Heroes

These are our honored dead, our classmates and schoolmates killed while serving in the Vietnam War.
Our friends and comrades.
People we may have loved or loathed, respected or tolerated... but all bound to us by blood, sweat and tears... theirs and ours.
Just about all of us who served were there when one or more of these men died.
In some cases, we held them as their last breath escaped.
In other cases, we learned of their passing after the fact.
We learned how in war death happens but life goes on.
Lack of closure was a problem.
Some friends were med-evac'd and we'd hear later that they'd made it... or that they hadn't.
In many cases, we heard nothing once the dustoff lifted off.
What had become lifelong friendships could end abruptly, quickly and often inconclusively.

Are these men heroes?
If heroes are legendary figures or illustrious warriors, some probably weren't.
But each one showed true heroism, the courage to do a difficult job at great personal risk...
and each paid the greatest price that any hero has ever paid.
When all is said and done, war probably isn't about heroism anyway.
More likely, it's about duty.
When our country called, each of these men answered... some voluntarily, some not... but each man went.
And each died doing his duty as he saw it.^[2]

In Memoriam

ADAMS, JOHN K
Advisory Team 21, HQ, MACV Advisors, MACV
Captain, O3, O5307429, MOS 81204
Home of Record: Roswell, Chaves, New Mexico
Date of Birth: December 25, 1939, Age at time of loss: 27, Single
ARVN 11th Corps, Binh Dinh Province, Republic of Vietnam
Start of Tour: March 6, 1967, Date of Casualty: March 26, 1967, Days in Country: 20
Casualty Type A1, E-7 (vehicle hit by RR fire), Panel 17E - Line 048
Find A Grave: Memorial #102064759 Greenwood Memorial Park, Fort Worth, Tx

ALLEN, TERRY DE LA MESA, JR, DSC
HHC, 2nd Bn, 28th Infantry (Black Lions), 1st Inf Div
Lieutenant Colonel, O5, O66606, MOS 1542
Home of Record: El Paso, Texas
Date of Birth: April 13, 1929, Age at time of loss: 38, Married, 3 children
USARV, 1st Infantry Division, Binh Long, Bình Phước Province, Republic of Vietnam
Start of Tour: February 25, 1967, Date of Casualty: October 17, 1967, Days in Country: 234
Casualty Type A3, H-7 (MFW, Ground casualty), Panel 28E - Line 018
Find A Grave: Memorial #228360568 Fort Bliss National Cemetery, El Paso, Tx

BILBREY, EDMUND DAVID
48th Aviation Company, 223rd Avn Bn, 17th Avn Group
Captain, O3, 525969400, MOS 1981
Home of Record: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Date of Birth: June 1, 1943, Age at time of loss: 27, Married
1st Aviation Brigade, USARV, 25 km east-southeast of Tchepone, Laos
Start of Tour: Aug 26, 1970, Date of Casualty: Mar 11, 1971, Days in Country: 197
Casualty Type A1, B-4 (Aircraft shot down), Panel 04W - Line 036
Find A Grave: Memorial #128903098 Sante Fe National Cemetery, Sante Fe, New Mexico

BYAM, MICHAEL LEROY (MIA)
C Company, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry, 1st Inf Div
Private First Class, E3, 19842878, MOS 11B10
Home of Record: El Centro, California
Date of Birth: January 3, 1946, Age at time of loss: 20, Single
USARV, 1st Infantry Division, Bien Hoa Province, Republic of Vietnam
Start of Tour: Jul 11, 1966, Date of Casualty: Oct 2, 1966, Days in Country: 83
Casualty Type A3, G-7 (OED), MIA but body recovered. Panel 11E - Line 038
Find A Grave: Memorial #3390569 Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, CA

CLIFFORD, WILLIAM HENRY
A Company, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry, 11th Infantry Brigade, Americal Div
First Lieutenant, O2, 585102735, MOS 1542
Home of Record: Tucson, Arizona
Date of Birth: May 28, 1946, Age at time of loss: 24, Single
USARV, Americal Division, Quang Ngai Province, Republic of Vietnam
Start of Tour: Aug 7, 1970, Date of Casualty: Oct 24, 1970, Days in Country: 78
Casualty Type A1, G-7 (OED), Panel 06W - Line 018
Find A Grave: Memorial #499909 Fort Bliss National Cemetery, El Paso, TX

CONOLLY, SIDNEY McLEAN, JR
F Troop, 17th Cavalry, 196th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division
Specialist Four, E4, 54719426, MOS 11D20
Home of Record: Corpus Christi, Texas
Date of Birth: Aug 8, 1944, Age at time of loss: 23, Single
USARV, Americal Division, Quang Tin Province, Republic of Vietnam
Start of Tour: Oct 4, 1967, Date of Casualty: June 18, 1968, Days in Country: 258
Casualty Type C1, C-7 (Vehicle accident, tank hit truck), Panel 56W - Line 018
Find A Grave: Memorial #73202379 Seaside Memorial Park, Corpus Christi, Texas

DE AMARAL, CHARLES FRANCIS, JR, BSM (V)
C Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Air Mobile)
Major, O4, O78278, MOS 1981 (OH-13 FAC)
Home of Record: Carmel, California
Date of Birth: Sep 6, 1931, Age at time of loss: 34, Married, 3 children
USARV, 1st Cavalry Div (Air Mobile), Binh Dinh Province, Republic of Vietnam
Start of Tour: Aug 16, 1965, Date of Casualty: Oct 4, 1965, Days in Country: 49
Casualty Type A3, B-4 (Mid-air collision during air strike), Panel 02E - Line 105
Find A Grave: Memorial #42715401 Monterey City Park, Monterey, California

DIXON, LEE CHRIS
774th Troop Carrier Squadron, 463rd Troop Carrier Wing, 13th Air Force
Captain, O3, USAF, 62585, MOS 1535B (Navigator)
Home of Record: Toledo, Oregon
Date of Birth: Sep 14, 1937, Age at time of loss: 28, Single
13th AF, USAF, Pleiku Province, Republic of Vietnam
Start of Tour: N/A, Date of Casualty: Jan 7, 1966, Days in Country: N/A
Casualty Type A1, B-2 (C130B exploded in flight), Panel 04E - Line 056
Find A Grave: Memorial #50215163 Orland Masonic Cemetery, Orland, CA

ELDER, JAMES BRYAN, JR
C Company, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry, 101st Airborne Div
Private First Class, E3, 17749975, MOS 11B1P
Home of Record: Wheat Ridge, Colorado
Date of Birth: July 18, 1946, Age at time of loss: 20, Single
USARV, 101st Airborne Division, Biên Hòa, Đồng Nai Province, Republic of Vietnam
Start of Tour: Jul 19, 1966, Date of Casualty: Dec 29, 1966, Days in Country: 163
Casualty Type A1, D-7 (GSW), Panel 13E - Line 096
Find A Grave: Memorial #58615328 Crown Hill Cemetery, Wheat Ridge, Colorado

FERGUSSON, ROBERT CHARLES LAWRENCE, DSC, BSM (V)
HHB, 2nd Battalion, 320th Artillery, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division
First Lieutenant, O2, OF108572, MOS 71193
Home of Record: Monterey, California
Date of Birth: April 14, 1943, Age at time of loss: 24, Single
USARV, 101st Airborne Division, Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam
Start of Tour: Jul 27, 1967, Date of Casualty: Oct 8, 1967, Days in Country: 73
Died from wounds (PFoD): November 8, 1967
Casualty Type A2, D-7 (GSW, died of wounds), Panel 29E - Line 049
Find A Grave: Memorial #118706877 US Military Academy Cemetery, West Point, NY

FISHER, GEORGE EDWARD
U.S. Army Vietnam (USARV) assigned to US Army Aviation School, Fort Rucker
First Lieutenant, O2, MOS 1981
Home of Record: New Mexico
Date of Birth: June 28, 1947, Age at time of loss: 24, Single
Died vicinity Hartford, Geneva, Alabama on training mission
Start of Tour: N/A, Date of Casualty: Aug 12, 1971, Days in Country: N/A
Casualty Type: crash of OH-58 after tail boom separation.
Find A Grave: Memorial #3654812 Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery, Kansas

FOLEY, CHARLES DANIEL, Silver Star, DFC
C Company, 227th Assault Helicopter Bn, 11th Avn Group, 1st Cavalry Division
Captain, O3, 585030249, MOS 1981
Home of Record: Hobbs, New Mexico
Date of Birth: Nov 29, 1943, Age at time of loss: 26, Single
USARV, 1st Cavalry Division, CA 4 km south of O-Rang Airfield, Cambodia
Start of Tour: Jul 23, 1969, Date of Casualty: May 23, 1970, Days in Country: 304
Casualty Type A1, B-4 (Aircraft shot down), Panel 10W - Line 084
Find A Grave: Memorial #16510751 Lovington Cemetery, Lovington, New Mexico

GROTHE, LEWIS DANIEL
B Company, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division
Specialist Four, E4, 19800092, MOS 11B20
Home of Record: Lakeport, California
Date of Birth: April 22, 1946, Age at time of loss: 20, Single
USARV, 1st Infantry Division, Binh Duong Province, Republic of Vietnam
Start of Tour: Nov 6, 1966, Date of Casualty: Jan 10, 1967, Days in Country: 65
Casualty Type A1, D-7 (GSW), Panel 14E - Line 005
Find A Grave: Memorial #14178821 Hartley Cemetery, Lakeport, California

HANAWALD, LEN MARTIN, Silver Star (OLC), BSM (V)
HHC, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Div
Lieutenant Colonel, O5, 525665789, MOS 71542
Home of Record: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Date of Birth: Sep 9, 1935, Age at time of loss: 33, Married
USARV, 101st Airborne Division, Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam
Start of Tour: May 6, 1969, Date of Casualty: Sep 3, 1969, Days in Country: 120
Casualty Type A2, D-7 (GSW), Panel 18W - Line 028
Find A Grave: Memorial #16742177 Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia

HARRIS, JERRY LEE
HH Troop, 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Brigade
Warrant Officer, W1, W3161410, MOS 062B
Home of Record: Mobile, Alabama
Date of Birth: April 24, 1941, Age at time of loss: 27, Married
USARV, 11th Armored Cavalry, Long Khanh Province, Republic of Vietnam
Start of Tour: Aug 31, 1968, Date of Casualty: Sep 29, 1968, Days in Country: 29
Casualty Type A1, B-5 (UH-1C shot down), Panel 42W - Line 041
Find A Grave: Memorial #70552308 Mobile Memorial Gardens, Tillmans Corner, Alabama

HOLMES, HUGH BRYANT, BSM (V)
Patrol Boat River 8141, River Division 554, Task Force 116, USNAVFORV
Ensign, O1, US Navy, 742219, MOS 1105
Home of Record: Lakewood, California
Date of Birth: Jan 1, 1945, Age at time of loss: 24, Single
MACV, USNAVFORV, Saigon River, Binh Duong Province, Republic of Vietnam
Start of Tour: May 29, 1969, Date of Casualty: Jun 23, 1969, Days in Country: 25
Casualty Type A2, E-7 (PBR hit by 107mm Rocket), Panel 21W - Line 008
Find A Grave: Memorial #36411303 Memorial Park Cemetery, Tulsa, Oklahoma

MC BRIDE, ELLIS ALEXANDER, JR.
B Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate)
First Lieutenant, O2, OF108764, MOS 71542
Home of Record: Lithia, Florida
Date of Birth: June 26, 1943, Age at time of loss: 23, Married
USARV, 173rd Airborne Brigade, Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam
Start of Tour: Apr 19, 1967, Date of Casualty: Jun 23, 1967, Days in Country: 65
Casualty Type A1, H-7 (MFW). Panel 22E - Line 055
Find A Grave: Memorial #49260668 Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia

MECHEM, JESSE (MIA)
3rd Platoon, B Company, 5th Battalion, 60th Infantry, 9th Inf Div
First Lieutenant, O2, O5422955, MOS 1542
Home of Record: Las Cruces, New Mexico
Date of Birth: Nov 23, 1944, Age at time of loss: 23, Single
USARV, 9th Infantry Division, Dinh Tuong Province, Republic of Vietnam
Start of Tour: Jan 4, 1968, Date of Casualty: Feb 12, 1968, Days in Country: 51
Casualty Type A1, D-7 (GSW), MIA but body recovered. Panel 39E - Line 009
Find A Grave: Memorial #17572456 Sante Fe National Cemetery, Sante Fe, NM

RANSDELL, CURTIS HAROLD
A Troop, 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Div
Sergeant, E5, 18638801, MOS 11D4P
Home of Record: Farmington, New Mexico
Date of Birth: Jun 24, 1944, Age at time of loss: 22, Married, 1 child
USARV, 101st Airborne Division, Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam
Start of Tour: May 17, 1966, Date of Casualty: July 7, 1966, Days in Country: 51
Casualty Type A1, D-7 (GSW), Panel 09E - Line 006
Find A Grave: Memorial #147902 Monticello City Cemetery, Monticello, Utah

SAWYERS, ROGER THURSTON, DFC
185th Aviation Company (Recon), 223rd Avn Bn, 17th Avn Group
Captain, O3, O5415950, MOS 1983
Home of Record: Nogales, Arizona
Date of Birth: Aug 17, 1939, Age at time of loss: 28, Single
1st Aviation Brigade, USARV, Lam Dong Province, Republic of Vietnam
Start of Tour: Jan 8, 1967, Date of Casualty: Oct 2, 1967, Days in Country: 267
Casualty Type A3, B-1 (Aircraft shot down), Panel 27E - Line 041
Find A Grave: Memorial #84123187 Sunset Gardens Cemetery, Carlsbad, New Mexico

SIMONS, GERALD SHIELDS, Soldiers Medal
C Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 1st Cav Div
Major, O4, O67379, MOS 1983
Home of Record: Roswell, New Mexico
Date of Birth: May 31, 1930, Age at time of loss: 36, Married, 4 children
USARV, 1st Cavalry Division, Pleiku Province, Republic of Vietnam
Start of Tour: Jul 22, 1966, Date of Casualty: Aug 8, 1966, Days in Country: 17
Casualty Type C3, B-4 (crash in bad weather at night), Panel 09E - Line 118
Find A Grave: Memorial #102667338 South Park Cemetery, Roswell, NM

SISK, ROBERT ALAN, BSM (V)
Advisory Team 22, HQ, MACV Advisors
Captain, O3, 525709756, MOS 1204
Home of Record: Hurley, New Mexico
Date of Birth: Jan 17, 1933, Age at time of loss: 38, Married, 2 children
MACV, Bình Dương Province, Republic of Vietnam
Start of Tour: Jun 7, 1970, Date of Casualty: Jan 30, 1971, Days in Country: 237
Casualty Type C2, P-7 (Stroke, cerebral hemorrhage), Panel 16W - Line 071
Find A Grave: Memorial #66961006 Prospect Cemetery, Emory, Rains County, Texas

SUBER, RANDOLPH BOTHWELL (MIA)
Recon Team Rattler, CCN, MACV-SOG, 5th Special Forces Group
Sergeant First Class, SFC, 521586825, MOS 11B4S
Home of Record: Ballwin, Missouri
Date of Birth: May 22, 1947, Age at time of loss: 31, Single
USARV, 5th SFG, 155813N 1070227E (YC184666) Laos
Start of Tour: Aug 18, 1969, Date of Casualty: Nov 13, 1969, Days in Country: 87
Officially declared dead (PFoD): Oct 30, 1978
Casualty Type A3, Z-7 (MIA, body not recovered), Panel 05W - Line 007
Find A Grave: Memorial #17586200 Santa Fe National Cemetery, Santa Fe, NM (IMO)

THARP, HAROLD ALLEN, JR, DFC
187th Assault Helicopter Co, 269th Aviation Bn, 12th Aviation Group
Specialist Five, SP5, 18746905, MOS 67N2F (Crew Chief)
Home of Record: Alamogordo, New Mexico
Date of Birth: Feb 23, 1943, Age at time of loss: 25, Single
USARV, 1st Aviation Brigade, Bình Dương Province, Republic of Vietnam
Start of Tour: Mar 8, 1967, Date of Casualty: April 12, 1968, Days in Country: 401
Casualty Type A1, B-5 (UH-1C shot down), Panel 49E - Line 037
Find A Grave: Memorial #56989711 Fort Bliss National Cemetery, El Paso, Tx

WALKER, THOMAS TAYLOR, DFC (MIA)
8th Bomb Squadron, 6252nd Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Air Force
Captain, O3, USAF, 62785, MOS 1585 (Navigator)
Home of Record: Toledo, Oregon
Date of Birth: Sep 6, 1935, Age at time of loss: 30, Divorced, 2 children
7th AF, USAF, Savannakhet Province, Laos south of Lang Vei, Laos
Start of Tour: N/A, Date of Casualty: April 7, 1966, Days in Country: N/A
Casualty Type A1, B-2 (B-57B Canberra shot down), Panel 06E - Line 093
Find A Grave: Memorial #60705604 Eureka Cemetery, Newport, OR (IMO)

WILSON, JOHN STANTON, Silver Star
HQ & Svc Battery, 5th Bn, 2nd Artillery, 23rd Artillery Group
Captain, O3, O2324362, MOS 1174
Home of Record: Belen, New Mexico
Date of Birth: January 11, 1941, Age at time of loss: 28, Single
USARV, II Field Force Vietnam, Bien Hoa Province, Republic of Vietnam
Start of Tour: Oct 5, 1968, Date of Casualty: Feb 23, 1969, Days in Country: 141
Casualty Type A1, D-7 (GSW), Panel 31W - Line 030
Find A Grave: Memorial #106138624 Fort Bliss National Cemetery, El Paso, Tx

WISE, JOSEPH ROBERT, Silver Star
Advisory Team 21 (attached to Team 33), HQ, MACV Advisors
Major, O4, O88233, MOS 84010
Home of Record: Nogales, Arizona
Date of Birth: June 30, 1934, Age at time of loss: 33, Single
MACV, 8th ARVN Cavalry, Darlac Province, Republic of Vietnam
Start of Tour: Apr 29, 1967, Date of Casualty: Jan 31, 1968, Days in Country: 277
Casualty Type A1, D-7 (GSW), Panel 36E - Line 043
Find A Grave: Memorial #49367371 Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia

WOOD, RONALD WILLIAM
A Company, 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry, 9th Inf Div
Second Lieutenant, O1, 585301363, MOS 1542
Home of Record: El Paso, Texas
Date of Birth: January 20, 1947, Age at time of loss: 21, Single
USARV, 9th Infantry Division, Vinh Long Province, Republic of Vietnam
Start of Tour: Nov 14, 1967, Date of Casualty: Feb 4, 1968, Days in Country: 82
Casualty Type A1, D-7 (GSW), Panel 37E - Line 030
Find A Grave: Memorial #105914195 Fort Bliss National Cemetery, El Paso, Tx

YOUNG, STEPHEN ANDREW, DFC
A Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 1st Cav Div
Warrant Officer, W1, 585301363, MOS 100B
Home of Record: Las Cruces, New Mexico
Date of Birth: April 13, 1948, Age at time of loss: 21, Single
USARV, 1st Cavalry Division, near Bo Tuc, Tay Ninh Province, Republic of Vietnam
Start of Tour: May 10, 1969, Date of Casualty: September 8, 1969, Days in Country: 121
Casualty Type A1, B-4 (OH-6A shot down), Panel 20W - Line 120
Find A Grave: Memorial #18564885 Fort Bliss National Cemetery, El Paso, Tx