rcable1
Senior Member
Registered: 04-2004
Location: High Point, NC
Posts: 322
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Memorial Day - May 30, 2004
I realize that most folks here are not from the US, so please excuse me if this post is too far off topic.
Tomorrow is Memorial Day here in the US. On this day we will remember and honor the scores of men and women that have given their lives serving our country.
The list of those brave people is much to exhaustive to display here, but I wanted to express my tribute in some small way, so here is a tidbit from a War of which I am a Veteran. Believe me Viet Nam was a WAR and far from a conflict.
Largest per-capita Loss
Beallsville, Ohio (pop. 475) gained unwanted national notoriety between 1966 and 1971 by having suffered the largest per-capita loss of life in the Vietnam War. Six young men lost their lives in the war, a terrible and profound loss for this small town.
Highest State Casualties
During Vietnam, West Virginia had the highest casualty rate in the nation, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. The state had 711 casualties -- 39.9 deaths per 100,000 people. Oklahoma had the second-highest casualty rate.
Names on the Wall
The youngest Vietnam KIA is believed to be Dan Bullock USMC, at 15 years old.
At least five men killed in Vietnam were 16 years old.
At least twelve men killed in Vietnam were 17 years old.
The oldest man killed was 62 years old.
Approx 11,500 KIAs were less than 20 years old.
Veterans killed on their first day in Vietnam 997
Veterans killed on their last day in Vietnam 1,448
Number of Chaplains on the Wall … 16 (2 Medal Of Honor)
Number of Women on the Wall … 8 (7 Army, 1 USAF - 7,484 served)
SGT Robert Davison of Muskegon, Michigan joined the marines at age 14 and died in Vietnam December 17th, 1966 at age 18.
BUDDIES Steven E. Amescua and Anthony J. Blevins joined the Marine Corp on the buddy plan. Steven was KIA May 15, 1968 and Anthony was KIA August 23, 1968.
BROTHERS Brothers Charles L. Tank and Philip L. Tank of Ecorse, Michigan were both killed in Vietnam. Charles on April 19, 1969 Philip on September 12, 1968.
Brothers Kenneth F. Olenzuk and Paul G. Olenzuk were both killed in Vietnam. Kenneth on Dec 25, 1967 and Paul on August 10, 1968
FATHER AND SON Richard B. Fitzgibbon Jr. was killed June 08, 1956 his son Richard B. Fitzgibbon III was KIA September 07, 1965.
Leo Hester Sr. Died March 10, 1967 in a aircraft crash his son Leo Hester Jr. was KIA November 02, 1969 also in a aircraft crash.
Number of living whose names are etched on the “wall” in error? TWELVE!
Names Added to Memorial
Since 1997 57 names of veterans who have died due to their wounds received during the Vietnam war have been added to the Wall. The latest names added are listed below.
Added 2001
Army SGT. Wayne E. Benge
Navy LT.Edward P. Cooper
Army LT. Thomas C. Finn
Army SP4 Benjamin R. Montano
Army PVT. Chester R. Odom III
Army SP5 Class Billy M. Smith
Added 2002
Army PFC William E. Johnson
Army SGT Richard E. Toney
Army PFC Paul P. Zylko
Added 2003
Army PFC William J. Scannell
Army SP4 James Rogers
Army SFC Dwaine Usry McGriff
Air Force SGT Donald Scott Carson
Army PFC Kevin John Joyce
Army SGT Frank L. Huddleston
All those in all Wars, all Countries, and all of our long time allies should be remembered be it WW1 or todays casulaties in Iraq.
Please take time to honor them wheather you believed in their contributions or not.
[EDIT: subject changed and will be moved to the Modern History Forum on Tuesday]
Last edited by: addi30, 30/May/04, 19:05
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30/May/04, 16:43
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