Faces From the Wall - February 1968 - Oregon & the Vietnam Wall, KIA, Cottage Grove, Springfield, Portland

FACES FROM THE WALL

OREGON and the VIETNAM WAR

FEBRUARY 1968

LAWRENCE EUGENE HECKMAN

Birth	18JAN47	Rank	CPL	Date of Death	01FEB68
P. of birth		Service	Marines	Place	Thua Thien S. Vietnam
Town of Record	Cottage Grove	Unit	HQ BTRY 1 BN 11 MARS 1 MAR DIV	Death Code	Hostile, Died; Multiple Fragmentation Wounds Ground Casualty
Hometown		service #	2153703	Panel	36EAST - 60
Married	Married	In Service	2 yrs	Medals	Purple Heart
Tour Date	29JUL66	Comment		Cemetery

CG Marine Loses Life in Viet War
Cottage Grove
Marine Cpl. Lawrence Heckman of Cottage Grove, missing in action in Vietnam for six months, has been listed as dead by the Defense Department.
Heckman's wife, Vonda was notified of the death Monday, and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Heckman of 243 N. H St., Cottage Grove were informed Wednesday morning by a Marine Corps unit in Southern California, where they were vacationing.
The Marine Corps listed Heckman as dead 19 Jul (1968) after positive identification of his body, a Marine Spokesman said.
Heckman had been listed as missing in action since 1 Feb (1968) after he was last seen on a truck convoy haling ammunition near Thua Thien.
He and his wife, the former Vonda Hodge, were married last November in Hawaii. Hickman is a 1965 graduate of Cottage Grove High School. He was born 18 Jan 1947 at Anita IA.
In addition to his wife and parents, Heckman's survivors include three sisters, Jean, Janece and Marcella, all of Cottage Grove.
(Eugene Register-Guard, Eugene OR, 24 Jul 1968)

Thank you Oregon Genealogical Society

JACK CLINTON TAYLOR

Birth	09SEP47	Rank	CPL	Date of Death	02FEB68
P. of birth		Service	Army (Draft)	Place	Dinh Tuong S. Vietnam
Town of Record	Springfield	Unit	9th Inf Div A Co 4th Bn 47th Inf	Death Code	Hostile, Died; Multiple Fragmentation Wounds Ground Casualty
Hometown		service #	67188101	Panel	36EAST - 86
Married	Single	In Service		Medals	Purple Heart
Tour Date	15SEP67	Comment		Cemetery	Lane Memorial Cem., Springfield OR

2 Oregonians Killed In War
Two Oregon men were reported killed in action in Vietnam. One was Cpl.Jack C. Taylor, brother of Mrs. Janet Opterud, 6622 NE Broadway.
The other was SP4 Richard Leroy Cavanaugh, 20, son of Mrs.Bernard Suminski, 9256 SE Mill St., and R.C.Cavanaugh, 707 SE 48th Ave. Cavanaugh first was reported missing in action after a plane he was in was shot down, relatives said. The family learned of his death Wednesday. A graduate of Washington High School where he was on the wrestling team. Cavanaugh enlisted in the Army after graduation. He was scheduled to come Home in April. Also surviviing are three sisters, Gail and Kay Ann Cavanaugh, and Mrs. Dixie Kelso, and a half brother, David Cavanaugh. (The Oregonian, Portland OR, 17 Feb 1968)

MARK MITCHELL LANGSTON

Birth	29AUG49	Rank	LCPL	Date of Death	05FEB68
P. of birth		Service	Marines	Place	Quang Nam S. Vietnam
Town of Record	Portland	Unit	E CO 2ND BN 9TH MARS	Death Code	Non Hostile, Died Illness, Disease; Illness, Disease Ground Casualty
Hometown		service #	2274594	Panel	37EAST - 38
Married	Single	In Service		Medals
Tour Date	07SEP67	Comment		Cemetery	Willamette National Cem., Portland OR

JAMES ALLEN LOWERY

Birth	11AUG47	Rank	PFC	Date of Death	05FEB68
P. of birth		Service	Army (Draft)	Place	Quang Tri S. Vietnam
Town of Record	Port Orford	Unit	108TH ARTY GP A Btry 1st Bn 40th ARTY	Death Code	Hostile, Died; Artillery, Rocket, Mortar; Ground Casualty
Hometown		service #	56928760	Panel	37EAST - 39
Married	Single	In Service		Medals	Purple Heart
Tour Date	25JUL67	Comment		Cemetery

KARL WALTER POST

Birth	20SEP46	Rank	SP4	Date of Death	06FEB68
P. of birth		Service	Army (Draft)	Place	Quang Tin S. Vietnam
Town of Record	Portland	Unit	198th LIB A Co 1st Bn 46th Inf	Death Code	Hostile, Died Wounds; Multiple Fragmentation Wounds Ground Casualty
Hometown		service #	56928451	Panel	37EAST - 66
Married	Single	In Service		Medals	Purple Heart
Tour Date	04OCT67	Comment		Cemetery

Portland GI War Victim Sp. 4 Karl W. Post, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter H. Post, 3815 SE 136th Ave., died as a result of combat wounds in Vietnam, 6 Feb (1968), his parents were notified Thursday. Sp. 4 Post was wounded by a mortar round in combat somewhere between Chu Laf and Da Nang and died in a field hospital, his parents were notified. He was graduated from David Douglas High School in 1964 and attended Portland State College for two years before enlisting in the Army in September, 1966. He leaves two brothers, Mark and Erick, and two sisters, Maryln and Karin at Home. (The Oregonian, Portland OR, 9 Feb 1968)

MICHAEL ALFRED COUCH

Birth	27OCT49	Rank	PFC	Date of Death	07FEB68
P. of birth		Service	Marines	Place	Quang Tri S. Vietnam
Town of Record	Pacific City	Unit	K CO 3RD BN 3RD MARS	Death Code	Hostile, Died; Other Explosive Devices Ground Casualty
Hometown		service #	2352668	Panel	37EAST - 81
Married	Single	In Service		Medals	Purple Heart
Tour Date	14DEC67	Comment		Cemetery

RONALD ROBERT PRATHER Jr

Birth	06SEP44	Rank	SGT	Date of Death	07FEB68
P. of birth		Service	Marines	Place	Thua Thien S. Vietnam
Town of Record	Cave Junction	Unit	K CO 3RD BN 3RD MARS	Death Code	Hostile, Died; Artillery, Rocket, Mortar; Ground Casualty
Hometown		service #	2177783	Panel	38EAST - 11
Married	Single	In Service		Medals	Purple Heart
Tour Date	04AUG66	Comment		Cemetery

RICHARD FRED CAVANAUGH

Birth	09JUN47	Rank	SP4	Date of Death	08FEB68
P. of birth		Service	Army	Place	Kien Hoa S. Vietnam
Town of Record	Portland	Unit	1st Avn Bde 135th Aviation Co 214th Avn Bn 12th Avn Grp	Death Code	Hostile, Died; Air Loss, Crash - Land Helicopter - Crew
Hometown		service #	18958586	Panel	38EAST - 19
Married	Single	In Service		Medals	Purple Heart
Tour Date	18MAR67	Comment		Cemetery

2 Oregonians Killed In War
Two Oregon men were reported killed in action in Vietnam. SP4 Richard Leroy Cavanaugh, 20, son of Mrs.Bernard Suminski, 9256 SE Mill St., and R.C.Cavanaugh, 707 SE 48th Ave. Cavanaugh first was reported missing in action after a plane he was in was shot down, relatives said. The family learned of his death Wednesday. A graduate of Washington High School where he was on the wrestling team. Cavanaugh enlisted in the Army after graduation. He was scheduled to come Home in April. Also surviviing are three sisters, Gail and Kay Ann Cavanaugh, and Mrs. Dixie Kelso, and a half brother, David Cavanaugh. The other was Cpl.Jack C. Taylor, brother of Mrs. Janet Opterud, 6622 NE Broadway.
(The Oregonian, Portland OR, 17 Feb 1968)

CHARLES EUGENE JOHNSON

Birth	21OCT44	Rank	HN	Date of Death	08FEB68
P. of birth	Portland	Service	Navy	Place	Quang Nam S. Vietnam
Town of Record	Toledo	Unit	G CO 2 BN 7 MAR 1 MAR DIV	Death Code	Hostile, Died; Other Explosive Devices Ground Casualty
Hometown		service #	5960991	Panel	38EAST - 30
Married	Single	In Service	4 yrs	Medals	Purple Heart
Tour Date	15OCT67	Comment		Cemetery	Willamette National Cem., Portland OR

Portlander Dies In War
Two area servicemen were listed Wednesday by the Defense Department as killed in action in Vietnam.
Navy Hospitalman Charles E. Johnson, 23, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis A. Johnson, 8629 N. Hartman St., was killed 8 Feb (1968), at Quang Nam by fragments from an enemy mine during a road sweep. Stationed with the 7th Marines of the 1st Marine Division, he had been in Vietnam since September. Born in Portland, he attended Toledo high School and entered the Navy in December 1961. He was discharged in February 1966 and reenlisted last 26 June (1967).
Also killed in action was Sgt. Alfred P.L.Coffroth, son of Mrs. Virginia T.Myers, Aberdeen WA. (The Oregonian, Portland OR, 11 Feb 1968)

JOHN WAYNE ROWDEN

Birth	07JUL46	Rank	PFC	Date of Death	10FEB68
P. of birth		Service	Marines	Place	Thua Thien S. Vietnam
Town of Record	Jacksonville	Unit	G Co 2nd Bn 5th Mars	Death Code	Hostile, Died; Guns, Small Arms Fire; Ground Casualty
Hometown		service #	2352892	Panel	38EAST - 71
Married	Single	In Service		Medals	Purple Heart
Tour Date	14NOV67	Comment		Cemetery	Memory Gardens Memorial Park

Parents Ask Deferment of Third Son After Two Brothers Killed in War Medford (Special)
Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Rowden who have lost two sons in Vietnam, Thursday applied for a deferment for their third son, Douglas, 19, Mrs. Rowden told The Oregonian.
Douglas Wednesday received notice to report not for induction but for a pre-induction physical examination.
All youths in the 19-year age group are automatically classified 1-A and are called for preliminary physical examinations, Helen McDonnell, chief clerk of Selective Service Board number 17 at Medford, explained.
If they fail the examination they are automatically classified 4-F or 1-Y. If they pass the physical exam, they may then apply for reclassification for any one of a number of reasons.
The Rowdens said Thursday their local board had suggested they write a letter immediately applying for a deferment for Douglas under the hardship provisions of the regulations.
"They told me they were pretty sure the board would grant a six-months deferment, as the board has a compassionate policy," Mrs. Rowden said.
The six-month deferment can be extended, Selective Service Officials report, "but we would prefer a permanent deferment." Mrs. Rowden said.
The Rowdens' oldest son, James, was killed two years ago while fighting as a Marine at the age of 21.
The Rowdens were notified Tuesday that their second Marine son, John, 21, had also been killed while fighting on 10 Feb (1968). John had enlisted because he thought his dead brother would have wished it, the parents explained. If Douglas were their only remaining son he would be automatically exempted from military service, but the Rowdens also have a son, Malcolm, 10 years old.
"I feel we have donated enough to the Vietnam cause," Rowden said, still shocked by notification of John's death.
He said he had written to Oregon's congressional delegation and to Gov. Tom McCall and expected to talk to Sen. Wayne Morse.
Douglas, a high school graduate, is working in a sawmill and has never attended college, so is not eligible for a student classification, Mrs. Rowden said. (The Oregonian, Portland OR, Friday 16 Feb 1968)

Rowden Funeral Slated Thursday The body of John Wayne Rowden, 21, has been returned for burial and funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in Memory Gardens Funeral Home. Additional funeral details are to be announced tomorrow. Marine Pfc. Rowden, who was killed 10 Feb (1968) near Thua Thien, Vietnam, will be buried in Memory Gardens Memorial Park, where his brother, Marine Pfc. James Herbert Rowden, 21 killed 5 Mar 1966, is buried. Among survivors are Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Rowden, parents, Applegate Valley, and two brothers, Douglas Rowden, 19, who was just granted a one-year deferment from the draft, and Malcolm Rowden, a fourth grade student. (Medford Mail Tribune, Medford OR, 27 Feb 1968)

EDWARD HAROLD STUART

Birth	22JAN47	Rank	PFC	Date of Death	10FEB68
P. of birth		Service	Army (Draft)	Place	Quang Ngai S. Vietnam
Town of Record	Eugene	Unit	11th LIB C Co 3rd Bn 1st Inf	Death Code	Hostile, Died; Guns, Small Arms Fire; Ground Casualty
Hometown		service #	56933156	Panel	38EAST - 72
Married	Single	In Service		Medals	Purple Heart
Tour Date	15JAN68	Comment		Cemetery

Viet Cong Fire Kills Eugenean During Search-Destroy Mission
A 21-year-old Eugenean, Pfc. Edward Harold Stuart, has been killed in action in Vietnam, it was learned Tuesday.
Stuart was one of three Oregon servicemen who have died recently in Vietnam. The Defense Department said that Marine Sgt. Ronald R. Prather Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Ronald R. Prather of Cave Junction, and Pfc. Michael A. Couch, son of Mr. and Mrs. Darrell M. Counch of Pacific City, were also killed in action.
Stuart, son of Mr. and Mrs. Estes Stuart, Rte. 3 Box 163, apparently died 10 Feb (1968) when his unity, which was on a search and destroy mission, came under heavy Viet Cong fire. He apparently was killed in an initial engagement with the enemy, the Army spokesman said.
Stuart was listed as missing in action 10 Feb (1968). His body was found 16 Feb (1968) on the battlefield.
Stuart, who was graduated from St. Francis High School in 1965, had been in Vietnam less than a month. He was drafted into the Army in August, 1967, after his sophomore year at Oregon State University.
He was a member of Company C, Third Battalion, First Infantry American Division. He celebrated his 21st birthday in Vietnam on 22 Jan (1968).
Stuart was the 31st Emerald Empire man to be killed in Vietnam, Oregon's Vietnam war deaths, including Stuart's has risen to 237 since 1961. There have been 38 killed this year.
Besides his parents, Stuart is survived by two brothers, William, 17, and Steven, 15, of Eugene, and a sister, Peggy, 23, of Corvallis.
Funeral arrangements are pending. (Eugene Register Guard, Eugene OR, 20 Feb 1968)

Thank you Oregon Genealogical Society

WILLIAM JOHN BLOCK

Birth	13JUL47	Rank	PFC	Date of Death	12FEB68
P. of birth		Service	Army (Draft)	Place	Gia Dinh S. Vietnam
Town of Record	Milwaukie	Unit	25th Inf Div D Co 1st Bn 12th Inf	Death Code	Hostile, Died; Guns, Small Arms Fire; Ground Casualty
Hometown		service #	56932904	Panel	39EAST - 02
Married	Single	In Service		Medals	Purple Heart
Tour Date	08JAN68	Comment		Cemetery

JOHN NELSON BROCKMAN

Birth	16JUL47	Rank	SP4	Date of Death	12FEB68
P. of birth		Service	Army (Draft)	Place	Dinh Tuong S. Vietnam
Town of Record	Monroe	Unit	1st Inf Div A Co 1st Bn 16th Inf	Death Code	Hostile, Died; Guns, Small Arms Fire; Ground Casualty
Hometown		service #	56928266	Panel	39EAST - 02
Married	Single	In Service		Medals	Purple Heart
Tour Date	04MAR67	Comment		Cemetery

DONALD LEE DYRESON

Birth	18NOV48	Rank	LCPL	Date of Death	15FEB68
P. of birth		Service	Marines	Place	Quang Nam S. Vietnam
Town of Record	Portland	Unit	C CO 1ST BN 7TH MARS	Death Code	Hostile, Died; Guns, Small Arms Fire; Ground Casualty
Hometown		service #	2231231	Panel	39EAST - 46
Married	Single	In Service		Medals	Purple Heart
Tour Date	08MAR67	Comment		Cemetery	Willamette National Cemetery

Youth Killed in Vietnam
39 Oregonians Lost This Year.
Lance Cpl. Donald L. Dyreson, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. Vern R. Dyreson, 6616 NE Killingsworth Ave was reported killed in action 15 Feb (1968), near Quang Nam, Vietnam.The parents were notified Monday morning that Dyreson, who was wounded in action last October, died of gunshot wounds he received while on patrol. He was a member of the 7th Marines. Ross Hollywood Chapel is handling funeral arrangements, pending arrival of the body to Portland. Interment is planned for Willamette National Cemetery. Lance Cpl. Dyreson's death brings to 39 the number of Oregon servicemen killed in Vietnam action this year. Dyreson is survived by the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Vern R. Dyreson, Portland; a brother LaVerne Fairhurst; and a sister, Mrs.Betty Arndt. (The Oregonian, Portland OR, 21 Feb 1968)

ROBERT LEE PETERSON

Birth	21OCT47	Rank	PFC	Date of Death	18FEB68
P. of birth		Service	Marines	Place	Thua Thien S. Vietnam
Town of Record	Portland	Unit	H&S CO 1 BN 5 MARS 1 MAR DIV	Death Code	Hostile, Died; Guns, Small Arms Fire; Ground Casualty
Hometown		service #	2274600	Panel	40EAST - 11
Married	Single	In Service		Medals	Purple Heart
Tour Date	26SEP67	Comment		Cemetery	Willamette National Cem., Portland OR

Youth Killed in Vietnam
Marine Pfc. Robert L. Peterson, 20, a graduate of David Douglas High School in 1966, was killed 18 Feb (1968) in a military operation near Thua Thien, near Hue, South Vietnam, the Defense Department reported Tuesday.
Peterson was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Magnus M. Peterson 12804 E. Burnside St. The father is an assistant sewage treatment plant operator.
The Defense Department said Peterson died of an enemy rifle shot.
The young man had been in the Marines for 10 months. He entered the service in April, 1967, received his basic training at San Diego, and 5 months later was in Vietnam. He was operator of a large, stationary gun with the 1st Marine Div., 5th Reg., 1st Bn.
Young Peterson worked as a foreign car apprentice mechanic before entering the service and had planned to continue with that type of work, the mother said. She said, "he liked to hunt and fish. His one big love was his motorcycle."
Commenting on her son's joining the Marines and going to Vietnam, Mrs. Peterson said. "He felt this was something he had to do. We could have kept him out, but he had to be his own man. He was proud he was a Marine."
Funeral will be at the Little Chapel of the Chimes. The date has not been set. Burial will be in Willamette National Cemetery.
Survivors are the stepfather and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Magnus M. Peterson, Portland; father, Lester L. Bell, Tulelake CA; sister, Mrs. Andrew Martinis, Marysville WA; two grandmothers, Mrs. Vera Myers, Portland, and Mrs. Anna M. Peterson, Oak Grove. (The Oregonian, Portland OR, 28 Feb 1968)

RONNIE O BIGELOW

Birth	26JUL47	Rank	SP4	Date of Death	20FEB68
P. of birth	Colorado Springs CO	Service	Army	Place	Khanh Hoa S. Vietnam
Town of Record	Sheridan	Unit	1st Log Cmd 520th Eng Det	Death Code	Non Hostile, Died Missing; Air Loss, Crash - Land Helicopter - NonCrew
Hometown		service #	18958175	Panel	40EAST - 36
Married	Single	In Service	1 yr	Medals
Tour Date	11APR67	Comment		Cemetery	Green Memorial Park, Sheridan

Soldier Buried at Sheridan. Sheridan Final rites with interment in Green Memorial Park were held Monday for Army Sp 4 Ronnie O. Bigelow who died in Vietnam 20 Feb (1968). Mr. Bigelow was born 26 Jul 1947 in Colorado Springs CO. The family moved to Sheridan the following year. He attended grade and high school in Sheridan and entered the army service 30 Sep 1966. Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Bigelow; a brother, Bruce and a sister Joy, all of Sheridan, and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Huston of Colorado and Mrs. Martha Bartel of Wisconsin. (The Oregonian, Portland OR, 13 Mar 1968)

WALTER GILMORE ANDERSON

Birth	11AUG24	Rank	BM1	Date of Death	21FEB68
P. of birth		Service	Navy	Place	Quang Nam S. Vietnam
Town of Record	Wedderburn	Unit	VQ-1	Death Code	Non Hostile, Died Other; Drowned, Suffocated Ground Casualty
Hometown		service #	3766159	Panel	40EAST - 50
Married	Married	In Service		Medals
Tour Date		Comment		Cemetery

PAUL PHILLIP SONSTEIN

Birth	26MAR46	Rank	SP4	Date of Death	21FEB68
P. of birth		Service	Army	Place	Gia Dinh, S. Vietnam
Town of Record	Pleasant Hill CA	Unit		Death Code	Hostile, Ground Casualty, Multiple Fragmentation Wounds
Hometown		service #	56826960	Panel	40EAST - 50
Married	Single	Local	Medford	Medals	Purple Heart
Tour Date	10OCT67	Comment		Cemetery

War Claims 3 Oregonians. 2 Missing Men On Death List Washington [AP] The Defense Department of Defense has reported three more Oregon men have been killed in the Vietnam war. Included on the list of dead were two soldiers who had earlier been reported missing; Spec. 4 Earl H. Hills, son of Mrs. Irene A. Hills of Fairview, and Spec. 4 Paul P. Sonstein, son of Mr. and Mrs. Max L. Sonstein, Medford. Killed in action was Marine Lance Cpl. John M.Boyce, whose wife Roseanna, lives in Central Point.Mrs. Boyce said her husband was killed 2 Mar (1968) by small arms fire while serving with the Third Marines in Quang Tri Province. (The Oregonian, Portland OR, 13 Mar 1968)

MICHAEL STEPHEN COLLINS

Birth	26NOV48	Rank	SP4	Date of Death	22FEB68
P. of birth	Cleveland Ohio	Service	Army	Place	Thua Thien S. Vietnam
Town of Record	Medford	Unit	101st Abn Div HHC 2nd Bn 501st Inf	Death Code	Hostile, Died; Guns, Small Arms Fire; Ground Casualty
Hometown		service #	18959616	Panel	40EAST - 59
Married	Single	In Service	1 yr	Medals	Purple Heart
Tour Date	14DEC67	Comment		Cemetery	Garden of Honor in Hillcrest Memorial Park

Michael S. Collins Funeral services for Spec. 4 Michael S. Collins, who died 22 Feb (1968) in Vietnam, will be held at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in Conger-Morris downtown chapel. Committal will be in the Garden of Honor in Hillcrest Memorial Park, with full military honors from Ft. Lewis WA. Mr. Collins was born 26 Nov 1948 in Cleveland OH, and lived in Medford for the past seven years, prior to enlisting in the Army about a year ago. He was a 1966 graduate of Medford High School. Survivors include his mother, Mrs. Shirley A. Vasey, Medford; two brothers, James and Eric, and three sisters, Charlene, Jolene, and Brenda, all at home; and grandparents, William Taylor, Stole OH, and Mrs. Delia Roglin, Cleveland OH. (Medford Mail Tribune, Medford OR, 5 Mar 1968)

ALFRED EDGAR PLAEP Jr

Birth	07APR48	Rank	CPL	Date of Death	23FEB68
P. of birth		Service	Army (Draft)	Place	Thua Thien S. Vietnam
Town of Record	Myrtle Point	Unit	1st Cav Div A Co 2nd Bn 12th Cav	Death Code	Hostile, Died; Guns, Small Arms Fire; Ground Casualty
Hometown		service #	56932000	Panel	41EAST - 01
Married	Single	In Service		Medals	Purple Heart
Tour Date	24AUG67	Comment		Cemetery

HORRIS GENE ROBINSON

Birth	30NOV37	Rank	SFC	Date of Death	23FEB68
P. of birth		Service	Navy	Place	Phuoc Tuy S. Vietnam
Town of Record	Charleston MS	Unit		Death Code	Non-Hostile Vehicle Crash Ground Casualty
Hometown		service #	3497189	Panel	41EAST - 02
Married	Married	In Service		Medals
Tour Date		Comment		Cemetery	Willamette National Cem., Portland OR

FELIPE CANTU Jr

Birth	14DEC47	Rank	SP4	Date of Death	24FEB68
P. of birth		Service	Army	Place	Thua Thien S. Vietnam
Town of Record	Gervais	Unit	1st Cav Div A Co 2nd Bn 7th Cav	Death Code	Hostile, Died; Artillery, Rocket, Mortar; Ground Casualty
Hometown		service #	67188057	Panel	41EAST - 07
Married	Single	In Service		Medals	Purple Heart
Tour Date	22JUN67	Comment		Cemetery

FRANK JAMES MATHEWS

Birth	12SEP48	Rank	SGT	Date of Death	26FEB68
P. of birth		Service	Army	Place	Gia Dinh S. Vietnam
Town of Record	Ontario	Unit	9th Inf Div A Co 3rd Bn 60th Inf	Death Code	Hostile, Died; Guns, Small Arms Fire; Ground Casualty
Hometown		service #	19883298	Panel	41EAST - 40
Married	Single	In Service		Medals	Purple Heart
Tour Date	09NOV66	Comment		Cemetery

MELVIN EUGENE CHLOUPEK

Birth	06JUL47	Rank	PFC	Date of Death	28FEB68
P. of birth		Service	Army (Draft)	Place	Gia Dinh S. Vietnam
Town of Record	Salem	Unit	9th Inf Div HHC 3rd Bn 39th Inf	Death Code	Hostile, Died; Guns, Small Arms Fire; Ground Casualty
Hometown		service #	56932655	Panel	41EAST - 60
Married	Single	In Service		Medals	Purple Heart
Tour Date	15DEC67	Comment		Cemetery

DARREL ZANE WRIGHT

Days Creek High School
Days Creek OR
1964

Birth	12AUG47	Rank	SGT	Date of Death	06FEB68
P. of birth	Modesto CA	Service	Army (Draft)	Place	Vinh Long, S. Vietnam
Town of Record	Port Orchard	Unit	B Co, 3rd Bn, 47th Inf	Death Code	Hostile, Died; Ground Casualty; Gun, Small Arms Fire
Hometown		service #	56427774	Panel	37EAST - 75
married	Single	MIA -		Medals	Purple Heart
Tour Date	05JUN67	Comment	9th Infantry	Cemetery	Sunset Lane Cemetery

PO Man Killed In War
A Port Orchard man has been reported killed in action in Vietnam during last months major Viet Cong offensive.
Army Sgt. Darrel Zane Wright, 20, son of Mr. and Mrs., Leo Wright, Port Orchard Rte. 6, Box 62, died Feb. 6 as a result of gunshot wounds, the Army reported.
Sgt. Wright had been previously reported as missing in action while on a combat operation.
The sergeant was born in Modesto, Calif. Aug 12, 1947, and moved with his family to this area in 1953. He was a student at Marcus Whitman Jr. High School in Port Orchard.
He attended South Kitsap High one year before moving to Days Creek, Ore., to live with his aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Acosta.
While attending Days Creek High School the young man worked at Senior Residence, a nursing home attached to the Forest Glen Hospital there.
Prior to his induction into the Army he worked at Bangor Naval Ammunition Depot. In 1966 he entered the Army and last June went to Vietnam where he served with the 3rd Battalion, 47th Brigade, - infantry Division, operating in the Mekong Delta region.
Sgt. Wright was slated for rotation to the U.S. in late May.
He had previously earned a Purple Heart Medal for a wound suffered last July and an Army Commendation Medal for Heroism. (Bremerton Sun, Bremerton WA 5 Mar 1968)

Darrel Wright Services are pending at Pendleton-Gilchrist Funeral Home for Army Sgt Darrel Z. Wright, 20, or Port Orchard, who was reported killed in action in Vietnam Feb. 6 during last month's major Viet Cong offensive. Sgt. Wright was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Leo Wright, Port Orchard Rte 6, Box 62. In addition to his parents, he is survived by three brothers, Manford R. Wright, Phillips Road, Port Orchard, and Leo and Danny Wright of the family home, his grandmother, Mrs. Faye Spradling, and an uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Spradling, all of 228 S. Marion Ave. (Bremerton Sun, Bremerton WA )

Wright Services Services for Army Sgt. Darrel Zane Wright, 20, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leo Wright, Port Orchard Rte. 6, Box 62, who died in action in Viet Name Feb. 6, will be held Monday at 2:30 p.m. at the Pendleton-Gilchrist funeral Home. The Rev. Edwin Jorstad of the Port Orchard Assembly of God Church will officiate. Burial will be at Sunset Lane Cemetery with military honors. (Bremerton Sun, Bremerton WA )

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