Thursday, July 4, 2019

Remembering Those Who Died Fifty Years Ago Today

As we celebrate our Nation's birthday, pause to remember these men who gave their lives in Vietnam in the service of our country 50 years ago today. I had the privilege of talking with the families of many of them while writing my book, Died on the Fourth of July. They are much in my thoughts today.

In addition to the men listed below, Air Force Colonel Patrick Martin Fallon, 47, was shot down on July 4, 1969. A parachute was sighted, and he is known to have been alive on the ground. His fate has never been definitively determined. In August 1979 he was declared "Killed in Action - Body Not Recovered."

If we don't honor and remember, who will?

NAME
SERVICE
RANK
AGE
HOMETOWN
Bonventre, Thomas S
Army
PFC
23
Elmont, NY
Driscoll, John R. III
Army
SERGEANT
29
San Mateo, CA
Dugan, Ben G.
Navy
PETTY OFFICER 2
23
Lordsburg, NM
Gardiner, Robert Paul
Army
WARRANT OFFICER
21
Anaheim, CA
Gassaway, Ambrose
Army
SPECIALIST 4
19
Fisher, LA
Gladney, John Willie
Marines
PFC
19
Albany, NY
Greenman, Drew Marlin
Army
CORPORAL
18
El Paso, TX
Griffin, Robert Allen
Marines
PFC
19
San Antonio, TX
Hubbard, Alfred Willie
Army
SPECIALIST 4
21
Florence, AL
Hughes, Charles F.
Army
CAPTAIN
33
Hayward, WI
Javorchik, John Charles
Army
CORPORAL
20
Nashville, IL
Johnson, Thomas W.
Army
PFC
19
London, OH
Liles, Ephriam Rutledge II
Army
WARRANT OFFICER
22
Pickens, SC
Martens, Stanley Wayne
Army
SPECIALIST 4
20
Concordia, MO
Matthews, Floyd Joseph
Navy
SEAMAN
22
Los Angeles, CA
McGee, Darrell Eugene
Army
SPECIALIST 5
25
Berlin, WI
McIe,, Johnny Ellis
Army
CORPORAL
23
Webster Springs, WV
McNelly, William Robert
Army
PRIVATE
21
Ft Mason, CA
Meyer, Joseph John Jr
Marines
PFC
20
Mechanicsburg, PA
Michael, Timothy Shawn
Army
WARRANT OFFICER
21
Cicero, NY
Noonan, Michael Dennis
Army
FIRST LIEUTENANT
22
Amarillo, TX
Pirrman, Raymond Lee
Army
SPECIALIST 4
21
Louisville, KY
Shuemaker, Michael T.
Marines
CORPORAL
19
Jessup, PA
Sticks, Steven Michael
Army
PFC
20
Okauchee, WI
St. Laurent, Lance W.
Army
SPECIALIST 5
19
Seattle, WA
Sydor, Dennis William
Army
PFC
18
Jersey City, NJ
Watts, Floyd
Army
SPECIALIST 4
25
Watts, KY
West, Jimmy Don
Army
SGT FIRST CLASS
29
Duncan, OK
Withee, James M.
Army
SPECIALIST 4
20
La Porte, IN
Wood, John Clifford
Marine
CORPORAL
19
Alamosa, CO