Gary Patterson Wratten (1933 - 1966)

Born 25 Jun 1933 in Batavia, Genesee, New York, United States

Died 4 Nov 1966 at age 33 in Tây Ninh, Tây Ninh, Vietnam

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Biography

Died, mortar fire on Tay Ninh Camp, 9 km N-NW of Tay Ninh City (Coffelt Database).^[1]

Capt Gary Wratten performed surgery on MacArthur^[2]

MUST Hospital system in Vietnam where Wratten was killed^[3]

45th's executive officer's bio mentions Major(Dr.) Gary P. Wratten and his death^[4]

Name: Gary Patterson Wratten
Birth Date: 25 Jun 1933
Death Date: 4 Nov 1966
Gender: Male
Age: 33
Race: Caucasian (White)
Home City: Alden
Home State: New York
Religion: Protestant- No Denominational Preference
Marital status: Married (Spouse Listed) (Married)
SSN/Service #: O87981
Citizen Status: U.S.
Death Date: 4 Nov 1966
Processed Date: Nov 1966
Casualty Country: Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam)
Casualty Type: Hostile - Died of Wounds
Casualty Reason: Multi-Fragment Wounds
Casualty Air: Ground Casualty
Body Status: Body Recovered
Service Branch: Department of the Army
Component: Regular (RA, USN, USAF, USMC, USCG)
Military Grade: Major
Pay Grade: Major (U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps) or Lieutenant Commander (U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard)
Province: 99
Length of Service : 12
Data Source: Combat Area Casualties Current File^[5]

Another obituary^[6]

what was going on in the area when Gary was killed^[7]

More detail on MUST and MASH in Vietnam, 45th and Gary named in article

The Medical Unit Self-Contained Transportable (MUST) units were introduced in Vietnam. These were expandable, mobile shelters with inflatable ward sections. Expandable sections were also provided for the radiology, laboratory, pharmacy, dental and kitchen areas. Most notable among the MUST units was the 45th Surgical Hospital in Tay Ninh, Vietnam. In November 1966, following construction of a semipermanent facility, mortars struck the hospital. The hospital commander, Major Gary P. Wratten, was killed. The hospital then set up a new position in northeast Tay Ninh. It was subsequently again struck by mortar, without sustaining serious casualties. The 45th Surgical Hospital performed exceptionally well despite these incidents, and the MUST equipment was provided to several more surgical hospitals that deployed to Vietnam.^[8]

Others hit by heavy mortar fire at the same time/place: VIETNAM WAR: WOUNDED, 1966. Wounded members of the 196th Infantry are carried to an evacuating helicopter after their camp, near Tay Ninh, had been hit in a heavy enemy mortar attack, 6 November 1966.^[9]

Shirley's letter to Sp/4 George Stoken^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #49338866
2. ↑ https://www.newspapers.com/image/60207741/?terms=Gary%20Wratten&match=1
3. ↑ https://www.newspapers.com/image/434244534/?terms=Gary%20Wratten&match=1
4. ↑ https://www.newspapers.com/image/344982200/?terms=Dr%20Gary%20Wratten&match=1
5. ↑ Gary Patterson Wratten in the U.S., Vietnam War Military Casualties, 1956-1998
6. ↑ https://www.newspapers.com/image/136552380/?terms=Dr%20Gary%20P.%20Wratten&match=1
7. ↑ https://www.25thida.org/TLN/tln1-38.htm#v1n38p4a
8. ↑ http://www.medicalinspection.net/the-mobile-army-surgical-hospital-vietnam-war-must-vs-mash.html
9. ↑ https://www.granger.com/results.asp?image=0102293
10. ↑ http://the45thsurg.freeservers.com/WrattenLetter.html

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/45th_Portable_Surgical_Hospital