This is a compilation that was put together with a lot of love, understanding and pride. The information you are about to see and read was what the Mercer County Vietnam Era Veterans Assoc. was able to find from local newspapers and most importantly, from the families of these heroes. We started this project in 1989. Many couples of the organization went to the last known family members and asked questions about their loved ones. The families actually tore open shadow boxes containing the flag presented to them when their Serviceman was buried. In these shadow boxes were contained medals and in some cases the actual letter informing them of the circumstances. They brought out the citations of their medals. Then we talked about them.... school, hobbies, favorite sports. They entrusted us with what was sometimes the only real picture of the loved one. We assured them that we would return the picture after we made a copy. We had told them what we planned to do and they were happy to help. One thing I did notice at many of the homes we visited... funeral cards. They were not just their family member but those of many of the other families. As we lost more from our county, the families attended each of the other families funerals. It was their way of forming a circle and supporting each other.

     As you know, I had said some of the information was gotten from media. What happened years earlier, at a fund raiser, was, one member was approached in Giant Eagles parking lot ( we were distributing our Orange Blossoms ) by some construction workers. The member was told that they were tearing down a home and uncovered something we might want. As you can tell, we were more than happy to accept the gift and they are now in our possession, sealed in a container for now. The home was owned by an old couple who had a paraplegic son. One of the son's hobbies was to glean and cut out all the articles of the Vietnam War as they appeared in some of our local newspapers. He made 2 volumes, bound in grocery bag paper. The covers were thick with single sheets of the brown paper as surfaces he cut and glued the articles. The time frame was from the mid sixties to 1975 when Siagon fell. Information included pictures of many Service people who enlisted, earned rank, assignments, service in Vietnam to include wounds and deaths. It was the most inclusive history of the Vietnam War from our area that I have ever seen. We cataloged each name  and the volumn and pages they appear, to include any article on the deaths. This proved to be invaluable when no family was able to be contacted. You will notice some of the pictures are copies from printed media. If anyone has an actual photo of those men, we would appreciate a copy to replace the media one. If there is one of the man in uniform, we will replace the ones in civilian attire. If there is additional ,verifiable, info that needs to be added, feel free to contact us.

     To get the Vietnam Veterans Memorial tracings, 3 of our members went to Washington DC on Veteran's Day 1984. At that time they dedicated the Statue of the Three Men. There was an additional mission to trace every name from Mercer County on that Memorial. What you are looking at is the parchment that we used in our display.

     Now we got the Pictures of each man, a tracing on each from the Memorial, and a short synopsis from our visits to the homes and from media. We had the makings of an impacting display. We constructed four 4' x 4' wood panels covered in plexiglas. The panels were painted black and each man had an area that included a 5x7 picture, synopsis, and the tracing over top. The family members were the first to see the display and to let us know if there were correction that we could make before we presented it to the public. They gave us an ok. We set it up and it was dedicated 10 May 1990 at 3:30 PM in the Rotunda of the Mercer County Courthouse. In the years since, it has been to many western PA cities, in local parades, at schools, Municipal buildings and several times at the Shenango Valley Mall. It has received nothing but good comments. We have been trying to keep it up but somethings are hard to do the way we want. What we decided to do (until we redo it for public display again) was to digitalize it. And there is a name for the project that fits well. "MORE THAN A NAME ON A WALL". More than once, I have heard remarks when some see the pictures. A lot of them were on the line of "Oh my God, I knew him, he ..delivered my paper/mowed my lawn/ was a friend of my kids."  So, read and look, you may find you know them too.

     Welcome and please meet some of  your County's Heroes. This will be an ongoing project because we hope to construct one for our present conflict as well. Our county has never been short of brave people.

SP4 STEVEN A BEDNAR

D.O.B.    4-03-50

D.O.I.    7-15-71

     SON OF MR. AND MRS. SAMUEL AUBEL, STEVEN WAS A 1969 GRADUATE OF GREENVILLE HIGH SCHOOL.  HE WAS ACTIVE IN FOOTBALL, TRACK AND OTHER TEAM SPORTS.  HE THEN BECAME AN INDUSTRIAL MAINTENANCE APPRENTICE AT R.D. WERNER CO.

     UPON COMPLETION OF MILITARY TRAINING, HE WAS ASSIGNED AS A MEDIC WITH THE 12^TH CAVALRY, 101^ST AIRBORN DIV. VIETNAM.

     HE WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART, BRONZE STAR, COMBAT INFANTRYMANS BADGE, AND THE VIETNAMESE CROSS OF GALLANTRY WITH PALM DEVISE.

     STEVEN WAS THE 37^TH MECER COUNTY MAN KILLED IN ACTION IN VIETNAM.

CPL ROGER ALLAN BROWN

D.O.B.    1-07-45

D.O.I.   12-18-68

     CPL BROWN WAS BORN IN WINCHESTER, VA. AND FARRELL, PA BECAME HIS HOME.  HE ATTENDED FARRELL HIGH SCHOOL PRIOR TO ENLISTING IN THE U.S. MARINE CORPS.

     HE ENTERED BOOT CAMP AT CAMP LEJUNE, NORTH CAROLINA IN 1967. AFTER COMPLETING HIS TRAINING, HE WAS ASSIGNED, IN 1968, TO 2 CAG 111-MAF-FMF IN VIETNAM.

     ON DEC, 12, 1968, ROGER WAS ON PATROL WHEN HE WAS FATALLY WOUNDED IN THE HEAD BY HOSTILE SMALL ARMS FIRE.

PFC ROY OTIS BUCHANAN

D.O.B.    2-4-48

D.O.I.    8-8-69

     PFC BUCHANAN GRADUATED FROM COCHRANTONHIGH SCHOOL IN 1966

AND WENT ON TO ATTEND EDINBORO STATE UNIVERSITY, FOR 2 ˝ YEARS. 

     HE ENTERED THE ARMY IN FEB. 1969 AND UPON COMPLETION OF HIS TRAINING,

HE WAS ASSIGNEDTO THE 3^RD BN OF THE 1^ST INF. DIV., VIETNAM. 

     WHILE ON A COMBAT OPERATION NEAR CHU LAI, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM,

HE WAS MORTALLY WOUNDED BY ENEMY FIRE.

1^ST LT PAUL W BUSH

D.O.B.    7-08-44

D.O.I.    3-22-68

     SON OF MR. AND MRS. EARL S. BUSH, PAUL GRADUATED FROM GREENVILLE HIGH SCHOOL AND THIEL COLLEGE, WHERE HE PARTICIPATED IN THE TRACK AND FIELD TEAMS.

     HE ENLISTED IN THE U.S. MARINE CORPS AND COMPLETED TRAINING AND SCHOOL TO BECOME AN OFFICER.  PAUL DIED OF WOUNDS RECEIVED DURING AN ENEMY ARTILLERY ATTACK ON HIS DEFENSIVE POSITION NEAR QUANG TRI, VIETNAM.

     PAUL WAS THE 14^TH MERCER COUNTY SERVICEMAN TO DIE IN THE VIETNAM WAR.

SSGT ALBERT K CHRISTY

D.O.B.    8-14-38

D.O.I.    3-17-66

     SON OF AMBROSE AND MARY CHRISTY, HE ATTENDED SCHOOL MERCER HIGH SCHOOL.

     HE ENTERED THE ARMY AND HAD INTENTIONS OF BECOMING A CAREER SOLDIER. HE HAD VOLUNTEERED FOR DUTY IN VIETNAM, DESPITE FAMILY PLEAS NOT TO DO SO.

     ALBERT WAS MORTALLY WOUNDED BY HOSTILE SMALL ARMS FIRE WHILE ON A COMBAT MISSION WITH THE 25^TH INF. DIV. IN THE AREA OF CU CHI, VIETNAM.  HE IS THE 2^ND MERCER COUNTY SOLDIER TO BE KILLED IN ACTION.

SGT JESSE JAMES COON

D.O.B.    8-30-47

D.O.I.    4-12-68

     SGT. COON WAS BORN IN NEW WILMINGTON, PA. , AND THEN MOVED TO HERMITAGE, PA. , PRIOR TO ENTERING THE ARMY IN 1967.

     SGT COON WAS TRAINED IN MILITARY INTELLIGENCE BEFORE GETTING AN ASSIGNMENT TO VIETNAM IN FEB. 1968.  ON 23 APRIL, 1968, WHILE A PASSENGER IN A MILITARY VEHICLE, AN ENEMY GRENADE WAS THROWN INSIDE AND ROLLED UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT. WITH COMPLETE DISREGARD TO HIS OWN SAFETY, THEN SPC4 COON SEIZED THE GRENADE AND ATTEMPTED TO THROW IT CLEAR OF THE VEHICLE.  UPON EXPLOSION, THE DRIVER WAS SAVED BUT JESSE WAS MORTALLY WOUNDED.

     JESSE WAS, POSTHUMOUSLY, AWARDED THE RANK OF SGT E-5 AND THE BRONZE STAR WITH “V” DEVICE.

CPL THEODORE HUBERT DALTON

D.O.B.    1-18-49

D.O.I.   11-01-68

     THEODORE ENLISTED IN THE U.S. MARINE CORPS SHORTLY AFTER LEAVING HIGH SCHOOL.

     AFTER COMPLETING HIS TRAINING, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO DUTY IN VIETNAM. DURING AN OPERATION, CPL DALTON RECEIVED A MORTAL WOUND FROM ENEMY FIRE.

     CPL. DALTON, POSTHUMOUSLY, RECEIVED THE NAVY COMMENDATION MEDAL WITH “V” DEVICE, THE PURPLE HEART, THE MILITARY MERIT MEDAL, AND THE VIETNAMESE CROSS OF GALLANTRY WITH PALM DEVICE.

CPL ANTHONY DE GEROLAMO JR

D.O.B.    2-3-44

D.O.I.    2-5-68

     SON OF MR. AND MRS. ANTHONY AND THERESA DE GEROLAMO, ANTHONY GRADUATED FROM FARRELL HIGH SCHOOL IN 1962.  HE WAS A STAND OUT FOOTBALL PLAYER AND AN HONOR STUDENT. HE WAS ATTENDING YOUNGSTOWN STATE UNIVERSITY WHEN HE WAS DRAFTED INTO THE U.S. ARMY IN 1966.

     DURING THE TET OFFENSIVE, NEAR THE LONG AN AREA, HE VOLUNTEERED FOR A NIGHT PATROL.  THE PATROL WAS AMBUSHED AND ANTHONY WAS FIRST DECLARED MISSING IN ACTION AND LATER CORRECTED TO KILLED IN ACTION.

      HE WAS AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMANS BADGE, PURPLE HEART AND THE BRONZE STAR.

SGT RONALD JAMES DIBARTOLOMEO

D.O.B.   11-26-48

D.O.I.   11-11-70

     SGT. DIBARTOLOMEO LIVED IN SPRINGFIELD TWP. PA., AND GRADUATED FROM GROVE CITY HIGH SCHOOL IN 1966.  HE WENT ON TO ATTEND YOUNGSTOWN STATE UNIVERSITY UNTIL HE WAS DRAFTED INTO THE U.S. ARMY IN SEPT. 1969.

     UPON COMPLETION OF HIS MILITARY TRAINING IN MARCH 1970, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO C CO. 9^TH INF. 3^RD BRIGADE, 25^TH INF. DIV. VIETNAM.  SGT. DIBARTOLOMEO WAS WOUNDED DURING AN OPERATION AND DIED TWO DAYS LATER OF THE WOUND.

PFC RICHARD DRIVERE

D.O.B.    4-29-47

D.O.I.    9-10-68

     RICHARD DRIVERE’S HOME OF RECORD WAS NEW WILMINGTON, PA.  HIS MOTHER IS HELEN DRIVERE, NOW OF HERMITAGE, PA.

     HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION, 10 SEPTEMBER 1968, 

BY HOSTILE SMALL ARMS FIRE. HE WAS PART OF

A MARINE OPERATION IN QUANG TRI, REPUBLIC OF SOUTH VIETNAM.

SP4 PAUL EDWARD DUFFORD

D.O.B.    9-5-48

D.O.I.   12-8-67

     SON OF CHARLES AND CHERIE DUFFORD, HE GRADUATED FROM HICKORY HIGH SCHOOL IN 1966. HE ENLISTED IN THE U.S. ARMY IN DECEMBER 1966.  UPON COMPLETION OF TRAINING, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 1^ST INF. DIV. VIETNAM. HIS UNIT WAS CALLED THE “BLACK SCARF” UNIT.

     WHILE RETURNING FROM A NIGHT PATROL, ABOUT 50 MILES NORTH OF SAIGON, HIS UNIT CAME UNDER AN ENEMY MORTAR ATTACK.  DURING THIS ACTION SP4 DUFFORD WAS KILLED AND 10 OTHERS BADLY WOUNDED.  HE WAS THE 10^TH SERVICEMAN FROM MERCER COUNTY TO DIE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA.

     PAUL WAS AWARDED THE SILVER STAR, BRONZE STAR, PURPLE HEART, COMBAT INFANTRYMANS BADGE, EXPERT RIBBON FOR THE AUTO MACHINE GUN AND RIFLE, AS WELL AS THE VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL.

SGT. DAVID GARTH FINNEGAN

D.O.B.    3-17-48

D.O.I.     5-18 69

     DAVID WAS BORN TO JAMES R. AND NANCY L. FINNEGAN IN GROVE CITY, PA. AFTER GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN 1966, HE ATTENDED FINDLAY (OHIO) COLLEGE.

     HE ENTERED THE ARMY IN 1967 AND AFTER BASIC TRAINING, DAVID VOLUNTEERED FOR AIRBORNE TRAINING AT FT. BENNING, GA.  HE WAS THEN ASSIGNED TO CO. A, 1^ST BN, 506^TH INF. 101^ST ABN INF DIV. AMBL, VIETNAM.  HE WAS KILLED WHILE HIS COMPANY WAS ADVANCING AGAINST AN ENEMY BUNKER IN THE A SHAU VALLEY.  THIS ACTION WAS PART OF THE BATTLE BETTER KNOWN AS “HAMBURGER HILL”.  HE WAS AWARDED, POSTHUMOUSLY, THE SILVER STAR, BRONZE STAR (2ND AWARD), PURPLE HEART (2^ND AWARD) , GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, IN ADDITION TO HIS COMBAT INFANTRYMAN’S BADGE.

SGT JAMES FORRESTER

D.O.B.    8-8-41

D.O.I.    2-1-66

     SON OF ROBERT AND EMMA FORRESTER, HE GRADUATED FROM MERCER HIGH SCHOOL IN 1959.

     HE INTENDED TO BE A CAREER SOLDIER AND TRAINED AS AN AIRBORNE SOLDIER TO BE ASSIGNED TO THE 1^ST AIR CAVALRY DIV. VIETNAM.

     WHILE ON AN OPERATION, SGT. FORRESTER SUSTAINED A FATAL HEAD INJURY.

     SGT. FORRESTER WAS MERCER COUNTY’S FIRST FATALITY OF THE VIETNAM WAR.

SP4 PAUL FREDERICK FOULK

D.O.B.    3-4-48

D.O.I.     9-7-69

     SP4 FOULK LIVED IN GREENVILLE, PA., AND GRADUATED FROM GREENVILLE HIGH SCHOOL.

     HE ENTERED THE ARMY ON OCT. 14, 1968 AND UPON COMPLETION OF HIS TRAINING, WAS ASSIGNED TO B BATTERY, 1^ST BN 21^ST ARTILLERY,  1^ST  AIR CAVALRY DIV. VIETNAM. HE WAS FATALLY WOUNDED DURING AN ENEMY ATTACK NEAR BIEN HOA, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM.

     SP4 FOULK, POSTHUMOUSLY, RECEIVED THE SILVER STAR AND THE PURPLE HEART.

CPL RICHARD A FUNELLI JR.

D.O.B.    2-26-47

D.O.I.    1-15-67

    RICHARD GRADUATED FROM FARRELL HIGH SCHOOL IN 1965 AND ENLISTED IN THE U.S. MARINE CORPS TWO MONTHS LATER.

     HE WAS SERVING WITH THE 1^ST MARINE DIVISION WHEN HE SUFFERED SHRAPNEL WOUNDS IN COMBAT.  AFTER RECUPERATING IN JAPAN, HE RETURNED TO VIETNAM WHERE HE WAS MORTALLY WOUNDED BY A HOSTILE MORTAR ROUND DURING AN OPERATION. HE HAD LESS THAN ONE MONTH LEFT OF DUTY IN VIETNAM AT THE TIME.

     HE WAS THE 6^TH SERVICEMAN, FROM MERCER COUNTY, TO BE KILLED IN ACTION IN SOUTH EAST ASIA.

Mercer County's only POW-MIA from the Vietnam War

CAPT. MAURICE EDWIN GARRETT JR.

D.O.B.    4-17-46

D.O.I.    10-22-71

     CAPT. GARRETT WAS RAISED AND WENT TO SCHOOL IN WEST MIDDLESEX, PA.  HE GRADUATED FROM WEST MIDDLESEX AREA HIGH SCHOOL.  HE LATER ATTENDED YOUNGSTOWN STATE UNIVERSITY FOR ONE YEAR.

     HE ENTERED THE ARMY IN 1966, COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AND ATTENDED MILITARY POLICE SCHOOL.  HE WAS THEN SELECTED TO ATTEND OFFICERS CANDIDATE SCHOOL AND WAS COMMISSIONED AS A 2^ND LT.  LATER, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 101^ST AIRBORNE DIV. FOR HIS FIRST TOUR IN VIETNAM.  AFTER LT. GARRETT RETURNED HOME, HE WAS SELECTED FOR HELICOPTER PILOT SCHOOL. (HIS CHILDHOOD DREAM WAS TO FLY).  UPON COMPLETION OF THE TRAINING, HE WAS, AGAIN, ASSIGNED TO VIETNAM.  THIS TIME AS A CAPTAIN AND COMMANDER OF TROOP A, 2^ND SQUADRON, 17^TH CAV. 1^ST AIR CAVALRY DIV.

     WHILE FLYING A MISSION IN LOW VISIBILITY, USING INSTRUMENTS (LATER TO BE FOUND FAULTY), CAPT. GARRETT’S HUEY COBRA CRASHED INTO A MOUNTAINSIDE.  HIS BODY WAS NEVER FOUND AND ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT DECLARED HIM DEAD, HE WAS LATER DECLARED MISSING IN ACTION.  HE IS THE ONLY, OFFICIAL, M.I.A. IN MERCER COUNTY FROM THE VIETNAM WAR.

     CAPT. GARRETT RECEIVED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, 3 AWARDS OF THE PURPLE HEART, 2 AWARDS OF THE BRONZE STAR AND THE VIETNAMESE CROSS OF GALLANTRY WITH PALM.

PFC PAUL E GOOD

D.O.B.    9-26-47

D.O.I.     6-19-67

     PAUL WAS THE SON OF MR. & AND MRS. JOHN GOOD JR.  HE LIVED IN SHARPSVILLE, PA., AND GRADUATED FROM SHARPSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL IN 1965.

     HE ENTERED THE U.S. ARMY AND UPON COMPLETION OF HIS TRAINING, HE VOLUNTEERED FOR, AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 9^TH INF. DIV. VIETNAM.  WHILE ON A COMBAT OPERATION HE WAS REPORTED TO BE MISSING IN ACTION AFTER AN ENEMY ENGAGEMENT.  HE WAS LATER FOUND TO BE KILLED IN ACTION AND RECEIVED THE PURPLE HEART AND THE BRONZE STAR FOR MERITOIOUS ACHIEVEMENT.

PFC MILES BRADLEY HEDGLIN

D.O.B.    8-04-49

D.O.I.    3-25-69

     PFC HEDGLIN LIVED IN GROVE CITY, PA., AND ATTENDED GROVE CITY HIGH SCHOOL.  HE WAS A BOY SCOUT AND PLAYED LITTLE LEADUE BASEBALL.

     HE ENTERED THE ARMY IN 1968. UPON COMPLETION OF HIS TRAINING, HE WAS ASSIGNED AS A RIFLEMAN WITH B CO. 1^ST BN 8^TH INF. 4^TH INF. DIV. VIETNAM.  WHILE ON A COMBAT OPERATION, NORTHWEST OF KONTUM CITY IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, HIS UNIT CAME UNDER INTENSE FIRE FROM A SUPERIOR ENEMY FORCE.  PFC HEDGLIN WAS FATALLY WOUNDED WHILE TRYING TO PROVIDE COVER FIRE SO THAT OTHER MEN COULD MANEUVER OUT OF THE TRAP.  HIS ACTIONS PREVENTED MANY MORE CASUALTIES FOR HIS UNIT.

     PFC HEDGLIN, POSTHUMOUSLY, RECEIVED THE BRONZE STAR, PURPLE HEART, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL AND THE COMBAT INFANTRYMANS BADGE.

1^ST LT PAUL J HESS JR.

D.O.B.    3-21-38

D.O.I.   11-11-66

     SON OF MR. & MRS. PAUL J. HESS SR., AFTER COMPLETING HIS REQUIRED TRAINING, HE HAD BEEN ACCEPTED FOR A COMMISSION IN THE U. S. ARMY.  HE WAS LATER ASSIGNED TO THE GREEN BERETS, SPECIAL FORCES.

  HE WAS MORTALLY WOUNDED WHILE ON A SUPPLY MISSION NEAR THE CAMBODIAN BORDER.  HE AND SEVERAL OTHER MEN WERE CUT DOWN BY ENEMY FIRE WHILE THE DISEMBARKED FROM A HELICOPTOR.

     DURING HIS TIME IN VIETNAM LT HESS SENT A SPECIAL ANMERICAN FLAG, FLOWN IN VIETNAM, TO THE SHENANGO VALLEY VETERAN’S DAY PARADE COMMITTEE. IT WAS USED IN THE 1966 VETERANS DAY PARADE… THE ACTUAL DAY LT. HESS WAS KILLED. HE ALSO HELPED FORM A BOY SCOUT TROOP IN THE INDIGENOUS TRIBES THAT LIVED WHERE HE WAS STATIONED.

SGT MERLE ROBERT HIGGINS

D.O.B.    8-6-47

D.O.I.    6-5-69

     SGT. HIGGINS LIVED IN JAMESTOWN, PA., AND GRADUATED FROM PYMATUMING JOINT HIGH SCHOOL IN 1965.  HE WAS INVOLVED IN SCHOOL WRESTLING AND BASKETBALL.  HE WENT ON TO ATTEND THIEL COLLEGE IN GREENVILLE, PA., UNTIL HE ENTERED THE ARMY.

     UPON COMPLETION OF HIS TRAINING, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 9^TH INF. OF THE 25^TH INF. DIV. VIETNAM. WHILE ON AN OPERATION, HE WAS MORTALLY WOUNDED BY ENEMY FIRE.

   SGT HIGGINS WAS POSTHUMOUSLY PROMOTED TO SGT. E-5 AND AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART AND THE BRONZE STAR.

LCPL. TERRENCE E. KLARIC

D.O.B.    5-24-46

D.O.I.     5-11-67

     SON OF PETER AND EDITH KLARIC, TERRENCE HAD VOLUNTEERED TO RETURN FOR A SECOND TOUR OF DUTY IN VIETNAM. THIS HAPPENED FOLLOWING ONE YEAR OF HOSPITAL RECUPERATION FROM A WOUND HE RECEIVED FROM HIS FIRST ASSIGNMENT IN VIETNAM.  HE WAS FATALLY WOUNDED WHILE DEFENDING A POSITION IN QUANG TRI PROVINCE.  HE DIED AS A RESULT OF MULTIPLE FRAGMENTATION WOUNDS AND TRAUMATIC AMPUTATION OF THE LEFT FOOT FROM ENEMY GRENADES.

     HE WAS THE SEVENTH MAN FROM MERCER COUNTY TO BE KILLED IN ACTION IN VIETNAM.

     HE WAS AWARDED THE 2^ND AWARD OF THE PURPLE HEART, NATIONAL DEFENCE MEDAL AND THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM SERVICE MEDALS.

LCPL TERRENCE MICHAEL KUZAK

D.O.B.    1-22-49

D.O.I.    12-24-69

     LCPL TERRENCE KUZAK WAS BORN IN ERIE, PA THEN WEST MIDDLESEX, PA BECAME HIS HOME. HE WAS A 1968 GRADUATE OF FARRELL HIGH SCHOOL AND HE WAS AN AVID CONSERVATIONIST AND A BOY SCOUT.

     TERRENCE ENTERED THE MARINE CORPS ON OCT 25, 1968 AND FINISHED HIS TRAINING IN MARINE RECON PRIOR TO LEAVING FOR VIETNAM. HE BECAME ASSIGNED TO 2^ND BN E CO 5^TH MARINE DIVISION.

     WHILE ON A NIGHT RECON MISSION, A LANDMINE WAS SET OFF, SEVERELY WOUNDING LCPL KUZAK.  HE LATER PASSED AWAY OF THE WOUNDS WHILE BEING HOSPITALIZED IN JAPAN.

     LCPL TERRENCE KUZAK WAS, POTHUMOUSLY, AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART AND THE BRONZE STAR.

SP4 JOHN H. LOPOCHONSKY

D.O.B.   12-05-49

D.O.I.    07-17-71

     JOHN WAS A 1969 GRADUATE OF GREENVILLE HIGH SCHOOL. HE WAS ACTIVE IN FOOTBALL, WRESTLING AND TRACK.

     HIS ARMY TRAINING WAS FOR HIM TO BECOME A HELICOPTER DOOR GUNNER.  THE FOLLOWING IS FROM HIS CITATION.

     “HE DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF BY EXCEPTIONALLY VALOROUS ACTIONS, VOLUNTEERING FOR RECON AFTER THE SCOUT TEAM CAME UNDER INTENSIVE FIRE.  HE AIDED OTHER CREW MEMBERS AND PERSISTENTLY PURSUED THE ENEMY.  ON A RUN, OVER A HEAVILY FORTIFIED ENEMY BUNKER, LOPOCHONSKY COMPLETELY EXPOSED HIMSELF TO ENEMY FIRE AS HE DESTROYED 5 BUILDINGS, ONE BUNKER, AND FOUR SAMPANS.  THE AIRCRAFT TOOK INTENSIVE HITS, AND WHEN CRIPPLED, CRASHED.  LOPOCHONSKY’S ACTIONS WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST MILITARY TRADITIONS.”

     HE WAS, POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART AND THE BRONZE STAR.

SSGT THOMAS ROBERT MARSHALL

D.O.B.   10-23-47

D.O.I.    12-11-69

     SSGT MARSHALL LIVED IN SANDY LAKE, PA., AND GRADUATED FROM LAKEVIEW HIGH SCHOOL IN 1966. HE ATTENDED PENN STATE UNIVERSITY FOR TWO YEARS.

     HE ENTERED THE ARMY IN 1968 AND AFTER COMPLETING HIS TRAINING, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 25^TH INF. DIV. VIETNAM.  DURING A NIGHT RECON OPERATION, HIS UNIT WAS AMBUSHED.  SSGT MARSHALL WAS FATALLY WOUNDED BY ENEMY SMALL ARMS FIRE DURING THE BATTLE.

     HE WAS POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART, BRONZE STAR AND THE VIETNAM CROSS OF GALLANTRY WITH PALM.

SP4 DONALD STEPHEN MIHORDIN

D.O.B.    7-21-47

D.O.I.   11-27-68

     SP4 MIHORDIN WAS BORN IN SHARON, PA. , AND GRADUATED FROM HICKORY HIGH SCHOOL IN 1965. HE ATTENDED YOUNGSTOWN STATE UNIVERSITY.

     HE ENTERED THE ARMY IN AUGUST, 1967, AND IN FEB. 1968, AFTER TRAINING, WAS ASSIGNED TO D CO. 4^TH BN 9^TH INF. 25^TH IN.F DIV. CUCHI, VIETNAM. WHILE ON PATROL, A LANDMINE WAS TRIGGERED AND SP4 MIHORDIN RECEIVED A MORTAL WOUND TO HIS NECK.

     SP4 MIHORDIN WAS POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR, PURPLE HEART AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL.

     FIVE WEEKS PRIOR TO HIS DEATH, HIS WIFE GAVE BIRTH TO DONALD JR.  SP4 MIHORDIN NEVER SAW HIS SON.

(THIS PICTURE IS POSSIBLY THE LAST ONE TAKEN OF HIM. IT WAS TAKEN BY HIS WIFE, WHILE ON R&R IN HAWAII.)

PFC DENNIS KEITH MILLISON

D.O.B.   9-01-48

D.O.I.    2-26-69

     PFC MILLISON WAS BORN IN SHARON, PA.   HE WAS A 1966 GRADUATE OF SHARON HIGH SCHOOL.  HE WAS ACTIVE IN LEAGUE BASEBALL AND HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL.   HE WAS ALSO A CHARTER MEMBER OF THE LOCAL ORDER OF THE DE MOLAY.

     HE ENTERED THE MARINE CORPS IN 1968.   AFTER TRAINING, HE WAS ASSIGNED AS A RIFLEMAN WITH THE 3^RD BN. 4^TH MARINES, 3^RD MARINE DIVISION IN VIETNAM IN EARLY 1968.

     WHILE ON AN OPERATION NEAR LZ MACK, QUANG TRI PROVINCE, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM, PFC MILLISON’S SQUAD CAME UNDER HEAVY ATTACK FROM A NORTH VIETNAMESE ARMY PLATOON. DURING THE ATTACK, PFC MILLISON OBSERVED A WOUNDED MARINE ABOUT 50 METERS FROM HIS POSITION.  WHILE UNDER HEAVY FIRE, PFC MILLISON MOVED TO THE CASUALTY AND PULLED HIM TO SAFETY.  UPON RETURNING TO HIS POSITION, AN ENEMY EXPLOSIVE DEVICE WAS DETONATED, MORTALLY WOUNDING HIM.

     PFC MILLISON, POSTHUMOUSLY, RECEIVED THE NAVY COMMENDATION MEDAL WITH “V” DEVICE AND THE PURPLE HEART.

     FOLLOWING HIS DEATH, 3 CLOSE FRIENDS OF HIS JOINED THE MARINES IN HIS HONOR.

CAPT. CECIL GERALD MOYER JR.

D.O.B.    5-06-45

D.O.I.   11-29-70

     CAPT. MOYER WAS BORN IN GREENVILLE, PA., AND GRADUATED FROM GREENVILLE HIGH SCHOOL IN 1963.  HE THEN WENT ON TO GRADUATE FROM THIEL COLLEGE, GREENVILLE IN 1967.

   HE ENTERED THE AIR FORCE AND AFTER INITIAL TRAINING, ATTENDED PILOT TRAINING IN TEXAS.  HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 315^TH TAC A LIFT WIND (CC) VIETNAM IN AUG. 1970  WHILE PILOTING A C-123 TRANSPORT TO CAM RANH BAY AIR BASE, IT CRASHED AND, AT FIRST HE WAS LISTED AS MISSING IN ACTION BUT LATER RECLASSIFIED AS KILLED IN ACTION.

     HE, POSTHOMOUSLY, RECEIVED THE PURPLE HEART AND THE AIR MEDAL.

CPL RALPH OLIVER MURPHY III

D.O.B.    7-14-48

D.O.I.    5-10-70

     CPL MURPHY WAS BORN IN PITTSBURGH, PA., AND GRADUATED FROM GROVE CITY HIGH SCHOOL.  HE LATER ATTENDED WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY BEFORE BEING INDUCTED INTO THE U.S. ARMY.

     UPON COMPLETION OF HIS MILITARY TRAINING, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO DUTY IN THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM WITH THE 1^ST AIR CAVALRY DIV.  WHILE INVOLVED IN THE CAMBODIA INCURSION, HE WAS FATALLY WOUNDED, BECOMING MERCER COUNTY’S FIRST CASUALTY IN CAMBODIA.

     CPL MURPHY RECEIVED THE PURPLE HEART, THE BRONZE STAR WITH OAKLEAF CLUSTER AND THE AIR MEDAL.

PFC RODGER DENNIS MCELHANEY

D.O.B.    1-26-49

D.O.I.     7-16-69

     PFC MCELHANEY WAS BORN IN GREENVILLE, PA. HE GRADUATED FROM JAMESTOWN AREA HIGH SCHOOL IN 1966.

     AFTER ENTERING THE ARMY AND COMPLETING HIS TRAINING, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO A CO. 5^TH BN. 46^TH INF. 198^TH L.I.B. VIETNAM. WHILE ON A COMBAT MISSION, HE WAS FATALLY WOUNDED BY ENEMY FIRE.

     PFC MCELHANEY POSTHUMOUSLY RECEIVED THE PURPLE HEART AND THE BRONZE STAR.

PFC RAYMOND LEE MCGARVEY

D.O.B.    5-7-46

D.O.I.    7-3-66

     PFC MCGARVEY WAS BORN IN CLEARFIELD COUNTY, PA. AND GRADUATED FROM B.C. HIGH SCHOOL IN COOLPORT, PA.  HE LATER MOVED TO TRANSFER, PA. TO LIVE AND WORK.  HE WAS A MEMBER OF F.F.A. AND 4H.

     SHORTLY AFTER ENTERING THE U. S. ARMY AND COMPLETING TRAINING, PFC MCGARVEY WAS ASSIGNED TO B CO. 1^ST BN 35^TH INF. 3^RD BRIGADE, 25^TH INF. DIV. VIETNAM.

     DURING AN OPERATION IN III CORP REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM, PFC MCGARVEY’S UNIT WENT UNDER ATTACK FROM A WELL FORTIFIED ENEMY POSITION. DURING THE BATTLE HE WAS ABLE TO POSITION HIMSELF WITHIN 20 METERS OF AN ENEMY MACHINE GUN BUNKER AND ELIMINATE IT, THEREBY SPARING THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF MORE OF HIS COMRADES IN HIS UNIT.  HE WAS MORTALLY WOUNDED AS A RESULT OF HIS SELFLESS ACTIONS.

      HE WAS POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART AND THE BRONZE STAR.

SGT PAUL DAVID MCKNIGHT

D.O.B.    6-05-47

D.O.I.    7-31-69

     SGT MCKNIGHT WAS BORN IN TRANSFER, PA AND WENT ON TO GRADUATE FROM REYNOLDS AREA HIGH SCHOOL IN 1965.

     PAUL ENTERED THE ARMY ON APRIL 24, 1966. AFTER COMPLETING HIS TRAINING, HE WENT FOR HIS FIRST OF TWO TOURS IN VIETNAM ON JAN 1967.  HE RETURNED HOME IN JAN 1968 AND SPENT ONE YEAR AT FORT KNOX, KY.  HE THEN WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 1^ST AIR CAVALRY DIV. VIETNAM. HE WAS FATALLY WOUNDED WHILE ON AN OPERATION IN THE TAY NINH AREA IN III CORP.

     SGT MCKNIGHT, POSTHUMOUSLY, RECEIVED THE BRONZE. STAR AND THE PURPLE HEART.

PFC RICHARD L MCNEISH

D.O.B.    7-07-45

D.O.I.   10-24-67

     RICHARD IS THE SON OF KERMITH AND CLARA MCNEISH. HE ATTENDED MERCER HIGH SCHOOL AND WAS ALSO A VOLUNTEER FIREMAN.

     HE ENLISTED IN THE U.S. MARINE CORPS IN APRIL OF 1967.  HE WAS KILLED BY METAL FRAGMENTS FROM AN ENEMY EXPLOSIVE DEVICE, WHILE ON PATROL NEAR QUANG NAM, VIETNAM.

     RICHARD WAS, POSTHUMOUSLY, AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART AS WELL AS THE VIETNAM CAMPAIGH MEDAL AND VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL.  HE WAS THE NINTH SERVICEMAN FROM MERCER COUNTY KILLED IN ACTION IN VIETNAM.

CPL RUBEN JAMES NEAL JR

D.O.B.    2-10-41

D.O.I.     5-16-67

     HE IS THE SON OF MRS. GEORGETTA TAYLOR.  HE LIVED IN WHEATLAND, PA. AND HE ATTENDED FARRELL HIGH SCHOOL.

     RUBEN ENLISTED IN THE U.S. MARINE CORPS IN 1958 AND HOPED TO BE A CAREER MARINE.

     HE WAS ASSIGNED TO HEADQUARTERS BATTALION OF THE 3^RD MARINE DIV. VIETNAM.  HE WAS IN VIETNAM LESS THAN TWO MONTHS WHEN HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION.

CPL VALENTINE A OCHS

D.O.B.    5-24-47

D.O.I.    4-28-68

     CPL OCHS SERVED AS A MORTAR MAN WITH THE 101^ST AIRBORNE INFANTRY DIVISION.  WHILE RETURNING FROM A NIGHT PATROL IN THE ASHAU VALLEY AREA, HE WAS KILLED BY HOSTILE SNIPER FIRE.  HE HAD BEEN IN VIETNAM ONLY 28 DAYS AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH

     CPL OCHS WAS, POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR AND THE PURPLE HEART.

PFC ALLEN NEIL PALM

D.O.B.    9-15-48

D.O.B.   12-05-68

     PFC. PALM WAS BORN IN GENEVA, PA. HE GRADUATED FROM REYNOLDS AREA HIGH SCHOOL IN 1966.   HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE REYNAOLDS WRESTLING TEAM.  HE THEN WENT ON TO THE NEW CASTLE SCHOOL OF TRADES AND GRADUATED FROM THERE.

     ALLEN ENTERED THE ARMY ON MAY 13, 1968. UPON COMPLETION OF HIS MILITARY TRAINING, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO B CO. 47^TH INF. REG. 9^TH INF. DIV. VIETNAM.  WHILE ON A POINTMAN POSITION, DURING A PATROL, PFC PALM WAS MORTALLY WOUNDED BY AN ENEMY BOOBYTRAP.

     PFC. PALM, POSTHUMOUSLY, RECEIVED THE BRONZE STAR, PURPLE HEART AND THE FIDELITY EFFICENCY HONOR.

CPL WILLIAM RAUBER

D.O.B.    6-22-48

D.O.I.    4-25-68

     HE IS THE SON OF MR. AND MRS. DRAGO RAUBER.  WILLIAM WAS BORN IN EUROPE TO PARENTS WHO WERE DISPLACED BY WORLD WAR II AND HAD FOUND REFUGE IN THE UNITED STATES. WILLIAM WAS A 1967 GRADUATE OF FARRELL HIGH SCHOOL.

     HE ENTERED THE ARMY AND WENT FOR TRAINING AS A MEDIC. UPON COMPLETION OF HIS TRAINING, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 9^TH INF. DIV. VIETNAM.  DURING AN OPERATION, HIS UNIT CAME UNDER ENEMY FIRE.  WHILE ASSISTING A WOUNDED SOLDIER, WILLIAM WAS MORTALLY WOUNDED.

     HE WAS THE SIXTEENTH MAN FROM MERCER COUNTY TO GIVE HIS LIFE IN VIETNAM.

CPL CHARLES LENARD REEFER

D.O.B.    8-21-47

D.O.I.    8 07-69

     CHARLES REEFER WAS BORN IN GEORGEVILLE, PA., IN INDIANA COUNTY. HE LATER MOVED TO THE HARTSTOWN AREA PRIOR TO MILITARY SERVICE.

     HE ENTERED THE ARMY ON NOV. 18, 1968. UPON COMPLETION OF HIS MILITARY TRAINING, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO A CO.  5^TH BN.  46^TH INF.  AMERICAL DIV. VIETNAM. WHILE ON AN OPERATION HE WAS MORTALLY WOUNDED DURING AN ENEMY ATTACK.

     CPL REEFER, POSTHUMOUSLY, RECEIVED THE BRONZE STAR AND THE PURPLE HEART.

CPL RICHARD BRUCE SPENCE

D.O.B.    1-06-50

D.O.I.    1-11-70

     RICHARD LIVED AND ATTENDED SCHOOL IN GROVE CITY, PA.

     HE ENTERED THE ARMY AND UPON COMPLETION OF HIS TRAINING, WAS ASSIGNED TO TROOP D, 1^ST SQUADRON, 9^TH CAV. 1^st CAVALRY DIV. AIRMOBILE, VIETNAM.

WHILE AT HIS BASE CAMP IN BINH DUONG, A RECOILESS RIFLE ACCIDENTLY DISCHARGED, FATALLY WOUNDING CPL. SPENCE.

     CPL SPENCE WAS, POSTHUMOUSLY, AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR, THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL AND THE COMBAT INFANTRYMANS BADGE.

WO THADDEUS M YONIKA JR

D.O.B.   11-13-48

D.O.I.   12-21-69

     WARRANT OFFICER YONIKA WAS RAISED AND WENT TO SCHOOL IN WEST MIDDLESEX, PA. HE ALSO WENT TO SOUTH AFRICA AS A ROTARY EXCHANGE STUDENT IN 1966.

     THADDEUS ENTERED THE ARMY IN 1968 AND IN JULY OF THAT YEAR, HE WENT ON TO WARRANT OFFICER FLIGHT SCHOOL.  HE GRADUATED FROM THE ROTARY WING AVIATOR COURSE IN JUNE 17, 1969. UPON COMPLETION, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO TROOP A, 9^TH BRIGADE, 1^ST CAVALRY DIV. (AIRMOBILE) IN TAY NINH, SOUTH VIETNAM.

     WHILE HE WAS FLYING IN A COMBAT OPERATION, HIS HELICOPTER CAME UNDER FIRE BY ENEMY GROUND FORCES,  CAUSING IT TO BURST INTO FLAMES, CRASHING AND KILLING WO YONIKA.