, had been in Vietnam since February and had earlier been stationed in Germany.
    He was born in Springfield, 9 Apr 1936. Between enlistments, he worked four years for an East Coast tree trimming firm and for two years for the Eugene Parks and Recreation Department. Hardenbrook is survived by his wife, Norma, and two adopted native Korean children, Don, 6 and Delores, 7, who live in Colorado Springs CO; a brother, Harold, Rte. 5 Box 1158, Eugene, and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Hardenbrook, 1798 G Street, Springfield.
    (Eugene Register Guard, Eugene OR, 5 Aug 1967)

Thank you Oregon Genealogical Society

LEONARD GERALD MARCUM

Birth 20SEP39 Rank CPT Date of Death 02AUG67 P. of birth   Service Army Place Long An S. Vietnam Town of Record Jefferson Unit 25th Inf Div A Co 1st Bn 27th Inf Death Code Hostile, Died Wounds; Guns, Small Arms Fire; Ground Casualty Hometown   service # OF102541 Panel 24EAST - 68 Married Married In Service 6 yrs Medals Purple Heart   Tour Date 06JAN67 Comment   Cemetery

Capt. Leonard Marcum of Beaverton, was reported Friday to have died in the Vietnam war.   Marcum, 27, was a graduate of Oregon State University.
He is survived by his wife, Kathie.
    Altogether, 135 Oregonians have been killed in Vietnam. Fifty five of the deaths have occurred this year.
(Eugene Register Guard, Eugene OR, 5 Aug 1967) Thank you Oregon Genealogical Society

KEITH CHARLES PERKINS

Birth 12NOV42 Rank PFC Date of Death 02AUG67 P. of birth   Service Marines Place Quang Tin S. Vietnam Town of Record Hood River Unit CO A 1 ENGR BN 1 MAR DIV Death Code Hostile, Died; Guns, Small Arms Fire; Ground Casualty Hometown   service # 1955516 Panel 24EAST - 69 Married Single In Service 6 yrs Medals Purple Heart   Tour Date   Comment   Cemetery

CLARENCE HERBERT BROOKS

Birth 18FEB45 Rank SP4 Date of Death 03AUG67 P. of birth   Service Army Place Quang Ngai S. Vietnam Town of Record Portland Unit 101st Abn Div HHC 1st Bn 327th Inf Death Code Hostile, Died Wounds; Multiple Fragmentation Wounds Ground Casualty Hometown   service # 19817934 Panel 24EAST - 71 Married Single In Service 2 yrs Medals Purple Heart   Tour Date 01JAN67 Comment   Cemetery Willamette National Cem., Portland OR

LARRY TOM CHANDLER

Birth 18NOV46 Rank SGT Date of Death 05AUG67 P. of birth   Service Army Place Binh Duong S. Vietnam Town of Record Milton-Freewater Unit 25th Inf Div C Co 4th Bn 23rd Inf Death Code Hostile, Died; Artillery, Rocket, Mortar; Ground Casualty Hometown   service # 28810027 Panel 24EAST - 80 Married Single In Service 2 yrs Medals Purple Heart   Tour Date 03JAN67 Comment   Cemetery

SGT. LARRY CHANDLER FIRST LOCAL FATALITY IN VIETNAM
      Local serviceman Sgt. Larry Chandler, 20, was killed in action Saturday, 5 Aug (1967) in Vietnam while on a night perimeter defense.
      Chandler is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Tom J. Chandler of Stateline. Chandlers were notified of the tragedy by a telegram from the Department of Defense and later informed of additional details provided by an Army Colonel from Fort Lewis WA.
      Chandler, who had served 19 months regular Army duty, was attached to Company C, Fourth Battalion, 23rd Infantry mechanized, 25th division. During a night perimeter defense he was hit and killed by a fragment from a mortar round at 3:20 a.m.
      Letters written by the sergeant to his parents and relatives told how the company had been under combat conditions in the field approximately 25 miles from Saigon in the Iron Triangle area for the past six months. With the exception of a short period in base camp his company has been in combat since their arrival in Vietnam in January.
      He was born 18 Nov 1946 in Ellensburg WA and moved to Milton-Freewater with his parents to a 40-care acreage near Stateline when he was four years old. Chandler senior is the principal at Davis School in College Place
      Chandler attended Ferndale Grade School and graduated from Mac-Hi in 1964. He was a member of the Oregon National Guard for several years before entering the Army in December of 1966. He was an avid outdoorsman and spent much of his free time hunting and fishing in the Blue Mountains.
      With his qualifications as a rifle sharpshooter he became an expert machine gunner and as sergeant was in charge of a platoon. The Chandler's recently received a Purple Heart medal for a wound their son received earlier in Vietnam action.
      Funeral services are pending for the young sergeant at Ingle chapel, United Church of Christ with Munselle-Rhodes funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Military rites will follow the service at the Milton-Freewater Cemetery.
      Survivors in addition to his parents are two brothers Dale 19, and Randy 18; paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Guy Chandler of Chelan WA; maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Otto Clater of Crawfordsville OR and numerous aunts and uncles.
      Chandler was the first Milton-Freewater serviceman to be killed in action in the Vietnamese conflict. According to Associate Press reports of his death brings the 1967 total of Oregon servicemen killed in Vietnam to 57 with 137 combat fatalities since 1961. (Valley Herald, Milton-Freewater OR, 10 Aug 1967)

GERALD LEE HOPPER

Birth 18MAY45 Rank SP4 Date of Death 09AUG67 P. of birth   Service Army (Draft) Place Unknown S. Vietnam Town of Record Portland Unit 1st Avn Bde 175th Aviation Co Death Code Non Hostile, Died Missing; Air Loss, Crash - Land Helicopter - Crew Hometown   service # 56410161 Panel 24EAST 94 Married Married In Service   Medals   Tour Date 13FEB67 Comment   Cemetery Willamette National Cem., Portland OR

TERRANCE LEO MEIER

Birth 08NOV44 Rank SSG Date of Death 12AUG67 P. of birth   Service Marines R Place Quang Tri S. Vietnam Town of Record Portland Unit M CO 3RD BN 3RD MARS Death Code Hostile, Died Wounds; Artillery, Rocket, Mortar; Ground Casualty Hometown   service # 1999759 Panel 24EAST - 104 Married Married Link Nam Mag Medals Silver Star-30APR67 Navy Cross-27JUL67 (both posthumously) Purple Heart Tour Date   Comment   Cemetery Willamette National Cem., Portland OR

Medal Given To Widow
    The Silver Star Medal "for gallantry and intrepidity in action" in Vietnam was awarded posthumously last week to S.Sgt. Terrance L. Meier of the Marines. His widow, Janet D. Meier, received the medal in ceremonies at the Swan Island Marine Corps Reserve Training Center.
    S.Sgt. Meier took command of his platoon when his commander was killed while assaulting the crest of the Hill 881 in South Vietnam 30 Apr 1967 and continued under fire for six hours, the citation notes. He stayed with six seriously wounded companions and protected them until able to move them to shelter.
    "Largely due to his aggresive fighting spirit and professionalism, his platoon accounted for an estimated 40 enemy killed during the fierce encounter.
    He was wounded later on 21 Jul (1967) and died 12 Aug 1967. He was the son of Mr and Mrs Paul A Meier of Portland. (The Oregonian, Portland OR, Jan 68)

Navy Cross Citation
Meier, Terrance L.
Staff Sergeant, US Marine Corps
Co M, 3rd Bn., 3rd Marines, 3rd Marine Div.
Date Of Action: July 21, 1967
Citation:
For extraordinary heroism while serving as Platoon Sergeant of the Second Platoon, Company M, Third Battalion, Third Marines, Third Marine Division (Reinforced), in the vicinity of Ca Lu, Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam, on 21 July 1967. The Second Platoon was moving along Vietnamese National Route 9, investigating a suspected enemy ambush site, when it was ambushed four miles west of Ca Lu. As the enemy fire increased, the point squad became separated from the remainder of the platoon by 150 meters. The platoon commander was wounded during the early stages of the encounter leaving Staff Sergeant Meier, who was with the rear elements, in command. While awaiting reinforcements and calling in artillery support he tried to lead the rear elements forward to the separated lead squad and the wounded commander, but was unsuccessful. Completely exposed to enemy fire, he courageously continued his efforts. Repeatedly he was driven back because of insufficient fire power and the numerically superior enemy. When the reinforcements with mounted weapons arrived, Staff Sergeant Meier organized and led them to evacuate the wounded and supply ammunition to the fighting Marines. While covering the evacuation of the casualties, he was mortally wounded by enemy fire and taken from the battle area. By his dauntless courage, initiative and selfless efforts in behalf of his fellow Marines, Staff Sergeant Meier served to inspire all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country. Citation information received from Bruce Swander, Vietnam Researcher

DOUGLAS DAVIS COFFMAN

Birth 17OCT46 Rank CPL Date of Death 13AUG67 P. of birth   Service Marines Place Quang Nam S. Vietnam Town of Record Bend Unit H&S Co. 3rd Bn. 1st Marines Death Code Hostile, Died; Guns, Small Arms Fire; Ground Casualty Hometown   service # 2204081 Panel 24EAST - 106 Married Single In Service 1 yr Medals Purple Heart   Tour Date   Comment   Cemetery Deschutes Memorial Gardens

Wounds Fatal to Bend Marine in South Vietnam
    Cpl. Douglas D. Coffman, 20, son of Mrs. Kenneth Blackburn, Bend, has been killed in action while serving with the First Marine Division in Vietnam.
    Cp. Coffman suffered gunshot wounds while on patrol in the Da Nang area. Death occurred Sunday.
    A younger brother of Cpl. Coffman's, Pfc. Michael Coffman, also a Marine, is serving in Vietnam with the Third Marine Division.
    Cpl. Coffman's father, Barney C. Coffman, resides in Fulson CA. Also surviving is a half-brother, John E. Weber, Bend.
    Cpl. Coffman enlisted in the Marines in December, 1965. He was born in Eugene of 17 Oct 1946, and attended public schools in Medford and Eugene, graduating from Sheldon High School in Eugene in 1964. Prior to his enlistment, Cpl. Coffman attended Central Oregon Community College.
    Funeral services will be held at the First Lutheran Church. Final arrangements will be made by Tabor Funeral Home as soon as word is received regarding the arrival date of the body from Vietnam. Burial will be in Deschutes Memorial Gardens.
    Arrangements are being made to fly Cpl. Coffman's brother home from Vietnam for the services.
    Cpl. Coffman was the fourth Central Oregon Marine to have died as the result of enemy action in the Vietnam war. (Bend Bulletin, Bend OR, 16 Aug 1967)

KENNETH RAYMOND SPOHN

Birth 11APR46 Rank LCPL Date of Death 16AUG67 P. of birth   Service Marines Place Thua Thien S. Vietnam Town of Record Portland Unit   Death Code Hostile, Died; Multiple Fragmentation Wounds Ground Casualty Hometown   service # 2231425 Panel 25EAST - 03 Married Married In Service 1 yr Medals Purple Heart   Tour Date   Comment   Cemetery Willamette National Cem., Portland OR

ROBERT ROLAND WATROUS

Birth 26OCT46 Rank CPL Date of Death 16AUG67 P. of birth   Service Marines Place Quang Tin S. Vietnam Town of Record Coos Bay Unit K CO 3RD BN 5TH MARS Death Code Hostile, Died Wounds; Guns, Small Arms Fire; Ground Casualty Hometown   service # 2153544 Panel 25EAST - 04 Married Single In Service 3 yrs Medals Purple Heart   Tour Date   Comment   Cemetery

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JAMES WALTER CLEMENTS

Birth 01DEC46 Rank PFC Date of Death 19AUG67 P. of birth  Eugene Service Marines (Draft) Place Quang Tri S. Vietnam Town of Record Springfield Unit   Death Code Non Hostile, Died Other; Vehicle Loss - Crash Ground Casualty Hometown   service # 2231338 Panel 25EAST - 15 Married Single In Service 1 yr Medals   Tour Date   Comment   Cemetery Lane Memorial Cem., Springfield OR

Marine Killed In Viet Nam Vehicle Mishap
    A 20-year-old Springfield Marine, Pfc James W. Clements, died 18 Aug (1967) in Viet Nam, according to word received here Sunday
    Mr. and Mrs. Walter R. Clements of 1207 N. 31st St. were notified that their son died of injuries received when a government vehicle he was riding in overturned at Quang Tri in Viet Nam.
    A 1965 graduate of Thurston high school, Pfc Clements joined the U.S. Marine Corps 15 Feb 1966 and had been in Viet Nam since 7 Dec 1966.
    He was born 1 Dec 1946 in Eugene and was a member of St. Alice Catholic church.
    Besides his parents he is survived by a brother, Marvin, 19, who is stationed with the U.S. National Guard at Fort Lewis WA; a sister, Shirley, 12, at home; his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Hecker of Springfield and Mrs. Laura Clements of Los Angeles CA.
    Funeral services are pending at Buell Chapel in Springfield. (Springfield News, Springfield OR, 21 Aug 1967)
Thank you Oregon Genealogical Society

GARFIELD WEST Jr.

Birth 20FEB47 Rank PFC Date of Death 19AUG67 P. of birth   Service Marines Place Quang Nam S. Vietnam Town of Record Portland Unit   Death Code Hostile, Died; Other Explosive Devices Ground Casualty Hometown   service # 2274909 Panel 25EAST - 18 Married Single In Service   Medals Purple Heart  Tour Date   Comment   Cemetery Willamette National Cem., Portland OR

Remembrance for Garfield West - from Sam Carlson webmaster,Captain, US Army (Retired) (email received 9 Jan 2005) A little tidbit about Garfield was that he was an Oregon musician before joining the USMC and played Saxophone with Lanny Hunt and the Themes. PNWbands.com

DUANE RUSSELL BENTLEY

Birth 14JUL46 Rank PFC Date of Death 24AUG67 P. of birth   Service Marines (Draft) Place Quang Tri S. Vietnam Town of Record Portland Unit CO B 1/9TH MAR 3D MAR DIV Death Code Hostile, Died; Artillery, Rocket, Mortar; Ground Casualty Hometown Minnesota service # 2231249 Panel 25EAST - 36 Married Single In Service 1 yr Medals Purple Heart   Tour Date   Comment   Cemetery

DAVID LLOYD CLARK

Birth 29APR48 Rank CPL Date of Death 25AUG67 P. of birth   Service Army Place Hua Nghia S. Vietnam Town of Record La Grande Unit 25th Inf Div Trp B 3rd Sqrd 4th Cav Death Code Hostile, Died; Artillery, Rocket, Mortar; Ground Casualty Hometown   service # 18801963 Panel 25EAST - 42 Married Single In Service 1 yr Medals Purple Heart   Tour Date 24APR67 Comment   Cemetery Stewartville MN

MICHAEL CLYDE KAMPH

Birth 22JUL47 Rank CPL Date of Death 27AUG67 P. of birth   Service Army (Draft) Place Binh Duong S. Vietnam Town of Record Newberg Unit 25th Inf Div B Co 2nd Bn 14th Inf Death Code Hostile, Died; Other Explosive Devices Ground Casualty Hometown   service # 56928952 Panel 25EAST - 52 Married Single In Service   Medals Purple Heart   Tour Date 20APR67 Comment   Cemetery Willamette National Cem., Portland OR

JOSEPH LEON WHITAKER Jr

Birth 10NOV47 Rank SP4 Date of Death 29AUG67 P. of birth   Service Army Place Long Khanh S. Vietnam Town of Record Ontario Unit 1st Avn Bde 191st Aviation Co Death Code Non Hostile, Died Missing; Air Loss, Crash - Land Helicopter - Crew Hometown   service # 19883159 Panel 25EAST - 66 Married Married In Service 1 yr Medals   Tour Date 22MAY67 Comment   Cemetery