Living in San Francisco's Haight Ashbury in the 60s started to be contentious for families with children so my parents opted to move 22 miles down the coast, to a small sleepy surfing town named Pacifica. Population around 20,000.
As I am sure many of you from that era know, - how hard it was, to remain in an ignorant bubble when the Vietnam War was raging and taking our young men. IT was always the talk in school, and around town - everybody pretty much knew everybody through someone else. I don't know if it was that we lived so close to all the anti-war protests at the time or what.
It has affected me to this day - losing so many neighbors, schoolmates -
Our town was rocked when the first young man was killed in Vietnam in 1966.
I was 11 years old and I remember seeing my dad cry for the first time.
My dad was in Korea - and he knew...
18 years old at the time of his loss
Lawrence Eugene Foster
Private
D CO, 1ST BN, 9TH MARINES, 3RD MARDIV, III MAF
United States Marine Corps
Pacifica, California
D CO, 1ST BN, 9TH MARINES, 3RD MARDIV, III MAF
United States Marine Corps
Pacifica, California
June 23, 1947, to May 22, 1966
Lawrence was in the Marines, for less than a year and he was a Rifleman.
21 years old
Robert Erven Curry
Lance Corporal
FLSU 1, 3RD SVC BN, FLSG ALPHA, FORCE LOG CMD, III MAF
United States Marine Corps
Pacifica, California
August 06, 1945, to December 31, 1966
FLSU 1, 3RD SVC BN, FLSG ALPHA, FORCE LOG CMD, III MAF
United States Marine Corps
Pacifica, California
August 06, 1945, to December 31, 1966
It is said a man hasn't died as long as he is remembered. This prayer is a way for families, friends, and fellow veterans to remember our fallen brothers and sisters.
Do not stand at my grave and weep I am not there, I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain, I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning hush, I am the swift, uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight, I am the stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there, I did not die
_______
21 years old
James Stanley Bernard Childers
Lance Corporal
HMM-263, MAG-16, 1ST MAW, III MAF
United States Marine Corps
Pacifica, California
August 29, 1946, to February 15, 1967
HMM-263, MAG-16, 1ST MAW, III MAF
United States Marine Corps
Pacifica, California
August 29, 1946, to February 15, 1967
Stan was nicknamed, "Stan the Man" as he was a popular high school athlete. The Childer Family had a lot of children and extended family - while I did not know Stan personally, I did know his younger siblings and cousins. It was starting to get very close to home.
20 years old
** Medford Adarine Chrysler **
Private First Class
1ST PLT, A CO, 1ST BN, 9TH MARINES, 3RD MARDIV, III MAF
United States Marine Corps
Pacifica, California,
January 25, 1947, to July 02, 1967
1ST PLT, A CO, 1ST BN, 9TH MARINES, 3RD MARDIV, III MAF
United States Marine Corps
Pacifica, California,
January 25, 1947, to July 02, 1967
It was a beautiful July morning - everybody was out in the front yard when we saw a black limousine slowly drive past - looking for an address. My Mom instantly knew - the neighbors gathered in the middle of the street - Then we heard the most awful sound I have ever heard - Med's mother let out an anguished wail. He was her firstborn son.
I was good friends with his sisters - he was part of our neighborhood gang of kids In the summer we would all play hide and seek, knock on doors and run away or sit in the back of a pickup truck and talk.
We had just seen him in December - I still have that last time etched in my memory.
His was the first military funeral I had ever been to. It made a lasting impression on me as well as my other friends. At the cemetery, his mom threw herself on his flag-draped coffin -
You just don't forget something like that.
And then it just continued...
21 years old
James Edward Walker, Jr
Private First Class
D CO, 1ST BN, 7TH CAVALRY, 1ST CAV DIV, USARV
Army of the United States
Pacifica, California
February 26, 1947, to April 29, 1968
D CO, 1ST BN, 7TH CAVALRY, 1ST CAV DIV, USARV
Army of the United States
Pacifica, California
February 26, 1947, to April 29, 1968
"They grow not old, as we who remain to grow old, age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn, at the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we shall remember them. We shall remember them."
19 years old
George Angelo Cabano, Jr
Private First Class
G CO, 2ND BN, 26TH MARINES, 1ST MARDIV, III MAF
United States Marine Corps
Pacifica, California
July 25, 1949, to October 03, 1968
G CO, 2ND BN, 26TH MARINES, 1ST MARDIV, III MAF
United States Marine Corps
Pacifica, California
July 25, 1949, to October 03, 1968
In Loving Memory ... PFC. GEORGE ANGELO CABANO, JR.
You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in your family and those who knew you and loved you. You will live on because we remember you!
You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in your family and those who knew you and loved you. You will live on because we remember you!
20 years old
Robert William Compton
Sergeant
C CO, 3RD BN, 1ST INFANTRY, 11TH INFANTRY BDE, AMERICAL DIV, USARV
Army of the United States
Pacifica, California
August 02, 1949, to May 12, 1969
C CO, 3RD BN, 1ST INFANTRY, 11TH INFANTRY BDE, AMERICAL DIV, USARV
Army of the United States
Pacifica, California
August 02, 1949, to May 12, 1969
Robert William Compton was serving his country during the Vietnam War when he gave his all in the line of duty. He had enlisted in the United States Army. He began his tour on December 6, 1967. Compton had the rank of Sergeant. His military occupation or specialty was Tactical Communication Chief. Attached to 11th Light Infantry Brigade, 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry, C Company.
This was his 2nd tour.
22 years old
George Francis Patterson
Specialist Four
A TRP, 1ST SQDN, 11TH ARMORED CAVALRY, USARV
Army of the United States
Pacifica, California
December 26, 1948, to April 01, 1970
A TRP, 1ST SQDN, 11TH ARMORED CAVALRY, USARV
Army of the United States
Pacifica, California
December 26, 1948, to April 01, 1970
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Small Arms Fire. Gun or small arms fire. George Francis Patterson was killed while at an artillery firing position when the area came under attack by a hostile force. / On reconnaissance patrol. Engaged hostile force in the firefight.
19 years old
Johnny Bryan White
Private First Class
154TH TRANS CO, 4TH TRANS CMD, ARMY SPT CMD SAIGON, 1ST LOG CMD, USARV
Army of the United States
Pacifica, California
January 21, 1951, to April 16, 1970
154TH TRANS CO, 4TH TRANS CMD, ARMY SPT CMD SAIGON, 1ST LOG CMD, USARV
Army of the United States
Pacifica, California
January 21, 1951, to April 16, 1970
In Vietnam not even a full month
CASUALTY DATA: Start Tour: 03/19/1970 Incident Date: 04/16/1970 Casualty Date: 04/16/1970 Age at Loss: 19
19 years old
David George Mc Kay
Specialist Four
B CO, 53RD SIG BN, II FIELD FORCE, USARV
Army of the United States
Pacifica, California
March 04, 1951, to June 04, 1970
B CO, 53RD SIG BN, II FIELD FORCE, USARV
Army of the United States
Pacifica, California
March 04, 1951, to June 04, 1970
_______
21 years old
John Al Premenko
Sergeant
CCS, MACV-SOG, 5TH SF GROUP, USARV
Army of the United States
Pacifica, California
August 11, 1949, to August 14, 1970
CCS, MACV-SOG, 5TH SF GROUP, USARV
Army of the United States
Pacifica, California
August 11, 1949, to August 14, 1970
Sgt. Premenko was a Green Beret (Special Forces). That was quite an accomplishment. He also had a wife and an 18 month old son and a 4-day-old son.
_______
Once I learned to drive, I would go over to the Golden Gate National Cemetery in the next town over on Memorial Day and visit Med's grave.
I talked about him to my boys - and on Memorial Day we always went to visit before we did anything else. I always think of him on the 4th of July as well.
My parents went to the Vietnam Wall years later and etched his name on a paper that I still have.
Today I will go to our Northern California Veterans Cemetery for the services. Med's not there or any of my Pacifica boys - but their spirit is all around, every day and especially on Memorial Day.
It's my duty -
TOGETHER AGAIN.
Medford and his parents are buried together - they share the headstone - Medford on the front, his parents, Adarine and Vivian on the back.
So sad...thank you friend for posting this. My dad made it back alive from Vietnam, but with everlasting memories that still haunt him.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your Dad's service. MY dad was in Korea and I still remember him waking up in the middle of the night screaming.
DeleteI, too, was a teenager during the Vietnam War. It was horrible. We also lost men we knew. I volunteered at the local VA before Covid hit and there were lots of Vietnam Vets there. God bless our service men &women. xo Diana
ReplyDeleteI used to volunteer at the Cal Vet Home - and have talked and seen men from WW2, and Vietnam cry when talking about their buddies they left behind. War is horrible. Thank you for posting that beautiful poem. That is what is most important on this day, before anything else.
DeleteHow wonderful that you have actually put names and faces to the heroes! And the poem...I have always loved it.
ReplyDeleteSuch a sad era it was, especially those soldiers who came back from Vietnam with no parades in a senseless war we should not have been in. My uncle was in the Vietnam War and thankfully he came back alive. My dad was also in the Korean War. Thankfully he had his helmet on when he was shot in the head. God Bless all those who sacrificed their lives so that we can remain free. Janice
ReplyDeleteWow what a memento to have such a helmet.
DeleteThis is a wonderful tribute Debby. Thank you for posting.
ReplyDeleteIT was my pleasure.
DeleteThanks for sharing your post on men in military in Vietnam. I remember talking with a girlfriend at school. Asked her how her brother was doing as he was in Vietnam as well. He survived. I saw the James Childers name and wrote it down since I have Childers on our family tree. I can't remember if it's on my dad or mom's side. Good movie to watch online was Devotion movie. Sad but thankful for the service of Jesse and those who tried to save his life. I liked what you wrote, my blog friend. I am feeling a bit better today. Hugs and blessing,Becky
ReplyDeleteI watched that movie Devotion after reading it on your blog post - OMG that was amazing, so I thank you for sharing that.
DeleteSo many good, brave and young people die fighting in the name of their country we need to remember and honour them
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely
DeleteSo many lives lost. In Canada it took years to acknowledge those Canadians that went to Vietnam to fight. It was not a war our Canadian government sanctioned. They are now remembered on our day in November.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Same here, Jackie and its very sad.
DeleteThank you so much for this important post. I remember my neighborhood boys going off to Vietnam also, many not coming back. I was so heartbroken for their parents. It seemed like everyone in my small world was going or had a family member serving. My husband is a Vietnam veteran, a Marine, he was subjected to many disparaging comments when he returned …so many were terribly unkind…he doesn’t speak much about those years. We’ve been married for 48 years, he still has nightmares. War is terrible. Many today don’t remember or were not touched by it, then and now, your post is a somber reminder that freedom is not free and we will ( or should ) never forget such huge sacrifices made for us and all involved. Thank you again. V.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry for the pain your husband still suffers from. My dad saw battle in Korea and I grew up hearing his nightmares, and not truly understanding what that was all about. He hardly ever spoke of it.
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