Birth 24JUN50 Rank LCPL Date of Death 02DEC68 P. of birth   Service Marines Place Quang Nam S. Vietnam Town of Record Gladstone Unit BCO 1STBN 5THMAR 1STMAR DIV Death Code Hostile, Died; Guns, Small Arms Fire; Ground Casualty Hometown   service # 2352962 Panel 37WEST - 22 Married Single In Service 1 yr Medals Purple Heart   Tour Date 12AUG68 Comment   Cemetery Willamette National Cem., Portland OR

Birth 11JUN46 Rank SGT Date of Death 03DEC68 P. of birth Baker Service Army Place Phuoc Long S. Vietnam Town of Record Richland Unit D Co 2nd Bn 7th Cav 1st Cav. Death Code Hostile, Died; Burns Ground Casualty Hometown   service # 18801905 Panel 37WEST - 32 Married Single In Service 2 yrs Medals Medal of Honor  Purple Heart Tour Date 23MAR68 Comment   Cemetery Eagle Valley Cemetery, Richland

SGT. JOHN HOLCOMB KILLED IN ACTION IN VIETNAM WAR

      Sgt. John Holcomb, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Holcomb of Eagle Valley and grandson of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Rohner of Wingville, was killed in action in Vietnam word received by the family here 5 Dec (1968) indicated;
      A prominent Eagle Valley student and athlete and a prominent county 4-H member in his school days, Sgt. Holcomb had enlisted in the regular army but two years ago and had been in Vietnam since 24 Mar (1968) but had already earned the Bronze Star with "V" device, the Army Commendation Medal with "V" device, both for heroism in action, and the Air Medal besides Combat Infantry Badge, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnamese Service Medal and Vietnam Campaign Ribbon.
      He had seen action immediately in March with the 1st Cavalry at Khe Sanh and then was squad leader in Co. D, 2nd Bn, 7th Cavalry (airmobil). He was promoted to sergeant18 Oct (1968).
      The soldier lost his life in action near the Cambodian Border 3 Dec (1968) in the fierce battle that raged in that sector last week. He died of burns.
      Sgt. Holcomb in August had been cited with the Commendation medal for heroism 12 Jun (1968) with his company during a search and clear operation near Camp Evans in the north. In September he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for exceptional valorous action, also as a rifleman, during a search and clear mission in waist deep water. Without regard to his own life he personally rushed enemy soldiers and successively captured two of them.
      Later he was given rest leave in Australia and had been back at Camp Evans only a few days when the American force was moved into the near Cambodian position.
      Sgt. John Noble Holcomb was born in Baker 11 Jun 1946 and was reared at Richland graduating from Eagle Valley schools in 1964. He was a letterman in four sports and "Mr. Basketball" in 1964 and the Outstanding Athlete the same year. He was high scorer and an all star in the district "B" hoop tournament the same spring.
      Earlier in 1964, after an Outstanding 4-H record he won the honor of representing all the 4-H clubs members at the 4-H State Government conference in Salem as the delegate from this county. He played on junior varsity football and basketball teams at Eastern Oregon college where he attended one year and then attended Oregon State U. before enlisting in October of 1966, when he was trained at Ft. Lewis and Ft. Jackson SC, then sent to Germany in 3rd Armored division. His time was cut short there and he was ordered to Vietnam.
      Surviving are his parents, his grandparents, a brother, Bill, who was advised of the tragedy by the Red Cross and who arrived by air back to the states Sunday. He was met and brought home by an Aunt, Mrs. Neville Keist at Seattle and will be on a 20-day leave. Also arriving are other aunts, uncles and cousins.
      Funeral service with full military honors will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, 14 Dec (1968) from West and Co. Memorial Chapel. Army Chaplain Capt. Gary A. Bowker will officiate. The honor guard will be provided by the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment Fort Lewis.
      Interment will be at Eagle Valley Cemetery, Richland with Pine Eagle High School band participating in graveside rites.
      Friends who wish may contribute to the Army Emergency Relief Fund, C-o Commanding General, Fort Lewis WA, as a memorial. These donations may be handled through West and Co.,
      During the fall of 1965 John had been awarded a coveted Union Pacific scholarship while a sophomore student at Oregon State University, the result of outstand club leadership and academic achievement. (The Record - Courier, Baker OR, 12 Dec 1968)

    HENRY MC NEAL T. HAMES Jr

Birth 23APR46 Rank LCPL Date of Death 05DEC68 P. of birth   Service Marines Place Quang Tri S. Vietnam Town of Record Portland Unit 3D RECON BN 3D MAR DIV Death Code Hostile, Died; Artillery, Rocket, Mortar; Ground Casualty Hometown   service # 2394758 Panel 37WEST - 46 Married Married In Service   Medals Purple Heart   Tour Date 14SEP68 Comment   Cemetery Willamette National Cem., Portland OR

Birth 03MAR33 Rank GMG3 Date of Death 08DEC68 P. of birth   Service Navy Place Bien Hoa S. Vietnam Town of Record Klamath Falls Unit USNAVFORV TF-116 RIVDIV 52 Death Code Non Hostile, Died Illness, Disease; Accidental Homicide Ground Casualty Hometown   service # 6859857 Panel 37WEST - 70 Married Single In Service   Medals   Tour Date   Comment   Cemetery

Birth 26JAN48 Rank SGT Date of Death 11DEC68 P. of birth   Service Army (Draft) Place Hua Nghia S. Vietnam Town of Record Rainier Unit 25th Inf Div A Co 2nd Bn 12th Inf Death Code Hostile, Died; Guns, Small Arms Fire; Ground Casualty Hometown   service # 56933952 Panel 36WEST - 01 Married Married In Service 1 yr Medals Purple Heart  Tour Date 16APR68 Comment   Cemetery

Birth 16FEB50 Rank LCPL Date of Death 11DEC68 P. of birth   Service Marines Place Quang Tri S. Vietnam Town of Record Portland Unit CO F 2 BN 4 MARS 3 MAR DIV Death Code Hostile, Died; Guns, Small Arms Fire; Ground Casualty Hometown   service # 2394840 Panel 36WEST - 03 Married Single In Service   Medals Purple Heart   Tour Date 04MAY68 Comment   Cemetery Willamette National Cemetery Portland OR

Birth 21MAY44 Rank SGT Date of Death 13DEC68 P. of birth   Service Army Place Bien Hoa S. Vietnam Town of Record Portland Unit 1st Inf Div A Co 1st Bn 18th Inf Death Code Hostile, Died; Guns, Small Arms Fire; Ground Casualty Hometown   service # 18961903 Panel 36WEST - 15 Married Single In Service 1 yr Medals Purple Heart   Tour Date 15JUN68 Comment   Cemetery Willamette National Cem., Portland OR

Birth 01FEB49 Rank PFC Date of Death 23DEC68 P. of birth   Service Army (Draft) Place Dinh Tuong S. Vietnam Town of Record Portland Unit 9th Inf Div B Co 4th Bn 39th Inf Death Code Hostile, Died; Other Explosive Devices Ground Casualty Hometown   service # 23DEC68 Panel 36WEST - 70 Married Married In Service   Medals Purple Heart  Tour Date 05NOV68 Comment   Cemetery Willamette National Cem., Portland OR

Birth 28MAY41 Rank 1LT Date of Death 24DEC68 P. of birth   Service Army (Reserve) Place Long An S. Vietnam Town of Record Oregon City Unit 9th Inf Div D Co 2nd Bn 60th Inf Death Code Hostile, Died; Other Explosive Devices Ground Casualty Hometown   service # O5347963 Panel 36WEST - 75 Married Single In Service   Medals Purple Heart  Tour Date 23AUG68 Comment   Cemetery

    DAVID ALLEN JOHNSON

Birth 08OCT46 Rank SP4 Date of Death 26DEC68 P. of birth   Service Army Place Tay Ninh S. Vietnam Town of Record Eugene Unit 25th Inf Div E Co 4th Bn 9th Inf Death Code Hostile, Died; Guns, Small Arms Fire; Ground Casualty Hometown   service # 18962367 Panel 36WEST - 77 Married Single In Service   Medals Purple Heart  Tour Date 24JUN68 Comment   Cemetery

Thank you Oregon Genealogical Society

    DENNIS ERWIN MICKELSON

Birth 07DEC49 Rank LCPL Date of Death 28DEC68 P. of birth   Service Marines Place Quang Tri S. Vietnam Town of Record Eugene Unit A CO 3RD RECON BN Death Code Hostile, Died; Multiple Fragmentation Wounds Ground Casualty Hometown   service # 2394453 Panel 36WEST - 85 Married Single In Service   Medals Purple Heart   Tour Date 29SEP68 Comment   Cemetery

Eugene Marine, 19, Dies of War Wounds
    A 19-year-old Eugene marine has become the 44th Emerald Empire man to die in the Vietnam War.
    Dennis E. Mickelson, the son of Mrs. William R. Martin of 3910 Donald St., died as the result of multiple fragmentation wounds suffered last Saturday, his mother said Wednesday.
    Mickelson's mother said she had been notified that her son's wounds were caused by a hostile explosive device while he was in a defensive position in Quant (sic) Tri Province.
    A lance corporal, Mickelson had been in Vietnam since 27 Sep (1968) and in the Marines since August 1967. He attended South Eugene High School.
    In addition to his mother, Mickelson is survived by his step-father, William R. Martin; a half-brother, Gerald Gorsegner, serving in the Army; a brother, Dale Mickelson of Eugene, and a sister, Kathy Foote of Eugene.
    (Eugene Register-Guard, Eugene OR, 1 Jan 1969)

Thank you Oregon Genealogical Society

    MARC CHARLES GORHAM

Birth 05FEB50 Rank PFC Date of Death 30DEC68 P. of birth Portland   Service Army (Draft) Place Binh Duong S. Vietnam Town of Record Portland Unit 1st Inf Div A Co 2nd Bn 2nd Inf Death Code Hostile, Died;RPG,Ground Casualty Hometown   service # 56936316 Panel 35WEST - 09 Married Single In Service   Medals Silver Star,Bronze Star,Purple Heart   Tour Date 12NOV68 Comment   Cemetery Willamette National Cem., Portland OR

Marc C. Gorham Requiem Mass for Pfc. Marc C. Gorham, 3014 NE 46th Ave. will be at 9:30 a.m. Monday in St. Rose Catholic Church. Pfc. Gorham was killed 30 Dec (1968) while serving with the Army in Vietnam. Interment will be in Willamette National Cemetery. Recitation of the Rosary will be at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at J. P. Finley & Son Mortuary. Pfc. Gorham was born 5 Feb 1950 in Portland. Survivors include his mother, Mrs. Joyce Gorham; two brothers, Spencer Neil Gorham Jr., and Eric Anton Gorham; and a grandmother, Mrs. Aimee Gorham, all of Portland. (The Oregonian, Portland OR, 11 Jan 1969)