The Official Voice of Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc. ®
An organization chartered by the U.S. Congress
August/September 2003
FROM THE NATIONAL CHAPLAINTaps
BY REV.PHIL SALOIS, M.S. Kirby Lynn Avery died June 9 in Greenville, North Carolina, of Agent Orange-related cancer. He was born May 22, 1946. Avery served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1965-69 with a tour of duty in the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Greenville Chapter 272.
Richard Charles Balderson died April 26 in Eastpointe, Michigan, of a cranial
hemorrhage. He was born July 5, 1942. Balderson served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1961-65 with a tour of duty in the Vietnam War and in the Persian Gulf War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Mount Clemens Chapter 154 and a member of the Chapter Color Guard.
Maroun H. Barakat died April 8 in Miami, Florida, of cancer. He was born January 20, 1960. Barakat was a veteran of the Lebanese Christian Militia. He was a member of Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America-Texarkana Chapter 278.
Samuel E. Begley died April 25, 2002 in London, Kentucky. He was born December 10, 1945. Begley served in the U.S. Army at the rank of Captain with a tour in Vietnam from 1969-70. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Pittsburg (Kentucky) Chapter 621.
John Michael Burden died May 7 in Gentry, Arkansas, of congestive heart failure. He was born December 29, 1945. Burden served in the U.S. Air Force in the Vietnam War. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Fayetteville Chapter 323 and the Arkansas State Council President.
Alan Dracos Burke died May 4 in Slidell, Louisiana, of a neurological disorder. He was born January 23, 1948. Burke served in the U.S. Marine Corps in the Vietnam War. He also served in the Louisiana National Guard. He was a charter member and past board member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Slidell Chapter 697.
Eleanor L. Carbone, 64, died June 6 at home. Carbone was a member of Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America-Erma Chapter 602. She was inducted into the Chapel of Four Chaplains and was the recipient of the Legion of Honor.
Richard L. Coldwater died May 18 in Edgarton, Wisconsin, of cancer. He was born March 1, 1944. Coldward served in the U.S. Army with a tour of duty in Vietnam from 1968-69. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Milwaukee Chapter 324.
Lonnie Davidson died March 26 in Appleton, Wisconsin, from self-inflicted wounds. He was born January 11, 1939. Davidson served in the U.S. Navy as a Second-Class Aviation Storekeeper with service in the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Plover Chapter 115.
John Eugene ``Babe'' Degraffenreid died February 1 in Leavenworth, Kansas. He was born February 3, 1950. Degraffenreid served in the U.S. Army from 1969-71 with service in Vietnam. He served with the 173rd Airborne Brigade and was awarded the Bronze Star with ``V'' device for valor. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Lee's Summit (Missouri) Chapter 243.
Dallas Dixon died in April in New Iberia, Louisiana, of a heart attack. He was born May 24, 1945. Dixon served in the U.S. Army with service in Vietnam from 1967-69. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Lafayette Chapter 141 and served for three years on its board of directors. He was the vice president of the chapter at the time of his death.
Johnnie Leon Drew died May 15 in Reno. He was born November 29, 1947. Drew served in the U.S. Army from 1968-71 with a tour of duty in Vietnam. He was an at-large life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Nevada.
Wiley G. Edwards died April 28 in Las Animas, Colorado, of myocardial infarction. He was born March 6, 1948. Edwards served in the U.S. Air Force from 1970-74. He attained the rank of E-4 and was a Vietnam-era veteran. He was an at-large life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Colorado.
Jim Ehrlinspiel died recently in Alliance, Ohio. Ehrlinspiel was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Alliance Chapter 157.
Robert D. Ewell died January 11 in San Lorenzo, California. Ewell served in the U.S. Navy from 1966-70 He served a tour of duty in Vietnam on the USS Constellation (CVA-64) from May 1968-69. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Oakland Chapter 400.
Michael M. Fletcher died May 30 in Milton, Vermont, of cancer. He was born
September 17, 1945. Fletcher served in the U.S. Air Force from 1966-68 and served two tours of duty in Vietnam. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-St. Albans Chapter 753.
Harold Goindied recently in Roseburg, Oregon. He was born May 3, 1929. Goin was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Winston Chapter 805.
Charles Griffindied March 21 in Marion, Ohio. He was born April 30, 1930. Griffin served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was a member and chaplain of Vietnam Veterans of America-Harold F. Lyon Memorial (Marion) Chapter 822.
C.S. ``Kurt'' Hafer died May 3 in Houston of heart disease. He was born on July 8, 1948. Hafer served in the U.S. Navy from 1972-74, with a tour of duty in Vietnam. He was a life member and treasurer of Vietnam Veterans of America-Houston Chapter 343 and was awarded VVA Member of the Year in 1997.
Michael J. Handydied June 1 in New York City of a heart attack. He was born February 18, 1948. Handy was a veteran of the Vietnam War and a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-New York Chapter 817.
John J. Helbling died January 4 in New Brighton, Pennsylvania, of liver cancer. He was born on 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.
Vernon M. Higgins died recently in Jackson, Michigan. He was born November 13, 1941. Higgins served in the U.S. Navy from 1962-64. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Jackson Chapter 657.
Thomas Allen Hudson, Sr., died March 11 in Monroe, Michigan, of heart disease. He was born August 21, 1950. Hudson served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1970-77. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Monroe Chapter 142.
Ray D. Jones died November 28, 2002, in Grifton, North Carolina. He was born September 26, 1932. Jones was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Greenville Chapter 272.
Daniel Juarez died December 11, 2001, at home in Des Moines, Iowa, of complications from diabetes. He was born July 21, 1935. Juarez served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Des Moines Chapter 490.
John Edward Kerner died September 18, 2002, in Mount Holly, New Jersey, shortly after undergoing open-heart surgery. He was born April 21, 1922. Kerner enlisted in the U.S. Army in January 1939. He retired after 33 years at the rank of Command Sergeant Major. He was a veteran of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. He was an at-large member of Vietnam Veterans of America-New Jersey.
Grant D. Kosino died April 11, 2002, in Monroe, Michigan. He was born June 5, 1950. Kosino was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Monroe Chapter 142.
Gerald K. Kummer died recently in Butler, Pennsylvania, after an automobile accident. He was born May 19, 1948. Kummer was a veteran of the Vietnam War and a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Beaver Falls Chapter 862.
Larry David Lee, Sr., died June 25 in Greenville, North Carolina, of Agent
Orange-related cancer. He was born May 10, 1947. Lee served in the U.S. Army from 1965-68, with a tour of duty in Vietnam. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Greenville Chapter 272.
William E. Leitenberger died March 12 in Jerome, Pennsylvania, of cancer. He was born May 7, 1940. Leitenberger was a veteran of the Vietnam War and a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Johnstown Chapter 364.
Gerald Lewandowski died October 3, 2002, in Hines, Illinois. He was born April 19, 1939. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1956-60 and 1962-65 having served on the USS <I>Iowa<$> and the USS <I>Galveston<$>. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Wheaton Chapter 693.
John Dickson Lewellen died May 12 in Pearl River, Louisiana, of a heart attack. He was born November 13, 1947. Lewellen served in the U.S. Army with a tour in Vietnam from 1968-69. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Slidell Chapter 697.
Robert Arnold Lewis died recently in Pittsburg, Kentucky. He was born August 17, 1945. Lewis served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Pittsburg Chapter 621.
James Edward Long, Sr., 63, died April 25 in Phoenix. Long served in the U.S. Army and served as a combat photographer in Vietnam. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-El Paso Chapter 574 and later became an at-large member of VVA-Texas.
Luis Antonio Lopez died March 2 in Fresno, California, of complications from surgery. He was born September 13, 1949. Lopez served in the U.S. Army with a tour in Vietnam from 1969-70. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Dinuba Chapter 643.
Duncan Gillies MacKay died September 9, 2002, in Cincinnati of sepsis caused by a small-intestine infection due to atherosclerosis. He was born February 15, 1932. MacKay served in the U.S. Air Force from 1952-72, retiring at the rank of Staff Sergeant. He served a tour in Vietnam in 1970. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Cincinnati Chapter 10.
John Peter Mackowski died May 20 in Des Plaines, Illinois. He was born October 10, 1951. Mackowski was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Des Plaines Chapter 311.
John D. McMillen died April 1, 2002, in Sterling Heights, Michigan. McMillen was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Monroe Chapter 142.
Roger Edward Midkiff died April 15 in Princeton, West Virginia, of Agent
Orange-related lymphoma. He was born September 2, 1945. Midkiff served in the U.S. Marine Corps with two tours of duty in Vietnam. He was also a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Princeton Chapter 628.
Dale R. Miller died May 3 in St. Marys, Pennsylvania, of a heart attack. He was born November 21, 1948. Miller served in the U.S. Army with a tour in Vietnam from 1969-70. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-St. Marys Chapter 720.
Joseph Kirk Mitchell died May 16 in Sonora, California, in an automobile accident. He was born April 5, 1948. Mitchell served in the U.S. Army with the Medical Corps in Vietnam from 1969-70. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Sonora Chapter 391.
Lionel Paquette died April 26 in Fall River, Massachusetts. He was born May 13, 1923. Paquette served in the U.S. Navy and retired as a Petty Officer. He served in World War II aboard the USS Kennebec, USS Magnet, and the USS Sarpedon, which included tours in the Pacific theater: Saipan, Guam, and Okinawa. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Westport Chapter 207.
Bruce W. Parker died January 27 in Bridgeton, New Jersey, of anaphylactic shock due to a pharmaceutical mistake while hospitalized. He was born October 20, 1947. Parker served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam. He served as an infantryman in the 5th Combat Support Brigade as an indirect fire crewman where he was wounded in combat and was awarded the Purple Heart. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Mays Landing Chapter 825.
Mitchell Vernon Pate died December 3, 2002, in Hines, Virginia. He was born May 31, 1945. Pate served in the U.S. Army. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Wheaton Chapter 693.
Richard Polinsky died in December 2002 in Hines, Virginia. Polinsky was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America-Wheaton Chapter 693.
Ronald Porter died recently in Binghamton, New York. He was born November 30, 1943. Porter was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Binghamton Chapter 896.
Richard John Rembert, Jr., died June 18 in Cranford, New Jersey, of lung cancer due to Agent Orange exposure. He was born March 17, 1949. Rembert served in the U.S. Army in the Vietnam War. He served with both the First Infantry Division and the 82nd Airborne Division. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Elizabeth Chapter 779.
Steve Riehl died June 20 in Portland, Oregon, of mesothelioma of the lungs. Riehl served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam with the 199th Light Infantry Brigade ``Redcatchers.'' He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Oregon.
Robert W. Rondeau died recently in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Rondeau was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-New Bedford Chapter 499.
William J. Suttle died recently in Springfield, Massachusetts. He was born August 27, 1936. Suttle was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was an at-large life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Massachusetts.
John Benjamin Stagg, Jr. died March 1 in the Ville Platte Medical Center , of cancer. He was born February 22, 1940. Stagg served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was a member Vietnam Veterans of America-Ville Platte Chapter 632.
Michael Lee Taylor died January 12 in Annapolis, Maryland, of liver disease. He was born September 15, 1951. Taylor served in the U.S. Army and served as a cryptanalyst with duty in Vietnam and Germany. He attained the rank of Sergeant and was awarded the Bronze Star. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Riva Chapter 712.
Paul Edward Tyndall died January 2 in Ocean City, Maryland, of pancreatic cancer. He was born September 25, 1949. Tyndall served in the U.S. Air Force from 1968-73 with a tour in Vietnam in 1971. He attained the rank of Sergeant. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Princess Anne Chapter 624.
Terry VanLear died April 25 in Reading, Pennsylvania, of heart failure. He was born March 16, 1945. VanLear served in the U.S. Marine Corps on a seven-month tour of duty in Vietnam. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Reading Chapter 131.
James E. Waldoch died January 19 in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, of myocardial infarction. He was born November 25, 1946. Waldoch served in the U.S. Army from 1966-68, serving in Germany during the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Plover Chapter 115.
Willard H. Whiting, Jr., died October 13, 2002, in Dania, Florida. He was born October 28, 1946. Whiting was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Miami Chapter 620.
Thomas J. Wicks died May 14 in St. Marys, Pennsylvania, of cancer. He was born June 29, 1952. Wicks served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam era. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-St. Marys Chapter 720.
Richard P. ``Doc'' Williams died June 1 in Hinesville, Georgia, of cancer. He was born January 28, 1928. Williams served 20 years in the U.S. Navy, primarily in the submarine service as a hospital corpsman. He served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Hinesville Chapter 789.
Fayette McArthur Young died May 5, 2002, in London, Kentucky. He was born March 24, 1942. Young served in the U.S. Army with a Vietnam tour of duty from 1967-68. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Pittsburg Chapter 621.
George J. Young died May 9 in San Antonio, Texas. He was born June 28, 1927. Young served in the U.S. Army and retired at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He served in Vietnam in 1963-64 and returned for a second tour in Vietnam in 1966. He was an at-large member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Texas.
John C. Zavala died March 18, 2001, in Stockton, California. Zavala was a veteran of the Vietnam War and a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Valley Springs Chapter 608.
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