Vietnam Killed in Action: O thru W
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U.S. Navy Constructionman (BUCN) Robert Anthony O'Connor was killed in action on August 12, 1969, while serving in Vietnam; he was 19 years old. O’Connor was from Chicago, Illinois, and was assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 58. Constructionman O’Connor was killed when multiple 122mm rockets hit his camp, with one rocket making a direct hit on his berthing hut. BUCN Robert Anthony O’Connor is buried at the Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Evanston, Illinois, and is honored at the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington D.C. His name is inscribed on the VVM Wall, Panel 19W, Line 19. Awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Navy Good Conduct Medal, and Navy Expeditionary Medal. |
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U.S. Navy Construction Electrician Second Class (CE2) Robert William O'Neil was killed in action on January 17, 1969, while serving in Vietnam; he was 24 years old. O’Neil was from Sunnyvale, California and was assigned to NSA Da Nang, Vietnam. He was killed when the C-47 he was flying in crashed due to poor weather conditions. The C-47 hit the side of a mountain 15 miles southeast of Phu Bai in Thua Thien Province. CE2 Robert William O’Neil is buried at Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, California. He is also honored at the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington D.C., with his name inscribed on the VVM Wall, Panel 34w, Line 28. Awards and decorations include the Purple Heart Medal, The Navy Good Conduct Medal, The National Defense Service Medal, The Vietnam Service Medal with One Bronze Star, The Vietnam Campaign Medal, The Vietnamese Gallantry Cross Unit Citation, Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation, and the Navy Unit Commendation Medal (NUC). |
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U.S. Navy Constructionman (BUCN) Jerome Dean Patterson was killed in action on August 28, 1967, while serving in Vietnam; he was 22 years old. Patterson was from Pleasanton, Kansas and was assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11. He was killed when the Dong Ha Combat Base in Quang Tri Province came under mortar attack and was hit by one of the incoming rounds. BUCN Jerome Dean Patterson is buried in State Line Cemetery in Trading Post, Kansas. He is also honored at the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington D.C., with his name inscribed on the VVM Wall, Panel 25E, Line 59. Awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Navy Good Conduct Medal, and the Navy Expeditionary Medal. |
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U.S. Navy Builder Light Third Class (BUL3) John Foreman Peek was killed in action on March 31, 1968, while serving in Vietnam; he was 27 years old. Peek was from Pontiac, Michigan and was assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 9. He was killed when his camp came under heavy mortar attack. BUL3 John Foreman Peek is buried at Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, Michigan as well as being honored at the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington D.C., with his name inscribed on the VVM Wall, Panel 47E, Line 29. Awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Navy Good Conduct Medal, and the Navy Expeditionary Medal. |
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U.S. Navy Constructionman (BUCN) James Robert Retzloff Jr was killed in action on March 31, 1968, while serving in Vietnam; he was 22 years old. Retzloff was from Redding, California and was assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 9. He was killed during a mortar attack in which his mortar position sustained two direct hits resulting in his and 5 other Seabees deaths. BUCN James Robert Retzloff Jr is buried at Redding Memorial Park, Redding, California, and is honored at the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington D.C. with his name inscribed on the VVM Wall, Panel 47e, Line 26. Awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Navy Good Conduct Medal, and Navy Expeditionary Medal. |
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U.S. Navy Lieutenant Joseph John Rhodes was killed in action on October 23, 1967, while serving in Vietnam; he was 28 years old. Rhodes was from Youngstown, Ohio, and was assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 121. He was killed when the jeep he was riding in hit a landmine, killing him and two other Seabees, he would be the first Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) officer to be killed in action while serving in Vietnam. Lieutenant Joseph John Rhodes is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Youngstown, Ohio; he is honored at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. with his name inscribed the VVM Wall, Panel 28E, Line 57. Awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Vietnam Service Medal. |
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U.S. Navy Construction Electrician Third Class (CE3) Larry Ray Riddle was killed in action on March 7, 1967, while serving in Vietnam; he was 21 years old. Riddle was from Atlanta, Georgia and was assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4. He was killed when the jeep he was riding in hit a pressurized landmine southwest of Da Nang. CE3 Larry Ray Riddle is buried at Marietta National Cemetery, Marietta, Georgia. Larry is also honored at the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington D.C., his name is inscribed on the VVM Wall, Panel 16E, Line 37. Awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Navy Good Conduct Medal, and the Navy Expeditionary Medal. |
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U.S. Navy Constructionman (BUCN) Wayne Sterling Rushton was killed in action on December 31, 1970, while serving in action in Vietnam; he was 21 years old. Rushton was from Eastlake, Ohio, and was assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74. He was killed during an ambush near Kinh Thot Not Canal. BUCN Wayne Sterling Rushton is buried at Western Reserve Memorial Gardens, Chesterland, Ohio, and is honored at the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington D.C. with his name inscribed on the VVM Wall, Panel 05w, Line 18. Awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Navy Good Conduct Medal, and the Navy Expeditionary Medal. |
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U.S. Navy Seaman (SN) Roger Harry Schoener was killed in action on September 20, 1968, while serving in Vietnam; he was 20 years old. Schoener was from New York, New York, and was assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 7. He was killed due to an explosion that was caused by small arms fire. Seaman Roger Harry Schoener is honored at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. with his name inscribed on the VVM Wall, Panel 43W, Line 49. Awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Vietnam Service Medal. |
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CM3 Marvin Shields, Seabee Team 1104, Dong Xoai, 10 Jun 1965. CM3 Marvin C. Shields became the first Seabee to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. He was a member of Seabee Team 1104. To read more please visit the link below: |
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BU1 Charles Otto Spillman was killed in action on February 28, 1968, while en route from Dong Ha to Khe Sanh in Hoa Huong District, Vietnam; he was 32 years old. During his service in Vietnam, Spillman was reported missing in action and ultimately declared dead on February 28, 1968, when he was shot down by enemy fire in the Quang Tri province. His body would later be recovered and identified on March 1, 1968. Spillman was survived by his wife, Jean Adams Spillman, and their three children, Susan Jean, Sharon Ann, and Scott Charles Spillman. |
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U.S. Navy Construction Mechanic Third Class (CM3) Richard Michael Sprout was killed in action on August 26, 1968, while serving in Vietnam; he was 24 years old. Sprout was from Duncannon, Pennsylvania, and was assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 7. He was killed in action during a mortar attack on the Dong Ha Combat Base. CM3 Richard Michael Sprout is buried at Hartland Central Cemetery, Hartland, New York, and is honored at the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington D.C. with his name inscribed on the VVM Wall, Panel 46w, Line 34. Awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Navy Good Conduct Medal, and the Navy Expeditionary Medal. |
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U.S. Navy Steelworker Third Class (SW3) John Stanley Staff was killed in action June 7, 1969, while serving in Vietnam; he was 21 years old. Staff was from Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania, and was assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 58. While working on a riverbank clearing project in the Mekong Delta, Staff and another Seabee were hit by shrapnel from a booby-trapped grenade that would take his life. Steelworker Third Class (SW3) John Stanley Staff is honored at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. with his name inscribed on the VVM Wall, Panel 23W, Line 106. Awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Vietnam Service Medal. |
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U.S. Navy Constructionman (CONCN) Lawrence Norbart Stangel was killed in action on January 31, 1968, while serving in Vietnam; he was 20 years old. Stangel was from Green Bay, Wisconsin, and was assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3. He was killed during a mortar attack on Camp Wilkinson. CONCN Lawrence Norbart Stangel is buried at Allouez Catholic Cemetery and Chapel Mausoleum, Green Bay, Wisconsin, and is honored at the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington D.C. with his name inscribed on the VVM Wall, Panel 36e, Line 41. Awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Navy Good Conduct Medal, and the Navy Expeditionary Medal. |
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U.S. Navy Constructionman (BUCN) Blair William Starkey was killed in action on August 28, 1967, while serving in Vietnam; he was 24 years old. Starkey was from Canton, Ohio, and was assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 1. He was killed by a sniper while his construction team was working on a bridge one mile south of Hai Van Pass, Quang Nam Province in South Vietnam. BUCN Blair William Starkey is buried at Forest Hill Cemetery in Canton, Ohio, and is honored at the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington D.C. with his name inscribed on the VVM Wall, Panel 25e, Line 59. Awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Navy Good Conduct Medal, and the Navy Expeditionary Medal. |
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U.S. Navy Construction Mechanic Second Class (CM2) Peter Lewis Stith was killed in action while serving in Vietnam; he was 23 years old. Stith was from Bainbridge Island, Washington, and was assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 6. He was killed while operating a dozer during a road-building mission for the residents of a small hamlet in the Thu Thua District in Long-An Province. He and other Seabees were ambushed by the Viet Cong with small arms fire, grenades, and rocket fire. CM2 Peter Lewis Stith is buried at Seabold Cemetery, Bainbridge Island, Washington, and is honored at the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington D.C. His name is also inscribed on the VVM Wall, Panel 27w, Line 60. Awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Navy Good Conduct Medal, and the Navy Expeditionary Medal. |
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U.S. Navy Builder Concrete Second Class (BU2) William Dewey Thompson Jr was killed in action on December 15, 1967, while serving in Vietnam; he was 36 years old. Thompson was from Wilmington, North Carolina and was assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5. He was killed while assisting U.S. Marines from the 11th Engineer Battalion, when they were stuck by incoming mortar fire near Con Thien Hill (Hill 158). BU2 William Dewey Thompson Jr is buried at Oak Mound Cemetery, Healdsburg, California, and is honored at the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington D.C., with his name inscribed at the VVM Wall, Panel 32E, Line 6. Awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Navy Good Conduct Medal, and the Navy Expeditionary Medal. |
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SM1 Milford Tognazzini, NMCB 11, LZ Nancy, Vietnam, 7 Aug 1969. U.S. Navy Construction Mechanic First Class (CM1) Milford Marvin Tognazzini was killed in action on August 7, 1969, while serving in Vietnam; he was 35 years old. Tognazzini was from Santa Barbara, California and was assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11. He was killed during an explosion within an ammunition holding area inside of Landing Zone Nancy. A fire broke out in the ammunition holding area, and a second fire broke out inside an Armored Personnel Carrier (APC); it was while trying to extinguish the fire on the APC that CM1 Tognazzini was hit with shrapnel from the exploding ammunition. CM1 Milford Marvin Tognazzini is buried at Santa Maria Cemetery District, Santa Barbara, California. Milford is also honored at the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington D.C., with his name inscribed on the VVM Wall, Panel 20W, Line 111. Awards and decorations include the Soldier's Medal, Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Korean Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Korea Presidential Citation, Republic of Korea War Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Navy Good Conduct Medal, and Navy Expeditionary Medal. |
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U.S. Navy Constructionman (BUCN) John Phillip Van Dusen was killed in action on September 20, 1968, while serving in the Quang Tri Province of South Vietnam; he was 19 years old. Dusen was from Johnson City, New York, and was assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 7. During an enemy attack on his combat base, small arms fire would detonate a hand grenade located inside a bunker occupied by Dusen, killing him instantly. BUCN John Phillip Dusen is buried at Vestal Hills Memorial Park in Vestal New York, and honored at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. with his name inscribed on the VVM Wall, Panel 43W Line 50. Awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Vietnam Service Medal. |
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U.S. Navy Constructionman (BUCN) Richard James Wager was killed in action on August 28, 1967, while at the Dong Ha Combat Base in Quang Tri province, Vietnam; he was 20 years old. Wager was from Millington, Michigan and was assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11. He was killed when rockets landed in the Seabee cantonment area of Camp Barnes, with one of the rockets making a direct hit on Charlie Co. berthing hut. BUCN Richard James Wager buried at Millington Cemetery, Millington, Michigan. He is also honored at the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington D.C., with his name inscribed on the VVM Wall, Panel 25E, Line 60. Awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Navy Good Conduct Medal, and Navy Expeditionary Medal. |
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U.S. Navy Equipment Operator Third Class (EO3) Nicholas George Walz was killed in action on December 23, 1967, while serving in Vietnam; he was 22 years old. Walz was from Steuben, Wisconsin, and assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3. He was repairing a road using a jackhammer when a landmine was triggered inflicting fatal injuries to himself and another Seabee. EO3 Nicholas George Walz was buried at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery in the town of Eastman, Wisconsin; and honored at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. with his name inscribed on the VVM Wall, Panel 32E, Line 53. Awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Navy Good Conduct Medal, and the Navy Expeditionary Medal. |
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US Navy Construction Mechanic First Class (CM1) Jack William Wilkinson was killed in action on August 30, 1967, while serving in Vietnam; he was 40 years old. Wilkinson was from East Islip, New York and was assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3. He was killed during a mortar attack on the Phu Bai Combat Base. CM1 Jack William Wilkinson is honored at the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington D.C. with his name inscribed on the VVM Wall, Panel 25E, Line 72. Awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Navy Good Conduct Medal, and the Navy Expeditionary Medal. |
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U.S. Navy Steel Worker Third Class (SW3) John Kirby Williams was killed in action on August 9, 1967, while serving in Vietnam; he was 24 years old. Williams was from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 1. He attended Mercy Technical High School where he studied carpentry, was an avid sports fan, and enjoyed scuba diving. Williams was driving a vehicle near Hai Van Pass when it was hit by a Claymore Mine and was fatally wounded. SW3 John Kirby Williams is buried at Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery in Springfield Pennsylvania, he is honored at the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington D.C. with his name inscribed on the VVM Wall, Panel 24E, Line 98. Awards and decorations include Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Vietnam Service Medal. |
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U.S. Navy Equipment Operator Third Class (EO3) Lester Lee Williams was killed in action on December 23, 1967, while serving in Vietnam; he was 20 years old. Williams was from Kirksville, Missouri, and was assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3. Due to the use of a pneumatic jack hammer Williams and another Seabee were killed when the jack hammer set off a landmine on the road they were working on. EO3 Lester Lee Williams is buried at Highland Park Cemetery in Kirksville, Missouri, and honored at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. with his name inscribed on the VVM Wall, Panel 32E, Line 53. Awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Navy Good Conduct Medal, and the Navy Expeditionary Medal. |
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Builder Third Class (BU3) Carl Dee Wootten was killed in action on May 1, 1970, while serving in South Vietnam, Quant Tri province; he was 21 years old. Carl was from Ontario, California, and was assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 121; he was killed during an enemy rocket attack. BU3 Carl Dee Wootten is buried at Bellevue Memorial Park, Ontario, California; he is also honored at the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington D.C. His name is inscribed on the VVM Wall, Panel 11W, Line 82. Awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Navy Good Conduct Medal, and Navy Expeditionary Medal. |
Published: Fri Jun 28 16:38:47 EDT 2024
