The VVA Veteran

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

January/February 2005 FROM THE NATIONAL CHAPLAIN
Taps
BY REV.PHIL SALOIS, M.S.

Patrick L. Baddgor died May 4, 2003, in Davenport, Iowa, of cancer. He was born November 8, 1947. Baddgor served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Rock Island (Illinois) Chapter 299.

Michael Paul Badget died May 28, 2004, in Waipahu, Hawaii, of pneumonia and cancer. He was born December 28, 1951. Badget served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Ewa Beach (Hawaii) Chapter 858.

Ronnie Batts died recently in Philadelphia. He was born February 6, 1943. Batts was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America- Graterford Chapter 466.

Mack A. Bennett died June 22, 2004, in Mountain Home, Tennessee. He was born October 7, 1943. Bennett served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Elizabethton Chapter 824.

Karl R. Berger died January 26, 2004, in Southside, Alabama. He was born November 24, 1939. Berger was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Gadsden Chapter 637.

Anthony Bisbano died February 13, 2004, in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. He was born May 1, 1924. Bisbano served in the U.S. Navy and retired with the rank of Captain. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Providence Chapter 273.

Jose M. Blanco died May 31, 2004, in Miami, Florida, of heart failure. He was born August 23, 1939, in Cuba. Blanco served in the U.S. Army in 1963-64 during the Vietnam era. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Miami Chapter 620.

Howard H. Bloom died October 28, 2004, in White Plains, New York. He was born January 14, 1940. Bloom served in the U.S. Air Force and retired as a Master Sergeant. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Pleasantville Chapter 49.

James Knox Blount died in October 2004. Blount was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Birmingham Chapter 416.

Marvin E. Boelter died recently in Tecumseh, Michigan. He was born May 30, 1950. Boelter was a veteran of the Vietnam War and a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Jackson Chapter 109.

Roger J. Booth died in August 2004. He was born January 26, 1944. Booth served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. He was an at-large member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Florida.

Dennis Delton Bratz died June 4, 2004, in Willmar, Minnesota, of Agent Orange- related type II diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, and multiple myeloma. He was born on November 20, 1946. Bratz served in the U.S. Army from 1966-69, with a tour of duty in Vietnam. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Minot Chapter 374.

Donald E. Butz died recently in Hubbard Lake, Michigan. He was born November 7, 1943. Butz served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Alpena Chapter 583.

Lonnie C. Carter died December 30, 1998, in Rutledge, Tennessee. He was born June 6, 1940. Carter was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was an at-large member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Tennessee.

Russel Jay Carver was murdered September 10, 2004, in Dallas. He was born November 20, 1929. Carver served in the U.S. Army with a tour of duty in Vietnam as a hospital chaplain and retired from the Army with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Dallas Chapter 137.

Stanley C. Clark died in January 1995 in Rutland, Vermont. Clark was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Rutland Chapter 1.

John Ross Cokelette died October 9, 2004, in Milford, Pennsylvania. He was born December 10, 1949. Cokelette served in the U.S. Air Force from 1969-73 during the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Dingman’s Ferry Chapter 623.

Thomas L. Costello died April 13, 2000, in Hyannis, Massachusetts. He was born August 12, 1943. Costello served in the U.S. Army from 1962-63 during the Vietnam era. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Hyannis Chapter 338.

John P. Coyne died August 30, 2004, in Minot, North Dakota, of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He was born November 30, 1946. Coyne served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1968-74, with a tour of duty in Vietnam. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Minot Chapter 374 and served as the chapter president until his death.

Ray G. Creasey, Jr., died in 2002 in Halifax, Virginia. He was born March 18, 1949. Creasey was a veteran of the Vietnam War and a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Halifax Chapter 840.

Patrick Cunningham died February 21, 2004, in East Rutherford, New Jersey, of cancer. He was born March 14, 1952. Cunningham served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1970-73 during the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-East Rutherford Chapter 800.

Richard Arnold Day died September 8, 2004, in Grants Pass, Oregon, as the result of an automobile accident. He was born March 24, 1942. Day served in U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Grants Pass Chapter 867.

Lloyd A. Dunham died July 15, 2004, in Eagle River, Alaska. He was born November 9, 1941. Dunham served in the U.S. Army from 1967-70, with a 1968-69 tour of duty in Vietnam. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Anchor Point Chapter 914.

Albert N. Earle died December 4, 2004, in Hayden, Idaho, of a massive heart attack. He was born May 4, 1943. Earle served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1961-66, with service in the Vietnam War.

Benjamin Lee Ebert died August 31, 2004, in Toms River, New Jersey. He was born November 9, 1908. Ebert served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a medic with the 5th Infantry Division. He served in North Africa, southern France, Italy, Sicily, and was in the Battle of the Bulge. He was a member of Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America-Lanoka Harbor Chapter 855.

Tommy A. Formby died October 18, 2004, in Springhill, Louisiana. He was born September 25, 1948. Formby served in the U.S. Army from 1968-71, with a tour of duty in Vietnam. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Shreveport Chapter 94.

Gerald Forstner died recently in Chula Vista, California. He was born May 19, 1936. Forstner was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-San Diego Chapter 472.

Danny Franks died March 14, 2004, in Houston, Mississippi. He was born September 26, 1953. Franks was a veteran of the Vietnam War and an at-large life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Mississippi.

Harry A. Fuller died September 19, 2004, in Ark, Virginia. He was born September 26, 1934. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Gloucester Chapter 813.

Roger W. Gaede died recently in Rochester, New York. He was born July 18, 1945. Gaede was a veteran of the Vietnam War and a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Rochester Chapter 20.

Ernest F. Garon died September 3, 2004, in Providence, Rhode Island, of renal failure and heart disease. He was born May 15, 1949. Garon served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War with the First Air Cavalry Division from 1969-70. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-James Michael Ray Memorial (Lincoln) Chapter 818.

Dennis A. Gershman died recently in Indiana, Pennsylvania. Gershman was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was an at-large life member of Vietnam Veterans of America- Pennsylvania.

Edward Ronald Grabenstein died September 1, 2004, in Washington, D.C. He was born January 24, 1933. Grabenstein served in the U.S. Army from 1953-73, with a tour in Vietnam. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Cumberland Chapter 172.

Alvin H. Gurkins, 58, died December 4, 2004, in Greenville, North Carolina. Gurkins served in the U.S. Navy with the Fighting Sea Bees and served two tours of duty in the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Greenville Chapter 272.

Donald Charles Hare died September 4, 2004, in Jacksonville, North Carolina. He was born May 10, 1927. Hare served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a gunnery sergeant and retired from the service. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America- Jacksonville Chapter 654.

Rex Don Hare died October 13, 2004, in Bay City, Michigan, of cancer related to Agent Orange exposure. He was born December 9, 1934. Hare retired from the U.S. Air Force, having served a tour of duty in Vietnam. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Bay City Chapter 494.

Charles James Harper, Jr., died August 26, 2004, in Leavenworth, Kansas. He was born January 17, 1949. Harper served in the military and was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Leavenworth Chapter 75.

Lawrence A. Hawthorne died October 14, 2004, in Mexia, Texas, of liver cancer. He was born December 17, 1942. Hawthorne served in the U.S. Air Force and was a flight engineer during his tour of duty in Vietnam. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Emporia (Virginia) Chapter 627.

Martha Jane Hendricks died September 6, 2004, in Oklahoma of massive head injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. She was a member of Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America-Tulsa Chapter 216.

June Marie Hettinger died July 1, 2004, in Wernersville, Pennsylvania. She was born June 11, 1927. Hettinger served in the U.S. Air Force and retired at the rank of major. She served as a nurse and nursing administrator while in the service. She was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Reading Chapter 131.

Robert Hicks died October 13, 2004, in New Philadelphia, Ohio. Hicks was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-New Philadelphia Chapter 857.

Robert T. Hoehn died recently in Pleasantville, Ohio. He was born March 27, 1948. Hoehn was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Mount Clemens (Michigan) Chapter 154.

William Turner Huggett died August 31, 2004, in Miami, Florida, of a massive brain hemorrhage. He was born May 25, 1940. Huggett served in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam and was awarded the Bronze Star. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Coral Gables Chapter 121.

Douglas G. Inks died June 2, 2000, in Floral Park, New York. He was born November 8, 1950. Inks was a veteran of the Vietnam War and a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Hicksville Chapter 82.

Kenneth Gillis Irwin, Jr., died August 30, 2004, in Seattle. He was born March 7, 1945. Gillis served in the U.S. Army, 1968-71, with service in Vietnam from 1968-69 as an aircraft maintenance crewman. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Vancouver (Washington) Chapter 512.

Harry Kessler died recently in Brooklyn, New York. He was born December 30, 1942. Kessler was a veteran of the Vietnam War and a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Thomas P. Coughlin Memorial (Brooklyn) Chapter 72.

Robert J. Kinloch, Jr., died September 28, 2002, in Chicago Ridge, Illinois. He was born May 6, 1957. Kinloch was a Vietnam-era veteran. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Orland Hills Chapter 796.

Erwin H. Koehler died October 5, 2004, in El Paso, Texas. He was born February 9, 1939. Koehler retired from the U.S. Army after 27 years of service and served during the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-El Paso Chapter 844.

William Koontz died October 14, 2004, in Michigan City, Indiana. He was born January 2, 1953. Koontz was a Vietnam-era veteran. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Lawrence Chapter 434.

Loy D. Knight died recently in Princeton, Kansas. He was born April 8, 1934. Knight served in the U.S. Air Force from 1968-74, with service during the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Ottawa (Kansas) Chapter 912.

Joseph M. LaFatch died February 16, 2004, in Akron, Ohio. He was born April 23, 1948. LaFatch served in the U.S. Army in the Vietnam War with the First Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division and was awarded the Purple Heart. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Akron Chapter 34.

L. David Lamb died October 4, 2004, in Lawton, Oklahoma, of liver failure. He was born December 3, 1947. Lamb served in the U.S. Army from 1969-71 with a tour of duty in Vietnam, and he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Lawton Chapter 751.

William L. Lederer died recently in Wells, New York. He was born June 28, 1943. He served in the U.S. Army from 1968-69 in Vietnam. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Pleasantville Chapter 49.

Jennie Lefevre died September 7, 2004, in Shadyside, Maryland, of cancer. She was born April 20, 1932. Lafevre was the creator of The Quilt of Tears, a memorial tribute that honors victims of Agent Orange-related diseases which began in 1998 under the auspices of the Agent Orange Victims and Widows Support Network. She was a member of Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America-Riva Chapter 712.

Gary J. Lewington died October 27, 2004, in Columbus, Ohio. He was born February 14, 1940. Lewington served in the U.S. Air Force from 1958-62. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Thomas Davis, Jr., Memorial (Mansfield) Chapter 616.

Ronald Malet died August 28, 2004, in Sayreville, New Jersey, of cancer. Malet was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a member and second vice-president of Vietnam Veterans of America-New Brunswick Chapter 233.

Stephen Arthur Maphet died October 31, 2004, in Vancouver, Washington. He was born January 8, 1941. Maphet served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Vancouver Chapter 512.

Ruford Rex Marcum died November 5, 2004, in True, West Virginia. He was born February 22, 1954. Marcum served in the U.S. Army in the Vietnam War. He was a member and vice-president of Vietnam Veterans of America-Princeton Chapter 628.

Tommy Eugene McColloch died October 14, 2004, in Monett, Missouri, of lung cancer. He was born January 9, 1945. McColloch retired from the U.S. Army with service in the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America- Lawton (Oklahoma) Chapter 751.

Patrick McKiernan died April 24, 2004, in Pensacola, Florida. McKiernan was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America- New City (New York) Chapter 333.

James B. McPherson died July 3, 2002, in Grass Valley, California. He was born June 17, 1940. McPherson was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Grass Valley Chapter 535.

Robert S. Need died July 24, 2004, in Norfolk, Virginia. He was born October 11, 1929. Need was a retired Master Sergeant (E-8) in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam era. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Tidewater (Norfolk) Chapter 48.

Gary W. Neisz died March 4, 2004, in Douglas, Massachusetts. He was born September 2, 1949. Neisz served in the U.S. Marine Corps, with a tour of duty in Vietnam where he was awarded three Purple Hearts, the Bronze Star, and a Navy Commendation Medal for Bravery. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Auburn Chapter 554.

Andrew Oakley died January 16, 2004, in Philadelphia of congestive heart failure. He was born June 6, 1951. Oakley served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1968-71, with a tour of duty in Vietnam. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Liberty Bell (Philadelphia) Chapter 266.

Robert T. O’Brien died August 18, 2004, in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, of cancer. He was born October 7, 1941. O’Brien served in the U.S. Air Force from 1960-67 during the Vietnam era.

Loren A. O’Neil died recently in Bloomington, Minnesota. He was born August 9, 1936. O’Neil served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1962-68, with a tour of duty in Vietnam. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Minneapolis Chapter 363.

Richard Orejuela died recently in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was born February 9, 1945. Orejuela was a veteran of the Vietnam War and an at-large member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Indiana.

Robert J. “Herm” Ouellette died October 1, 2004, in Diorite Location, Michigan, of cancer. He was born March 7, 1947. Ouellette served in the U.S. Army, with a tour of duty in Vietnam. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Negaunee Chapter 380.

Paul E. Petersen, Sr., died December 2, 2003, in West Roxbury. He was born September 25, 1949. Petersen served in the U.S. Army from 1968-70 and 1974-84, with a one-year tour of duty in Vietnam. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Providence (Rhode Island) Chapter 273.

Roy J. Piskor died November 15, 2004, in Baltimore. Piskor was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Baltimore Chapter 451.

Carl J. Pitts died August 23, 2004, in Racine, Wisconsin. He was born August 19, 1949. Pitts served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Racine Chapter 767.

David W. Prestidge died December 10, 2001, in Port Charlotte, Florida. He was born October 26, 1946. Prestidge was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Battle Creek (Michigan) Chapter 313.

Tommy Provance died July 18, 2004, in Bastrop, Texas, of cancer. Provance served in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam and was severely wounded, which resulted in the amputation of a foot. He was a member and past president of Vietnam Veterans of America-San Jacinto Chapter 343.

Joseph Lee Pryor died September 19, 2004, in Frostburg, Maryland. He was born December 29, 1942. Pryor served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Cumberland Chapter 172.

Howard Pugh died recently in Yeadon, Pennsylvania. He was born March 9, 1948. Pugh was a veteran of the Vietnam War and a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Media Chapter 67.

Paul Rose died recently in Grafton, North Dakota. He was born January 20, 1947. Rose was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Mayville Chapter 374.

Ronald Michael Roussel died September 28, 2004, in Jacksonville, North Carolina, of a heart attack. He was born April 30, 1947. Roussel served in the U.S. Army with the First Cavalry Division in the Vietnam War. He was also a life member and charter member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Jacksonville Chapter 654.

Elmer Lee Rowland, Sr., died August 26, 2004, in West Virginia of a heart attack. He was born March 6, 1947. Rowland served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-London Chapter 746.

James Alton Royal died August 7, 2004, in El Paso, Texas. He was born February 14, 1938. Royal served in the U.S. Navy as a Seabee in Vietnam. He was a member and past president of Vietnam Veterans of America-El Paso Chapter 844.

Stephen R. Ruby died September 25, 2004, in Kansas City, Missouri. He was born February 21, 1950. Ruby served in the U.S. Army from 1967-70, with a tour of duty in Vietnam from 1968-69. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America-Kansas City Chapter 317.

Pat Sadler died November 6, 2004, in Baltimore of cancer. He was born November 30, 1950. Sadler was a member of Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America-Baltimore Chapter 451.

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