Remembering Lt. Ray Bosworth Jr. on his 70th birthday

Today, Jan. 29, 2015, would be the 70th birthday of First Lieutenant Raymond Paul Bosworth Jr., who was killed in Vietnam when two helicopters collided on the Fourth of July 1968. He was married and the father of a young son. His wife gave birth to a second son a week after his funeral. Both sons grew up to serve in the military.

Four other men did in the incident: Major Frederick Terry, First Lieutenant Daniel Glowacki, SP5 Larry Collier, and SP4 Dirk Jon Westra.

Lt. Bosworth is buried at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.

Seven heroes from Vietnam who would be turning 70 today

Somewhere in America today (Jan. 23, 2015) there are seven families who should be celebrating the 70^th birthday of a father, grandfather, brother, or other relative. Instead, they are remembering a loved one they lost in Vietnam more than 40 years ago.

Seven men who were born Jan. 23, 1945, gave their lives in the service of our country in Vietnam:

• PFC Joseph Kenneth L. Belanger; Bingham, Maine; died Feb. 7, 1965
• Corporal R. G. Cauthron; Heavener, Oklahoma; died July 9, 1968
• Corporal Bernard W. Dickerson; Clarinda, Iowa; died June 11, 1968
• PFC Dean Joseph Elickho; Cranford, New Jersey; died Jan. 25, 1966
• Lance Corporal Alvin Monday; Eunice, Louisiana; died Sept. 9, 1968; Silver Star
• SP4 James Henry Morgan; Washington, DC; died April 1, 1968
• PFC Lawrence Walker Scanlan; Shawnee Mission, Kansas; died March 9, 1968

Friends and family (and even strangers) still honor and remember them after all these years. You can see tributes and remembrances to these men by going to www.thewall-usa.com or www.vvmf.org and searching for their names. They are not forgotten.

Remembering Staff Sergeant Gerard Binger, KIA Vietnam 50 years ago today

On this date 50 years ago, Jan. 22, 1965, Army Staff Sergeant Gerard A. Binger was killed during a mortar attack in Vietnam. He died one day before his 10^th wedding anniversary. Sergeant Binger, who previously served in World War II and Korea, was an adviser working with the South Vietnamese Army.

He met his wife, Virginia, in 1953 while she was serving in the Women’s Army Corps.  They were married Jan. 23, 1955. She passed away in 2011 and was survived by four children, four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Staff Sergeant Binger and his wife are buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Honoring 13 Marines Who Gave Their Lives in Vietnam Jan. 20, 1968

On this date in 1968, 13 Marines were killed in a fierce battle when they encountered a large North Vietnamese Army force at My Loc on the Cua Viet River. They were members of the 1st AMTRAC Battalion. Those who died were:

• Second Lieutenant Richard P. Reynolds, New York, NY
• Corporal Warren H. Ralya, Shalimar, FL (Navy Cross)
• Lance Corporal Donald F. Parker, Dalton, GA
• Lance Corporal Michele M. Roseberry, Marysville, OH
• Lance Corporal Rick D. Deeds, Carleton, MI
• Private First Class George A. Link, New Kensington, PA
• Private First Class Steve S. Sarossy, Fairview Park, OH
• Private First Class John Washington, Earle, AR
• Private First Class Stephen A. Guardino, Norristown, PA
• Private First Class Gerald F. Lenz, Whiting, IN
• Private First Class Clarence E. Mitchell, Cincinnati, OH
• Private First Class Fred H. Spear, Roseville, MI (died six days later in hospital)
• Private Paul M. Roberts, South Bend, IN

Corporal Ralya’s Navy Cross Citation reads, in part:

“Ignoring a painful injury and refusing to move to the protection of the vehicle, Corporal Ralya continued to fire his weapon until he was wounded a second time and knocked to the ground by the intense North Vietnamese fire. He had risen from the ground and continued to place
accurate fire toward the enemy when he was hit for the third time. Refusing medical attention, he handed his weapon to another Marine and, armed with hand grenades, began to crawl toward the enemy positions. 

“He had traveled only a short distance when he succumbed to his wounds. His determined fighting spirit, strong initiative and devotion to duty at great personal risk contributed substantially to the saving of his fellow Marines from further injury and possible death and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.”