The VVA Veteran

The Official Voice of Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc. ®
An organization chartered by the U.S. Congress

March/April 2003 FROM THE NATIONAL CHAPLAIN
Taps
BY REV.PHIL SALOIS, M.S.

Mike Daoust

VVA Life Member Mike Daoust, an active and prominent member of Chapter 494 in Bay City, Michigan, died November 21, 2002, of a heart attack, related to treatment he was undergoing for cancer. Mike, who is prominently featured in VVA's 2002 Veterans Day "March to Remember" poster, was a founder and past president of the Vietnam Security Police Association (VSPA). He completed a 1968-69 tour with the U.S. Air Force's 12th SPS Phantom Flight in Cam Ranh Bay.
While a member of Chapter 581 in Hinesville, Georgia, he was named VVA Member of the Year in 1998.

"Mike was good at everything," said his friend and Vietnam War buddy Steve Gattis. "He could handle an M-16 rifle like it was an extension of his arms and hands. He was incredibly accurate with a grenade launcher and worked his way to a position as a grenadier on a boat that patrolled the waters of Cam Ranh Bay. Mike was commended numerous times for capturing suspected Viet Cong after he'd sunk their sampans during the nights, which were so dark you couldn't see your own hands."

Mike "lived every day with the idea that we take care of our own," said fellow VSPA member Don Poss.

Tito Wallace

Wallace Reyes Pagan, Jr., known as Tito Wallace, VVA's Puerto Rico Council President, died of cardiac arrest December 13. He was born in Yauco, Puerto Rico, and moved with his family to New York where he grew up. Tito Wallace enlisted in the Army in 1968 and served in Vietnam from January 1969 to January 1970. After his three-year enlistment was up, Wallace returned to his native Puerto Rico and soon became very active in his community.

That included his work with VVA, which he joined in 1988. Wallace was instrumental in founding Chapter 483 in his hometown of Yauco and later because its president. "His active community involvement and his work on veterans affairs made him well known in the area," said Enrique Pujals, secretary of VVA's Puerto Rico Council. "For the past seven years Tito dedicated much time to a project to build a veterans memorial in his home town. He passed away just days after the contracts were signed for the funding of the memorial. He successors in the chapter will carry on with the task."

Tito Wallace "was dedicated to Vietnam veterans and to veterans in general," added Jose R. Valentin, Chapter 483 president. "We will miss him greatly."

Charles D. Ahrns died December 27, 2002, in St. Marys, Ohio, after a lengthy illness. He was born February 26, 1937. Ahrns served in the U.S. Army in Germany during the Vietnam era. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Grand Lake Chapter 783.

Gary Ernest Arnold died January 17 in Cumberland, Maryland. He was born December 26, 1947. Arnold served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Cumberland Chapter 172.

Chuck Bald-Coulter died recently in Tucson. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War and a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Tucson Chapter 106.

Patty Bald-Coulter died recently in Tucson. The wife of Chuck Bald-Coulter, she was a life member of Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America-Tucson Chapter 106.

William S. Bereza died recently in Brookhaven, New York. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War and a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Farmingdale Chapter 11.

Dennis Brooks died October 4, 2002, in Cherokee, Iowa, of a heart attack. He was born April 4, 1944. Brooks served in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam from 1965-66. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Aurelia Chapter 888.

John W. Brown died recently in El Paso, Texas. He was born June 8, 1934. Brown served in the U.S. Army and left the service at the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-El Paso Chapter 844.

Julian Terrell Caudill, Jr., died December 10, 2002, in Johnson City, Tennessee, of liver disease. He was born July 11, 1943. Caudill served in the U.S. Army in the Vietnam War in 1968 and was awarded the Bronze Star. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Elizabethton Chapter 824.

Walter R. Childress died December 21, 2002, in Bristol, Tennessee, of a heart attack. He was born December 25, 1949. Childress served in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam from 1968-70. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Elizabethton Chapter 824.

William J. Collinsdied recently in Kingston, New York. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War and a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Kingston Chapter 60.

Michael Paul Cruse died December 21, 2002, in Webster, Texas, of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was born February 17, 1975. Cruse was a charter member of Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America-Bacliff Chapter 770 and was active in the Galveston VVA Chapter 685.

Larry Michael Doss died November 4, 2002, in Salem, Oregon, of cancer. He was born April 27, 1945. Doss served in the U.S. Marine Corps with two tours of duty in Vietnam. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Salem Chapter 754.

Barry L. Elliott died in 2002 in Canton, Ohio. Elliott was a veteran of the Vietnam War and a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Sharon Lane Memorial Chapter 199 in Canton.

Larry Fitzpatrick died October 21, 2002, in Cut Bank, Montana, of Hodgkins Disease, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, and diffuse T-cell lymphoma--all related to Agent Orange exposure. Fitzpatrick was a veteran of the Vietnam War and a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Paradise Chapter 871.

Harry Elbert Flauaus died October 20, 2002, in Bowling Green, Missouri, of pneumonia. He was born September 8, 1924. Flauaus served in the U.S. Navy from 1946-51. He also served on the USS <B>Malabar<$>. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Bowling Green Chapter 833.

Edward C. Gauthier died November 2002 in Schofield, Wisconsin. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War and a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Schofield Chapter 479.

John J. Gilmore died July 8, 2002, in Kearny, New Jersey, of cardiac infarction. Gilmore also suffered from PTSD from his involvement in the Vietnam War. He was born September 8, 1943. He was a decorated veteran of the U.S. Army Airborne Paratroopers who served in the Vietnam War from 1966-68. He was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Cedar Grove Chapter 510.

Alfred George Harris died July 8, 2002 in Athol, Massachusetts, of cardiac and liver failure. He was born November 21, 1948. Harris served in the U.S. Air Force from 1967-73. He attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Athol Chapter 340.

John C. Haskelldied September 8, 2002, in Topeka, Kansas, of respiratory failure. He was born May 11, 1942. Haskell was career military, serving in the U.S. Army from 1961-84 and retiring at the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 3. He served in the Vietnam War. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Leavenworth Chapter 75.

John J. Helbling died recently in New Brighton, Pennsylvania. He was born May 10, 1951. Helbling served in the U.S. Army from 1969-72, with a tour of duty in Vietnam. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Beaver Falls Chapter 862.

Arthur P. Hickey, Sr., died January 1 in White Plains, New York, of a heart attack. Hickey was born April 2, 1947. Hickey served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Pleasantville Chapter 49.

Daniel Juarez died recently in Des Moines, Iowa. He was born July 21, 1935. Juarez served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Des Moines Chapter 490.

John E. Kerner died September 18, 2002, in Mount Holly, New Jersey, during cardiac surgery. He was born March 21, 1922. Kerner was a veteran of the Vietnam era and an at-large member of Vietnam Veterans of America-New Jersey.

Helen A. Kinch died January 21 in Greenwood, Indiana. She was born November 21, 1939. Kinch was a veteran of the Vietnam War and a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Lawrence Chapter 295.

Lynne M. Klippi died in December 2002 in Baltimore. Klippi was a veteran of the Vietnam War and a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Baltimore Chapter 451.

Annabell Lambert died in October 2002 in Mill Creek, West Virginia. She was born September 14, 1938. Lambert was a member of Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America-Baltimore Chapter 451.

Bill W. Leach died January 9 in Golconda, Illinois. Leach was a veteran of the Vietnam War and a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Paducah Chapter 337.

Duncan G. Mackay died September 9, 2002 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mackay was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Cincinnati Chapter 10.

Katherine M. Mannion died recently in Bel Air, Maryland. She was born December 7, 1926. Mannion was a veteran of the Vietnam era. She was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Baltimore Chapter 451.

Albert F. Mauerhan died recently in Salisbury, Maryland. He was born January 8, 1969. Mauerhan was a post-Vietnam veteran. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Princess Anne Chapter 624.

Dennis Edwin Moyer, 52, died April 23, 2002, in Reading, Pennsylvania, of acute myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy, and coronary artery disease. Moyer served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was a member and treasurer of Vietnam Veterans of America-Berks County Chapter 131 in Reading.

Edward Naughton died recently in New Haven, Michigan. He was born September 16, 1950. Naughton was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Port Huron Chapter 284.

James Emitt "Soup" Newby, Jr., died December 1, 2002, in Lima, Ohio, of a heart attack. He was born June 24, 1945. Newby served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Lima Chapter 89.

Bruce A. Newman died recently in Flushing, Michigan. Newman was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Flint Chapter 175.

Richard W. Newman died recently in Chaparral, New Mexico. He was born February 9, 1931, in Rushville, Indiana. Newman served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam with the Signal Corps. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of American-El Paso Chapter 844.

Duane C. Noel died December 4, 2002, in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, of cancer. He was born September 30, 1947. Noel served in the U.S. Army in the Vietnam War. He was a charter and life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Manitowoc Chapter 731.

Curtis Norman died recently in Ponca City, Oklahoma. He was born November 22, 1956. Norman was a life member of Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America-Ponca City Chapter 750.

Dale A. Purnell died November 23, 2002, in Cumberland, Maryland. He was born May 26, 1948. Purnell served in the U.S. Army in the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Cumberland Chapter 172.

Tommie Shelton Roberson died December 11, 2002, in Durham, North Carolina. He was born on October 30, 1929. Roberson served in the U.S. Army and fought in the Korean War. He was a member of Associates of the Vietnam Veterans of America-Greenville Chapter 272.

Michael R. Rzymekdied in November 2002 in Wausau, Wisconsin, after an automobile accident. Rzymek was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Schofield Chapter 479.

Charles P. Scott died October 14, 2002, in Gassville, Arkansas. Scott was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was an at-large life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Arkansas.

Ronald Bernard Shelton died April 20, 2002, in Bluefield, West Virginia, of a heart attack. He was born June 4, 1943. Shelton served in the U.S. Air Force from 1962-66. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Blue-Gray Chapter 628 in Bluefield.

Frank Isaac Smith, Sr., died October 8, 2002, in Manassas, Virginia, of a heart attack resulting from a blood clot. He was born February 11, 1940, in Canada. Smith served in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam from 1967-68. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Gloucester Chapter 813.

Scott Carl Smith died May 7, 2002, in Hamburg, New Jersey . He was born November 5, 1954. Smith served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam era from 1972-75 on the USS <I>Barnstable County<$>. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Stanhope Chapter 327.

J. C. ``Dick'' Stewart died September 14, 2002, in Duncan, Oklahoma. He was born July 10, 1945. Stewart was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Lawton, Chapter 751.

Timothy R. Sullivan died November 28, 2002, of a diabetes-related illness. He was born April 23, 1943. Sullivan served in the U.S. Navy in Vietnam from 1969-70. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Sparta Chapter 462.

Douglas Earl Taylor, Jr., 53, died June 25, 2002, in Ashland, Virginia. Taylor served in the military in Vietnam from 1970-71. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Sandston Chapter 78.

Allen B. Tookolo died November 9, 2002, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was born July 31, 1946. Tookolo was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Lawrence Chapter 295.

James H. Toups, Sr., died December 13, 2002, in Lawton, Oklahoma. He was born September 27, 1928. Toups served in the U.S. Merchant Marines before enlisting in the U.S. Army and retired at the rank of Sergeant Major after 29 years of service. He served in Korea and Vietnam from 1967-68 and 1971. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Lawton Chapter 751.

Paul Edward Tyndall died recently in Quantico, Maryland. He was born September 25, 1949. Tyndall was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Princess Anne Chapter 624.

Larry L. Vossler died November 8, 2002, in Minnetonka, Minnesota, of brain and lung cancer. He was born January 23, 1945. Vossler served in the U.S. Army with service in Vietnam from 1966-67. He was a life member and president of Vietnam Veterans of America-Hopkins Chapter 62.

Louis Weiler died October 31, 2002, in Quincy, Michigan, of epilepsy and residual head wound trauma stemming from his military service. He was born October 12, 1940, in Toledo, Ohio. Weiler served in the U.S. Army from 1964-70 and was in the Special Forces. He attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Coldwater Chapter 730.

Richard Weiler died October 2002 in Athens, Wisconsin, of a heart attack. Weiler was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Schofield Chapter 479.

Curtis Wilson died September 25, 2002, in Clarksville, Tennessee, of lung cancer. He was born November 6, 1936. Wilson joined the U.S. Army in 1957. He served a tour of duty in Vietnam from 1967-68 where he was one of 13 men found alive in his unit after officials stated he was missing in action. His second tour in Vietnam was from 1970-71. He retired at the rank of Sergeant First Class. He was the recipient of the Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts. He was a member and the chaplain of Vietnam Veterans of America-Clarksville Chapter 396.

Richard Wood died July 12, 2002, in Bankers, South Carolina, of a heart attack. Wood served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam from 1968-69. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Barnwell Chapter 828.

Marvin F. Smith died September 3, 2001, at his residence in Newberry, Michigan. Smith was born October 5, 1946, in Newberry to Jessie and Fred Smith. In addition to his mother, Jessie Barber, Smith is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Lorraine and Richard Maudrie; and a brother and sister-in-law, Gary and Carol. Smith served in the U.S. Navy as a Corpsman for the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War from 1967-68. He was attached to L Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment. He was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon and the Bronze Star. He was a charter member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Newberry Chapter 597.

The Official Voice of Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc. ® An organization chartered by the U.S. Congress

The Official Voice of Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc. ®
An organization chartered by the U.S. Congress