Veterans Town&Gown 2017

Town&Gown’s

Salute to Veterans

The Traveling Vietnam Wall visits Centre County October 4-8

INSIDE: Profiles of Centre County veterans

CONNECT W ITH US: 51 Boal Avenue, Boalsburg, PA

pamilmuseum.org (814)466-6263

Innovation Park, Penn State

The Traveling Wall Schedule of Events All events — free and open to the public — are rain or shine, with limited seating in tent area; visitors suggested to bring lawn chair.

Wednesday, October 4 4:30 p.m. — Motorcycle Honor Escort leaves Weis parking lot in Bellefonte.

5 p.m. — Motorcycle Honor Escort Welcome Ceremony; estimated start time pending number of riders and time to park and assemble.

Thursday, October 5 Noon — Wall opens to the public. Will remain open 24 hours a day until closing ceremony on Sunday.

5:30 p.m. — Opening Ceremony. ROTC Wall Guard in place to suspend Wall visitation during the ceremony only. Ceremony ends at 6:45 p.m., sundown.

6:45 p.m. — Taps bugler closes ceremony.

Friday, October 6 9 a.m.-3 p.m. — Education Day. Area high schools invited to meet and hear stories from Vietnam War veterans, see a reenactment camp, and trace a name on the memorial wall.

Wall will remain open to the public during Education Day. 7:30-8:30 p.m. — Essence of Joy Concert.

Saturday, October 7 10-11 a.m. — Bellefonte Community Band Concert.

11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. — County Veterans Affairs Ceremony.

3-4 p.m. — Big Band Sound.

7 p.m. — Screening of WPSU documentary A Time to Heal.

Sunday, October 8 1 p.m. — Closing Ceremony. Wall Guard in place to suspend visitation during the ceremony.

3 p.m. — Wall closes. Disassembly. Volunteer appreciation.

Contributing Sponsors

VFW Veterans Benefits Center of North Central Pennsylvania

Linda Koch and Friend Robinson Portable Toilets Russ Schleiden Scott's Landscaping Inc Senator Jake Corman Steve Heinz

Platinum $10,000+

Bronze $500-$999

Thomas F Songer II and Sara Hine Songer

Pegasus Wedding and Party Rentals American Legion Post #444 Millheim, PA American Legion Post #33, Bellefonte, PA American Legion Post #867 Pleasant Gap, PA Centre Glass/David Pasquinelli George and Debra Trudeau Stocker Chevrolet/Gene Stocker

Presenting Sponsors

Gold $5,000-$9,999 Lion Country Lodging Congressman Glenn Thompson Dominight Royce Technologies Walmart Supercenter

Silver $1,000-$4,999 American Legion Post #35 Hughesville PA American Legion Post #245 State College, PA American Legion Post #779 Old Fort, PA Bestline Equipment BPOE #1600 State College, PA Mr. an Mrs. Brent Pasquinelli Centre Concrete/Eric Nicholson Collegiate Pride Inc Dairy Queen Grill & Chill Eclipse Resources EnergyCAP Inc First Energy Foundation Dan Hawbaker Gary Myers Legacy Sound Equipment

Additional Support provided by Albert Steinbeiser American Legion Post #36 Jersey Shore, PA American Legion Post #493 Homer City, PA American Legion Post #849 Johnstown, PA Bill Corl Centre County Grange Fair Dr. Derrill and Linda Finch Jabco Auto Sales Bellefonte Morgan Stanley Seven Mountains Emergency Management Services Tri-County Oral and Facial Surgeons Veterans of Foreign Wars #5020 Osceola Mills, PA Penn State Emergency Management Penn State Emergency Medical Services Penn State Office of the Physical Plant Penn State Transportation Services Penn State University Police Robert M Sides

Town&Gown’s

Salute to Veterans Through history, America has proudly celebrated its veterans for their service to our country, particularly in times of war.

But as some veterans and their families know all too well, that generally was not the case for service members returning home from the Vietnam War. Caught in the vortex of changing values at home and a controversial war being fought on the other side of the world, Vietnam vets were not accorded the homecoming — or the respect — they deserved.

A nation has tried to make amends in recent decades, but for many, scars remain.

The Vietnam Memorial Traveling Wall is one effort to help with the healing process.

Led by WPSU and thanks to the efforts of many sponsors and volunteers, the Traveling Wall, an 80-percent replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., visits Innovation Park on the Penn State campus from October 4-8.

Town&Gown is proud to be a platinum sponsor of this event that honors our Vietnam veterans.

With this issue, we salute — and say thank you — to all who have served!

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10 Contents Front Foldout The Traveling Wall Schedule of Events 8 Wall Committee and Performers/ Map of Grounds 10 Honor and Respect The Traveling Wall represents a homecoming many Vietnam vets never saw after the war 24 Making the Ultimate Sacrifice A tribute to service members with ties to Centre County who were killed or declared missing in action in Vietnam 38 Memories of Vietnam Pennsylvanians share their experiences at war and on the home front

Special Advertising Section

31 Profiles of Veterans from Centre County Published by Barash Media.

Address inquiries to: Barash Media, 403 South Allen Street, State College, PA 16804-0077, (814) 238-5051 or 800-326-9584. © 2016 by Barash Media. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form except with written authorization from the publisher.

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Town&Gown’s

Salute to Veterans

Publisher Rob Schmidt

BEST WESTERN PLUS University Park Inn & Suites 115 Premiere Drive State College, PA 16801 814.234.8393 866.840.0931 www.nittanyhotel.com

Founder Mimi Barash Coppersmith Editorial Director Mark Brackenbury Creative Director Tiara Snare Operations Manager/Assistant Editor Vilma Shu Danz Art Director/Photographer Darren Weimert Graphic Designer Cody Peachey Ad Coordinator Lana Bernhard Account Executives Nicohl Geszvain, Debbie Markel Business Manager Aimee Aiello Distribution Handy Delivery

To contact us: Mail: 403 S. Allen St., State College, PA 16801 Phone: (814) 238-5051, (800) 326-9584 Fax: (814) 238-3415 mbrackenbury@barashmedia.com (Editorial) rschmidt@barashmedia.com (Advertising) We welcome letters to the editor that include a phone number for verification.

Back issues of Town&Gown are available on microfilm at Penn State’s Pattee Library.

Facebook.com/townandgownsc @TownGownSC townandgown.com

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Home • Auto • Business • Life • Annuities

Boyles Insurance

Thanking Our

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Service & Sacrifice!

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Grounds Map

Planning Committee for Traveling Wall visit to Penn State Bob Booz, co-chair Laura Miller, co-chair Beth Bamford Michelle Bates Tamra Fatemi Vin Tedesco Carolyn Donaldson John Torres Jason Zajak

Pamela Soule David Dorman Ryan Connaghan David Ginhart Chrissy Moyer Sean Walker Jason Smith Brent Pasquinelli Rob Schmidt

Cara Bell Cindy Love David Bower James Krape Barb Diehl Dave Jones Cassie Caldwell Kristin Bittner

Performers • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 8

Scott Ailslie, Vocalist, Thursday, 7 p.m., Friday, 9 a.m.

Essence of Joy, Director Tony Leach, Student Club Choir, Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Bellefonte Community Band, Director Joshua Long, Saturday, 10 a.m.

Big Band Sound, Saturday, 3 p.m.

The Penn State Glee Club, Director Christopher Kiver, Thursday, 5:30 p.m.

Jorge Trevino (lead), Bugler, Thursday, 5:30 p.m. Welcome, Echo Taps, County VA Dwight Smith, Bugler, Thursday, 5:30 p.m. Echo Taps Mike Gleixner, Bugler, Thursday, 5:30 p.m. Echo Taps Dave Strouse, Bugler, Thursday, 5:30 p.m. Echo Taps Howard Reitenbaugh, Bugles Across America , Thursday, 5:30 p.m. Echo Taps Cameron Leslie Trumpet, Saturday, 11 a.m. County VA Laura Leslie, Accompanist, Saturday, 11 a.m. County VA John MacMillen, Bagpipes, Thursday, 5:30 p.m., Sunday, 1 p.m.

Shawn Gority, Bagpipes, Thursday, 5:30 p.m., Sunday, 1 p.m.

Doug Irwin, Vocalist, Sunday, 1 p.m.

Bill Ritzman, Accompanist, Sunday 1 p.m. (with Irwin) Michelle Bates, Vocalist, Sunday, 1 p.m.

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H

Honor& Respect

H

Traveling Wall represents a homecoming many Vietnam vets never got after the war

H

By Vincent Corso

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While the Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall is not quite as large as the original in Washington, D.C., the emotional impact may be just as big.

An 80-percent-size replica, the Traveling Wall serves as a unique chance for those who can’t make it to the capital to remember and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country during a difficult time in our nation’s history.

The names on the wall of the 58,159 service men and women who died during the war are all on the replica as well. It will give those who remember the war a chance to reflect, and those who don’t a chance to learn.

The wall comes to Innovation Park at Penn State October 4-8. It follows the September premiere of the WPSU documentary A Time to Heal, and the Ken Burns 10 part, 18-hour PBS documentary The Vietnam War.

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Bob Booz of Centre Hall helped bring the wall to Penn State and he knows about the cost of the war.

Now a retired Penn State employee, Booz served as an Air Force pilot during the war, flying in and out of combat zones to bring soldiers and supplies to the ground.

“Food, ammunition, beer,” says Booz. “We flew it all in and out to them.

And you can imagine, these guys wanted their beer and

their steaks, just like I am sure that guys in Iraq and Afghanistan want. And that’s what we did all day.”

Booz flew tired troops and supplies all day. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for flying safely out of an enemy attack, along with many other medals.

Booz says being on the committee to bring the wall to Penn State has brought difficult memories back up of one mission that happened 5 months into his tour of duty.

Marcon Roofing would like to thank all Veterans for their service including the following members of the Marcon team (from left) Jason Showers (U.S. Army), Rich Barraclough (U.S. Air Force), Alex Marcon (U.S. Marines), Ray Marcon (U.S. Army), Dave Bolton (U.S. Navy), Russ Davis (U.S. Marines), Don Kensinger (U.S. Army), John Mountz (U.S. Army), (Not Pictured) Jonathan Warr (U.S. Army)

www.rhmarcon.com

814-238-2800

We honor the veterans who sacrificed their lives to preserve our freedoms and thank our employees, friends and neighbors for their service.

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After dropping off troops at a location, he was asked to carry deceased servicemen back to his base.

“Twenty-seven names are on that wall that I brought out of the jungle that day,” Booz says. “I wish I knew who they were so I could pay my respects.

But that is why we are bringing the wall here, because it does bring back memories — some good, some bad. It is important for all people to have a chance to remember

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and honor those who served.”

It is a difficult endeavor to bring the largest traveling wall memorial to the area, and Booz has been part of a

Bob Booz, a Vietnam vet who is co-chair of the committee to bring the Traveling Wall to Centre County, earned numerous medals for his service in the Air Force.

A Special Thank You‌ To the men and women who have served and continue to unselfishly serve so that we are safe and confident that you are protecting our freedom and our nation. You are all our heroes.

Centre County State Rep. Scott Conklin

301 S. Allen St., Suite 102 State College, PA 16801 (814) 238-5477 • Fax: (814) 863-3898 15

Air Force Major Lewis P. Smith II of Bellefonte went missing in action after his plane was shot down over Laos in May 1968. While his remains have never been found, his 1964 Penn State class ring was located in 2009 and returned to his family.

committee that has been planning for more than a year. Once the wall opens to the public at noon on Thursday, October 5, it will remain open all day and night continuously until 3 p.m. Sunday, October 8, requiring a dedicated group of community members to volunteer. WPSU, Penn State, and a number of community groups have been instrumental in bringing the wall to the area and making these events happen, Booz says. “Really all these events, the documentary, the wall and numerous other things going on all at the same time, hopefully give the soldiers a

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We Honor

& Proudly Salute All Veterans.

Your courage and determination have helped protect our freedom and safety.

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chance for the homecoming they didn’t get after the war,” he says. “A chance to be honored and respected, and like the title of the documentary, a time to heal.”

Deb Burger and her family have been looking for a chance to heal for a long time.

Her brother Major Lewis P. Smith II was shot down on a mission between Laos and Vietnam in May 1968, and was declared missing in action.

Since that time her family has been trying to find out what happened to her brother after the plane went down. She is one of 15 Pennsylvanians whose Vietnam-era stories are a part of the WPSU documentary A Time to Heal.

The stories in the documentary show a wide slice of perspectives on the war, from those who served to those who opposed the war, in order to tell the whole story of what was occurring during those turbulent times. It asks if we are ready to move on from that difficult era of American history, and if it truly is a time to heal.

Burger says talking about her story during the documentary and seeing the wall are more instances where she has to relive everything that happened to her and her family during that time. She was only 11 years old when her brother

The Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority would like to honor our veterans.

Kenneth Bowers ..............................Army Clint Wagner ...................................Army Jeia Forsyth .....................................Army Rod Fye ...........................................Air Force Al Kustaborder ................................Air Force Dave Pensak ...................................Navy Wade Summers ...............................Navy

We are thankful for their service.

CENTRE COUNTY RECYCLING AND REFUSE AUTHORITY (814) 238.7005 CCRRA@CENTRECOUNTYRECYCLES.ORG WWW.CENTRECOUNTYRECYCLES.ORG

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went missing. He was never found. Her family is still looking for closure all these years later.

Years after Smith went missing, his Penn State class ring was found in Laos and returned to the family, and the government feels it located the crash site. But Burger says there are still questions that need to be answered.

“There is still this thought in my head, that yes, we have his class ring and this is how they say that it was found,” says Burger. “But we don’t know what really happened. I won’t know until we can find his remains, if he died during the impact of the

crash, or if something else happened to him.”

Government officials have told Burger that they aim to dig for his remains at the presumed crash site by 2019. Complications have arisen because of a dam that has caused part of the area to be flooded by water, but the hope is that they will still dig and find her brother’s remains so the family can find some peace.

Burger will visit the Traveling Wall and find her brother’s name, just like she has on multiple trips to the wall in D.C. She says she feels it is important to remember and honor those who have served, especially those who served in Vietnam and came home to difficult conditions.

“These men and women served our country and came back and were treated poorly; some were spit on and called names,” Burger says. “Hopefully, now, we can honor them as they should have been then.”

Kevin Weatherly is the CEO of American Veterans Traveling Tribute, the company that brings this wall to locations around the country. Weatherly says the reactions to the wall vary from town to town and day to day.

Weatherly expects a large crowd and says a motorcycle honor escort that will lead the wall from the Bellefonte Weis supermarket and travel down Interstate 99 to University Park on Wednesday afternoon, October 4, should be a big highlight.

Friday, October 6, is designated as education day.

Many local school districts will be visiting the memorial that day, giving children a chance to learn about the war and the era, Booz says.

There will be information tents at the memorial and counselors on hand.

“The wall affects people differently, and for some people who can’t get to D.C., this is their chance to finally get some of those pent-up feelings out, so it is good for people to have support while they are there,” Weatherly says.

Alfred Turgeon served as a helicopter pilot for the Army during the war. A retired Penn State professor, Turgeon says he sees some similarities in the polarization of society then and today.

“I know a lot of the names on 19

Wall Etiquette Please remember that many visitors lost friends and family members during the war. They are visiting the memorial to pay respect to those who lost their lives. Please respect other visitors and follow these recommendations, as posted by WPSU: • Speak in a quiet voice.

• Please do not eat at the memorial.

• Leave no trace — do not litter. Please deposit trash in the appropriate containers.

• For your safety and the safety of others, please walk at all times.

• The memorials are designed so you can get very close to them. Feel free to touch them, or do an etching of the names, but please refrain from leaning on them or going behind them.

• With the exception of service animals, do not bring your pet per Penn State safety policy.

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that wall, so it will be good to go and pay respects to old friends,” says Turgeon. “But it is also good in another respect because the Vietnam War ended badly. Even worse was the way combatants were treated when they got home. And now a lot of people have seemed to have rethought that. So we have a chance to treat them with a certain level of respect that wasn’t there 40 to 50 years ago.”

Turgeon and Booz say they understand that people might use this as an opportunity to protest things from the past or current events. Both former service members say this was the kind of freedom of speech that they fought for.

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As nation marks 65th anniversary of the end of World War II, local veterans share their stories and memories

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Inside: Adam Hartswick’s “True Grit” Michael Murphy’s father remembers his son Profiles of Centre County veterans

salutes all those who have served or are serving our country!

Thank you!

But they say it is important that all people involved be respectful and understand that there may be many emotional people at the wall.

“It is important that people understand what the names on the wall represent, that people gave their lives for their freedom,” says Booz.

Turgeon sees the wall as a great part in a series of events to support vets in the community.

“Because so many things are going on leading up to the wall, and it being Veterans Appreciation Month with many activities in the area to appreciate vets, it really is a good time to honor veterans and hopefully there is a large turnout,” says Turgeon.

These other events 22

include a lecture series about the Vietnam War at the Pennsylvania Military Museum in Boalsburg at 2 p.m. on Sundays from October 15 to November 5.

A “Welcome Home” luncheon for Vietnam vets at the Hintz Family Alumni Center on the Penn State campus on November 2 is also a way to honor those who came home to less than receptive conditions, Turgeon says. Those who are interested in the event can contact Mary Fisk at (814) 863-0465.

For many who don’t remember the war, the Traveling Wall is a chance to learn something new and pay respects to those who fought for our country. Cameron Arthur, a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps, wasn’t alive during the war, but he feels it

is important to honor those who sacrificed before him.

“The amount of names you see on that wall is humbling.

When you see the names and think of the sacrifices that people made, it really puts it into perspective,” Arthur says.

“I think that when people see it, it can help them appreciate these men and women who died for our freedom, especially since they weren’t well-regarded at the time.”

It is a sentiment repeated

by Booz.

“When people see the wall and the 59,000-some names on it, it hopefully leaves an impression,” says Booz.

“Hopefully we are able to honor these service members in a way that wasn’t done so long ago, and people can learn something about a war that affected a generation.” T&G

Making the Ultimate Sacrifice Here and on the five pages that follow, we remember service members with ties to Centre County who were killed or declared missing in action in Vietnam.

The profiles of these local service members are adapted from the publication Reflections of Those Who Served: The Men … The Women …

Their Families … Their Friends, by Greg Stoicheff, chairman of the Moving Wall Regional Committee for an earlier visit of a Vietnam Memorial Wall replica. Additional information and photos are courtesy of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (vvmf.org).

Some of the profiles are sponsored by local businesses and individuals as a tribute to service members who made the ultimate sacrifice.

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In Memory Of

In Memory Of

DENIS EUGENE ABBOTT

AARON BUCKLEY AUMILLER

Born in Summerville NJ on January 15, 1943, his family moved to Philipsburg in 1958 where he entered the Philipsburg-Osceola Area High School. He was active in the band and drama club. He graduated in June 1962. After graduation, he was employed at the Rank: Private First Class Presbyterian Home for Branch: US Army the Aged in Philipsburg.

Conflict: Vietnam He was inducted into the Army on April 8, 1965, and received his training at Fort Jackson, S.C. After completing advanced training, he spent a few months in Hawaii before he was sent to Pleiku, Vietnam on January 4, 1966.

He served there until April 22, when he was killed during an attack on the base. He is remembered on panel #6E line #129.

Born in Bellefonte on May 5, 1939, he graduated from Bellefonte Area High School in 1957 where he played varsity basketball, was a member of the Student Council and received the HRB-Singer Physical Science award. A 1961 Penn State graduate, he enlisted in the service Rank: SP5 in 1963. He wrote home Branch: US Army many times of his sense of Conflict: Vietnam obligation and that he had a job to do. He was serving with the 147th Assault Support Helicopter Company, 101 Airborne Brigade, stationed at Vung Tau and was flight engineer and crew chief on the chopper “Chinook” delivering supplies and removing the wounded when he and his crew went down. He posthumously received the Air Medal with Four Oak Leaf Clusters. He is remembered on panel #7E line #22.

In Memory Of

In Memory Of

WILLIAM BRADLEY BREON

MELVIN LESTER DOLBY

Born in Philipsburg on March 29, 1945, his family moved to Bellefonte, where he graduated Bellefonte Area High School in 1963. He was a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church and was active in the Boy Scouts, High School Choir, and a member of the American Branch: US Marine Corps Legion Junior Band.

Conflict: Vietnam He enlisted in the Marine Corps March 29, 1963 and died June 25 1965 with seventy-nine other Marines in a plane crash in Orange County, California while on their way to Vietnam.

Melvin “Jiggs” was born in DuBois on September 20, 1948. He was a member of Wesleyan Methodist Church in Soldier, PA and attended the Philipsburg High School graduating in 1967. He enjoyed fishing and hunting. He Rank: Private First Class enlisted in the Branch: US Marine Corps service following Conflict: Vietnam graduation and was sent to Vietnam in December 1967. He was killed by hostile forces while on patrol in Quant Tri Province. He posthumously received the Purple Heart. He is remembered on panel #48E line #40.

In Memory Of

In Memory Of

RAYMOND ARTHUR DUBBS

FRANCIS EDWARD DUNLAP, JR.

Born in Bellefonte on August 18, 1945, he was a graduate of the Bellefonte High School and member of the St. John’s Lutheran Church.

He was working at Centre Video until he enlisted in the Army in January 1966. He took his basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia Rank: First Lieutenant subsequently undergoing Branch: US Army medical training at Ft. Conflict: Vietnam Sam Houston, Texas. On March 3, 1967, he was commissioned Lieutenant at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He served with Troop B, 3RD Squadron, 4th Cavalry. While leading his patrol, they engaged a Viet Cong platoon. In the battle, he was killed instantly. He is remembered on panel #44E line #5.

Born in Bellefonte, he attended the Assembly of God Church in Milesburg, PA. He graduated from the Bellefonte High School in 1967, and was an outdoorsman. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and trapping. Before enlisting in the Army, he was employed by Penn State and married Rank: SP4 Branch: US Army Dolly Marie Poorman Conflict: Vietnam in June 1967. He was a gunner on an Army personnel carrier that was hit by a mine while on mission. His carrier was blown up and he suffered burns over 68% of his body. He was taken to the 106th General Hospital in Yokohama, Japan where he passed away on April 14, 1969. He is remembered on panel #27W line #80.

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Sponsored by Nancy & Tom Ring RE/MAX Centre Realty

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In Memory Of

In Memory Of

GEORGE ELWOOD EATON

DAVID JOHN ECKENRODE

Born in Blanchard on November 4, 1943, he attended Liberty Baptist Church. He graduated from the Lock Haven High School in 1961. He was a wrestler at high school and with the YMCA teams in Lock Haven. George was a member of the Hilltop Post of the National Guard and Rank: Staff Sergeant joined the Regular Army in Branch: US Army 1964. He served 18 months Conflict: Vietnam in Vietnam, where he was engaged in search and destroy mission and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal in 1966. In September 1967, he was assigned as a drill sergeant at Fort Polk, LA until he volunteered for his second term in Vietnam.

He was assigned a tank commander with the 3rd Squadron, 4th Calvary, 25th Division, 23rd Infantry and was killed on a combat operation when a booby trap detonated. He is remembered on panel #26W line #53.

Born in Altoona, he was a 1963 graduate of Bellefonte High School where he was active in football, wrestling, and was president of his senior class. He attended the University of Virginia at Charlottesville on a ROTC scholarship where he received his B.S. in Psychology in June 1967.

Rank: 2nd Lieutenant Branch: US Marine Corps He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant upon graduation. He served with the 7th Engr.

Battalion, 1st Marine Division. At the time of his death, he was directing construction and clearing a perimeter outside DaNing. A fellow marine hit a mine with a dozer, David ran to help him and tripped another mine, resulting in his death. He is remembered on panel #51W line #25.

In Memory Of

In Memory Of

DALE CHARLES FISHER

ROBERT LEE GABLE

Born in Bellefonte on November 22, 1947, he graduated from the Bellefonte High School in 1965. He was very active in Little League and was a member of the Wingate Methodist Church. He took his college entry exam, passed, but chose the Army. He Rank: SP4 was stationed at Fort Branch: US Army Benning, GA, and went to Conflict: Vietnam Vietnam March 1968. He was attached ot the 501st Infantry, 101 Airborne Division, stationed near Hue. While out on a search and destroy mission, he was accidently shot by friendly fire and died instantly. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf and the Purple Heart, He is remembered on panel #32W line #80.

Born in Philipsburg on April 9, 1948, he graduated from West Branch High School in 1966 where he was active in sports. He was a Progress paper carrier, a member of the Kylertown Grange, the Kylertown 4-H Horse Club, the Lanse Boy Scout Troop, and a Rank: Private First Class member of the St. Severins Branch: US Marine Corps Church at Drifting. He Conflict: Vietnam enlisted in the Marines in June 1966 and went to Quan Tri, Vietnam, a member of the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Division. He was a forward observer at Con Thien near the DMZ Zone.

On the morning of September 16, 1967 at 2:15 a.m. the forward bunker with two fellow observers, took a direct hit. On seeing this, he went to investigate the welfare of his friends. A second direct hit killed him instantly. He is remembered on panel #26E line #78.

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In Memory Of

In Memory Of

STEPHEN THOMAS KUCAS

DONALD RAY LUCAS

Rank: Flight Sergeant Branch: US Marine Corps Conflict: Vietnam

Born in Bellefonte on December 10, 1930, he was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church and a graduate of St. John’s Parochial School and Bellefonte High School class of 1949. He was active in baseball.

He enlisted in the Army January 1951. He was killed March 1, 1968. He is remembered on panel #42E line #19.

Lucas lived in Centre Hall before serving as a private first class in the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. The 20-year-old Marine was killed on Jan. 12, 1969, while in Quang Nam province in South Vietnam.

In 2014, the state House in Harrisburg Rank: Private First Class approved a proposal Branch: U.S. Marine Corps introduced by Conflict: Vietnam state Rep. Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin) that would rename a portion of state Route 144 the Pfc. Donald Ray Lucas Memorial Highway. He is remembered on panel #35W line#77.

Sponsored by His Cousin, John Walizer, State Farm Insurance

In Memory Of

In Memory Of

WILLIAM FRANKLIN MERRILL

DAVID GERHART MYERS

Born in Muncy on August 20, 1948. A1966 graduate of the Munch High School, where he was an outstanding gymnast, on the swim team, and a senior yearbook artist. A member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Boalsburg, his family moved to Rank: Lance Corporal State College in 1966 and he Branch: US Marine Corps was employed by HRB Singer Conflict: Vietnam Inc., until his enlistment in the Corps in 1968. A radioman/demolitions expert with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Maine Division, he arrived in Vietnam on February 2, 1969.

While on patrol on November 26, 1969, discovering an enemy booby trap, he and his First Sergeant guided their fellow marines around the danger area to take cover. While attempting to disconnect the wires, both were instantly killed by the enemy controlled explosive device. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Achievement Medal with Combat V, and a Purple Heart.

He is remembered on panel #16W line #125.

The son of Charles and Louella Myers, David Myers graduated from State College Area High School in 1961 and then from Penn State before joining the Marines and being deployed to Vietnam.

1st Lt. Myers was the aircraft commander of Rank: First Lieutenant a Bell UH1E Iroquois Branch: US Marine Corps Huey assault helicopter.

Conflict: Vietnam On June 8, 1967, the chopper took heavy enemy fire, and Myers was mortally wounded. After a crash landing, the three remaining crew members were rescued, but North Vietnamese control of the crash scene prevented the Marines from recovering Myers’ body. Myers was posthumously awarded the POW Commemorative Medal of Honor. He is remembered on panel #21E, line #75.

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In Memory Of

In Memory Of

THEODORE MATTHEW ROPCHOCK

GEORGE BERNARD RUSNAK

Born in Philipsburg on April 15, 1949, he was a member of the Greek Orthodox Church. He attended the West Branch High School and graduated in 1968.

He’s goal in life was to go to college after serving his military time and become a high school math teacher. He enjoyed Rank: SP4 hunting and guns.

Branch: US Army Conflict: Vietnam He enlisted in the service in August 1968 and was sent to Vietnam in October 1968.

He was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 1st Cavalry, 82nd Airborne Division when he was killed by hostile enemy fire while out on a patrol.

He is remembered on panel #13W line #94.

Born in Philipsburg on August 30, 1937, he was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Oscela Mills. He graduated from the Philipsburg Osceola High School and was an avid sportsman and automobile enthusiast. He Rank: Captain was a helicopter Branch: US Army gunship pilot Conflict: Vietnam serving with the 1/9 Air Calvary, 1st Air Calvary (Airmobile) and was killed in action at Bong Song, Vietnam while flying air cover assault during Operation Pershing.

He is remembered on panel #71E line #24.

In Memory Of

In Memory Of

MICHAEL PAUL SEGICH

LEWIS PHILIP SMITH II

Born in Chester on August 22, 1951, he was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Philipsburg.

He attended the Philipsburg Osceola High School, leaving in his sophomore year to join the Marines. While in school, he was active in football Rank: Lance Corporal and wrestling. He Branch: US Marine Corps graduated from Conflict: Vietnam basic boot camp at Parris Island, North Carolina and then went to Cuba for a year to study blueprinting and welding. He arrived in Vietnam in April 1970 and while out on a maneuver, he was accidently killed by friendly fire.

He is remembered on panel #10W line #29.

Born January 2, 1943 in Bellefonte, he graduated Bellefonte Area High School in 1960 and Penn State University four years later with a degree in music. At Penn State, he played in both the concert Rank: Major and marching bands under the Branch: Air Force direction of James W. Dunlop.

Conflict: Vietnam Lewis enrolled in the Air Force ROTC program and upon graduation, was sent to Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma to further his training as a pilot. He was cited for outstanding performance and was assigned to fly C-103’s, and then later assigned as a Forward Air Controller.

After FAC School, he was sent to Vietnam. On May 30, 1968, while flying a mission over Laos, he encountered enemy fire, resulting in the crash of his plane. The US government declared him Killed in Action on June 21, 1978. He is remembered on panel #62W line 2 *M.I.A. Sponsored by Appalachian Outdoors

In Memory Of

In Memory Of

THOMAS DONALD STEELE

MILFORD HORNER WENSEL

Born in Wilkes-Barre on August 28, 1945, he was a member of St. Ignatius Church. He graduated from Coughlin High School in the class of 1963. He was an actor and lighting man with the Little Theatre and an active Rank: Private First Class volunteer at the YMCA teaching youngsters Branch: US Army how to swim. He was assigned to Company Conflict: Vietnam C, 1st Infantry and was killed just twelve days after arriving in Vietnam by Viet Cong mortar fire.

He was posthumously awarded the Gallantry Cross with Palm from the Vietnamese government and the Purple Heart. He is remembered on panel #6E line #104.

Born in Howard on December 2, 1948, he graduated from the Lock Haven High School in 1966 where he was active in football. He was sent to Vietnam in March 1969 serving with the 3rd Rank: Corporal Branch: US Army Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 25th Infantry Conflict: Vietnam Division, as a half-track operator. He was killed while going out at night for his half-track.

He posthumously received the Purple Heart & Bronze Star. He is remembered on panel #23W line #81.

In Memory Of

WILLIAM IVAN WHITE Born in Canton, Ohio on December 25, 1948, his family moved to Vandergrift, Pennsylvania.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church and attended the Kiski Area Senior High School where he was active in football and track, Rank: graduating in 1966. He left for Vietnam in Private First Class Branch: September 1967 with Company G, 1st Platoon, US Marine Corps Conflict: Vietnam 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division.

He died of wounds sustained during enemy attach in Quang Tri Province. He was posthumously awarded the Gallantry Cross with Palm from the Vietnamese government and the Purple Heart. He is remembered on panel #28E line #6.

In Memory Of

ANDREW C. RACKOW Date of birth:10/26/1947 Date of casualty: 8/6/1968 Home of record: University Park Branch of service: Navy Rank: Hospital Corpsman 2 Casualty province: Quang Nam

In Memory Of

GEORGE H. BARGER Date of birth: 9/29/1915 Date of casualty: 1/22/1969 Home: Howard Branch of service: Army Rank: Staff Sergeant Casualty province: Bien Hoa

In Memory Of

ROBERT W. SWIGART Date of birth: 1/15/1933 Date of casualty: 7/4/1967 Home of record: State College Branch of service: Marine Corps Rank: Captain Casualty province: Quang Tri

In Memory Of

DANFORTH E. WHITE Date of birth: 6/17/1930 Date of casualty: 3/31/1969 Home of Record: State College Branch of service: Navy Rank: Commander

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In Memory Of

Branch: U.S. Marine Corps

SY BARASH

On April 24, 1944, Sy Barash shelved his Penn State studies to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps and do his part in World War II. After being trained as a rifle marksman and clerk typist, he headed for the Pacific theater of operations that November. He fought against the enemy at Okinawa, and later participated in the cleanup after the August 9, 1945, second nuclear bombing at Nagasaki, Japan.

In July 1946, Barash left the Marines with the rank of corporal to pick up his advertising degree at Penn State. He applied the leadership skills he had gained in the military, becoming chapter president for Beta Sigma Rho (now Beta Sigma Beta) and an ROTC cadet sergeant first class. He married fellow Penn Stater Mimi Ungar in 1954, and in 1959 they opened their advertising agency and billboard company in the basement of their Homan Avenue home. Morgan Signs and Barash Advertising grew to include offices in State College, Johnstown, Philadelphia, and Altoona with more than 50 employees.

Well-known in the community as a man who would do anything to help others, he volunteered countless hours to organizations including the American Cancer Society, the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, and the American Heart Association.

In 1975 at age 48, he lost a two-year battle with lung cancer. SloanKettering doctors speculated that the disease may have been sparked in the lifelong non-smoker by exposure to radiation during his service at Nagasaki. For nearly 20 years, the community gathered at the annual Sy Barash Regatta, which benefited the American Cancer Society while honoring his memory and community service.

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In Memory Of

Rank: Sergeant Branch: Marine Corps Reserve Conflict: Afghanistan

WILLIAM J. CAHIR

State High Class of 1986 At State High, Bill’s swimming team training was tough, but not as tough as U.S. Marine Corps boot camp, which is where Bill was at almost 35 years of age. After having worked on the staffs of two U.S. Senators and having won awards as a Washington DC news correspondent, Bill had then applied for and received a special exception to the Marine Corps enlistment-age-limit of 29.

During two active duty tours in Iraq, Bill’s unit acted as “community organizers while carrying a pack and a rifle” in battle areas alongside infantry to establish economic development and stronger bonds with local populations. He helped the Iraqis conduct a decisive election in Ramadi, supported the remarkable Anbar Awakening, and was instrumental in obtaining funding to establish a school for girls.

In 2008, Bill lost narrowly in Pennsylvania’s 5th Congressional District primary, but he was later remembered by an oppositeparty candidate as a fair-minded and exceptional journalist, in addition to being “just a completely decent, honorable man.”

Bill redeployed to Afghanistan with his unit, where, on August 13, 2009, while on a dismounted patrol, he was killed by a sniper’s bullet. In addition to receiving six medals and ribbons, Bill was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.

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In Honor Of

In Honor Of

DR. JOHN E. CARDER

RAY FORTUNATO

A graduate of Clemson University and Temple University School of Dentistry, John Carder joined the U.S. Army Dental Corps in 1974 with the rank of captain.

He served at Camp Page in Chunchon, South Korea, just south of the Korean demilitarized zone.

After returning to Branch: U.S. Army the United States, he served at Fort Meade, Maryland before returning to civilian life. In 1976, he and his wife, Debbie, moved to State College where he began his dental practice and continues to practice today. Dr. Carder feels that it is a privilege and honor to salute and thank the men and women in our armed services for their ever present commitment and dedication to our country.

Three months after freshman Ray Fortunato arrived at Penn State in 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, launching the United States into World War II. Fortunato finished five semesters on an accelerated schedule before entering Army basic Branch: U.S. Army training in 1943 and heading to Germany as a first lieutenant. His infantry company saw 127 days of combat, with 47 of about 180 members killed in action. Fortunato was wounded twice and returned home in 1946 with two Purple Hearts and two Bronze Star Medals.

He married that summer and finished his bachelor’s degree in business administration and master’s degree in music. In 1948 he began his Penn State career, retiring in 1986 as assistant vice president for personnel administration. He went on to serve as a consultant and author of human-resources books.

In Honor Of

In Honor Of

BRUCE HEIM

JOHN HOMAN

While at State College Area High School, Bruce Heim was recruited

by Coach Joe Paterno to play for the Nittany Lions. Instead, Heim decided to enroll in the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he played football (“we lost to Navy every year but pounded Penn State”) until graduating in 1963. After infantry, ranger, and airborne schools, he was assigned Branch: U.S. Army as a platoon leader to the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Later, he deployed to Vietnam, where he served as a platoon leader, executive officer of a rifle company, and 173rd Airborne Brigade staff. Following his tour in Vietnam, Heim taught ROTC at Indiana University of Pennsylvania — then the second-largest ROTC attachment in the country, thanks to the requirement that every male student participate in ROTC his first two years at IUP. Heim left the service in 1969, earned an MBA in insurance and real estate from Penn State, and has been active in State College area real estate for more than 40 years.

A pilot in the 8th Air Force in England, Homan flew 34 missions and was part of the plan code-named Market G plan to drop Allied paratroopers behind the lines in Holland to capture bridges and allow the British to enter Germany from the northern borders.

He went on to advanced flight instructor training Rank: Lieutenant Branch: Air Force in B-25s for West Point graduates. By the spring of 1945, with the war in Europe ending, the focus turned to Japan. Homan was transferred to St. Joseph, Missouri, for training on the C-46. He suspected that he was going to be sent to the Pacific Theater, but before that happened, the war ended with the atomic bombs dropped in Japan. He was discharged in December 1945.

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In Honor Of

THE JACOBS BROTHERS

Ray

Graduated Bellefonte Bellefonte Area High School in 1950, he was drafted into the US Army in 1952. He began his basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. As PFC, he was shipped to Korea and assigned to Heavy Mortar Company, 17th Infantry. He was discharged July 17, 1961 and transferred to US Army Reserves at Indiantown Gap Military Reservation in Pennsylvania on June 23, 1954. He was in the US Army Reserves until July 17, 1961. He received the Korea Service Medal and 2 Bronze Stars. He also received the United Nations Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. He passed away in 2004.

Rex

Graduated from Bellefonte Area High School in 1951, he was inducted into the US Army in 1953. He began his training in Evinton, Indiana on heavy weapons. He was shipped off to Bremerhoft, Germany and trained in machine guns. He served as a radioman and field wireman. He returned home February 24, 1955 and was on inactive reserves from 1955-1961.

Roy

Graduated from Bald Eagle Area High School in June 1960, he was inducted in the US Army November 1960. He began his training at Fort Knox, and then at Fort Sam Huston. He was shipped to Fort Stewart, Georgia to assist in grounds keeping and completed his service to return home on November 8, 1962.

Ross

Graduated from Bald Eagle Area High School in June 1965, he was inducted into the US Army in 1966. He began his basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and then AIT radio school at Fort Gordon, Georgia. A Sergeant E5, he was stationed at Osan Airbase in Korea and was honorably discharged in October 1968.

In Honor Of

In Memory Of

O.J. JOHNSTON

HERSCHEL LEIBOWITZ

State High alumnus O.J. Johnston was commissioned through Penn State’s Air Force ROTC program in 1971, after earning his bachelor’s in business administration. He began his Air Force career as a B-52 bomber pilot assigned to Strategic Air Command on nuclear alert during the Cold War, and then spent five years conducting Branch: U.S. Air Force test flights of advanced nuclear weapons. His next assignment, at the Pentagon, involved briefing the Joint Chiefs of Staff on the nation’s most highly classified weapons and related arms control issues. After returning to flying in 1989, Johnston commanded 650 personnel performing heavy maintenance and overhaul of B-52 bombers and KC-135 air refueling tankers. During Desert Storm, he orchestrated the airlift of 600 tons of cargo and 1,000 personnel to worldwide locations. In 1993, he returned to the Pentagon to manage the nation’s investment in aircraft stealth, counter-stealth, and directed energy combat technologies. Colonel Johnston retired in 1997 after 26 years of distinguished service.

Originally from York, Herschel Leibowitz left his studies at the University of Pennsylvania to serve his country in World War II as a private first class in the Army’s 75th Infantry Division. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge in 1944-45, the Branch: U.S. Army deadliest battle of the war for U.S. forces. After his military service, Leibowitz studied at the Sorbonne in France and then resumed his psychology studies at Penn. He earned master’s (experimental psychology) and doctoral (physiology) degrees from Columbia University and in 1962 embarked on his distinguished career at the University of Wisconsin and then Penn State of teaching, research, and service. In 1977, the university named him an Evan Pugh professor of psychology, and he retired with emeritus status in 1995. Most importantly, he was a loving family man who is greatly missed by his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren since his death in 2011.

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In Honor Of

In Honor Of

BILL PANTLE

BRENT PASQUINELLI

After graduating from Penn State in 1958 as an Air Force second lieutenant, Bill Pantle underwent pilot and navigator training and was based in Ohio and Oklahoma. In 1968, he deployed to Guam and Thailand, flying 117 B-52 missions in Southeast Asia. After completing Air Command and Staff College, he was assigned to C-123 aircraft at Phan Rang Air Base in Vietnam. A highlight of that tour was his work as Wing Civic Actions Officer, spearheading local projects such as a scholarship program, a village sewing center, and distribution of school supplies.

Pantle’s next assignment took him to England, flying F-111s. He entered the USAF Target Intelligence Officer’s course enroute to several assignments in Intelligence. Promotion to colonel took him to the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle. He next served at HQ Strategic Air Command and at Barksdale AFB before his final assignment as Director of Intelligence and Reconnaissance at the Rome (NY) Air Development Center. After retiring in 1988, he eventually became a Department of Defense liaison for Penn State’s Materials Research Institute.

Currently, he runs Willie’s Wood Shed, making interesting and unusual products from wine barrels and other recycled materials.

Elk County native Brent Pasquinelli joined the Army on the Fourth of July 1968, at the height of the Vietnam War. Throughout his service, he was assigned to the Army Corps of Engineers. In 1969 and 1970, he served in Vietnam with the 114th Engineers Fire & Rescue Team along Branch: U.S. Army the Cambodian border in support of the 82nd Airborne Division and the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, building and repairing airfields, bridges, and roads during and after combat operations.

He received a Purple Heart after being wounded when the troop carrier in which he was riding was hit by an enemy rocket; he was thrown into a rice paddy but managed to help defend his detachment in the ensuing firefight.

Later, he served with NATO forces in what was then West Germany on Corps of Engineers construction projects. He was awarded honorable discharge in 1974 as an E-5 after three years of active duty and three years in the Army Reserves. Pasquinelli has been a longtime entrepreneur and supporter of community causes. He is proud to be part of bringing the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall to Centre County this month.

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In Memory Of

In Honor Of

COL GERALD F. RUSSELL

MURRAY SCHOENHOLTZ

A Marine combat veteran of Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, Korea, and the Cuban missile crisis, the colonel was a tireless community volunteer for causes including Pennsylvania Special Olympics, Centre County Toys for Tots, and United Way. Rank: Colonal The Nittany Leathernecks Branch: U.S. Marine Corps honored him in 2006 by Conflicts: Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, Korea establishing the Russell Scholarship Fund.

In 2009, as the longtime chair of the Day of Caring, he was the inaugural recipient of the Centre County United Way’s Gerald F. Russell Award, which is bestowed annually to an individual for their longterm Day of Caring efforts.

In 1952, Murray Schoenholtz was studying business at New York University when he was drafted during the Korean War. He served in Korea as a sergeant in the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division, 2nd Signal Battalion. In those pre-computer days, his work in the signal and intelligence field involved examining teletypes Branch: U.S. Army and other forms of communication and forwarding pertinent information for strategic use. After leaving the Army in 1954, Schoenholtz worked in the New York City textile industry before coming to Pennsylvania to join his father’s apparel business in Wilkes Barre, later starting his own business in Saxton. Now retired, he lives in State College with his wife, Ruth Zipser.

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Honor Of Post 779 The Centre In Hall Legion

In Memory Of

BARBARA SHERLOCK

Extending our gratitude to the Happy Barbara Sherlock joined Valley Quilts of Valor the Foundation.

U.S. Navy in 1972

Established in Septemberof2015, HappySealift Valley the Military Quilts of Valor is affiliated with theOffice Quilts Command in of Valor Foundation. Since Guam its inception, it has and both executive presented 67 Quilts of Valor to veterans the officer and seniorinyear Centre region at American Legionatand instructor PennVFW State’s posts, Central PA 4th Fest,Naval Boalsburg Memorial Reserve Officer Day, Centre County Grange Fair,Corps and Unit. several Training She local churches. Recipients also are nominated; served on thequilts Joint are made and then presented to veterans Branch: U.S. Navy Staff, as a consultantinin a ceremony. Our 56 members meetorganizational monthly the Navy’s September-June at theand Centre Hall Lions Club development program, had several assignments to information piece quilts.systems, including management of the in

Born February 4, 1943 in Pleasant Gap, he is the son of the late John Amos and Lavonne Weaver Summers. He graduated from Bellefonte High School class of 1961 and served in the U.S. Army from February 7, 1964, Branch: through August 17, 1967, when he Army Specialist Fourth Class transferred to the Army Reserve and continued to serve for several more years.

During his years of service he earned the Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device, a Good Conduct Medal, a National Defense Service Medal, an Expert Rifle Badge, and Good Driving Badge with Bar. He is remembered fondly at the American Legion Post 779, Centre Hall where he was a Chaplain.

Just months before his passing on January 24, 2017, he was honored at Post 779 surrounded by family, and friends with a Quilt from the Happy Valley Quilts of Valor Foundation of Centre Hall.

To Nominate a Veteran Sponsored

by Nicholas Enterprises for a Quilt of Valor, go to qovf.org

Sponsored by American Legion Post 799 – Centre Hall

and eventually Mission statement: To honor veterans and attained service thewith rankcomforting of commander. members touched by war Among her assignments and healing Quilts of Valor

were commanding officer

worldwide computer network used in joint logistics planning. Having retiredFunding from thefor Navy 1995, the in quilts comes Sherlock is the senior planning and improvement from individual members, associate in Penn State’s Office of Planning and local civic groups, and Assessment. She also is the advisor for On My Honor: individual donors.

Penn State Campus Girl Scouts.

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NATHAN A. SUMMERS

unts.

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In Honor Of

HERBERT WONG Herb Wong was just 11 when World War II began, but he already had his eye on the “gung ho” Marine Corps.

Finally, when the U.S. began sending troops to fight in the Korean War, he was ready. In 1951, at age 21, he enlisted in the Marines. After training Branch: U.S. Marine Corps in California, he was shipped to Korea. As a scout and observer, he went on combat and reconnaissance patrols to obtain combat intelligence and capture enemy soldiers, using his Chinese language skills to interrogate Communist Chinese. SGT. Wong was awarded the Purple Heart for “wounds.” After returning home to Wisconsin in 1954, Wong finished his bachelor’s degree at Carroll College, went into the family restaurant business, and then in 1970 opened the first Chinese restaurant in State College. He helped found the Nittany Leathernecks Detachment of the Marine Corps League in 1974 (in the basement of the Suzie Wong Restaurant) and remains proud of all his family members who have served in the Armed Forces.

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In Memory Of

SAMUEL MARK GRIFFITH Born June 14, 1975, Samuel Mark Griffith was a 1997 alumnus of Penn State and a member of Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity. He was commissioned in the Marine Corps in 1997, earned his wings in 2000, flew F/A-18Ds with VMFA533, instructed Forward Air Controllers Rank: Major (FAC) and was assigned Branch: US Marine Corps with 4th ANGLICO. He Conflict: Iraq & Afghanistan was deployed three times both flying and as a FAC in support of operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and was 4th ANGLICO’s detachment Officer in Charge in Afghanistan. He was killed in action in Afghanistan on December 14, 2011. He left behind a wife, Cassandra, and two sons, Chad and Noah.

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MEMORIES OF

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VIET N

Pennsylvanians share their experiences at war and on the home front

NAM

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I

n conjunction with its Vietnam documentary, A Time to Heal, WPSU published The Vietnam War Pennsylvania Archive, which includes the personal recollections of Pennsylvania veterans and others on all sides of the conflict. Several with ties to Central Pennsylvania appear on the pages that follow. To see the full archive, visit atimetoheal.wpsu.org/archive.

I was just in fifth grade in 1968 when he went missing.

He was shot down in a reconnaissance mission flying what was called an O2.

My mother believed he was going to come home. And in fact, there were Christmas stockings that hung on the fireplace mantel of Lewis’ yearround. My mother never took them down. She went on filling

ROBERT BOOZ U.S. Air Force I served in the U.S. Air Force in Vietnam from April 11, 1970, to April 11, 1971. I graduated from Penn State in 1968 and I was a member of the R.O.T.C. I flew the C7 Caribou during the war. I flew every day while I was on duty in Vietnam, delivering supplies and ammunition to the troops and sometimes bringing the bodies of dead American soldiers back to the base. I retired from the Air Force with the rank of full Captain.

DEBRA BURGER Bellefonte My brother Lewis was the oldest of six and I was the youngest. My most vivid memories of him was when he would come home on leave from the Air Force. This handsome man came walking in a dress uniform and I just thought he was bigger than life. I was only 8 or 10 years old and he seemed like he was about 10 feet tall.

40

one sock, to another, to a third sock. She said they will hang there till he comes home and can open them. You’d walk through a room and there’s a Christmas stocking hanging in the middle of July.

One year we went down to Washington, D.C., when they dedicated the Vietnam Wall to see his name on it.

That’s when it struck home like, "He’s on that wall so he’s probably not coming back." I was 18 years old by then and that was probably my first moment of, "Oh wow, he’s not coming back."

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stare, which turns out to be the thousand-yard stare. I now know those were the guys that had been in combat.

I desperately wanted to be out of this mess. I’m here to save as many guys as possible so they can get on the freedom bird to go back home. This was not what I signed up for – this was not my patriotism here.

HOWARD DAVIDSON Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) Penn State

RON CURTIS U.S. Air Force Bedford I had long hair and peace beads and I’d already been to a few peace marches. I go to open the recruiter’s door and he’s sitting there with his iconic cup of coffee.

And he just looks at me. He was probably thinking I was coming in to protest or say something nasty to him but I told this guy, “Look. I want to join the Army. I want to be a helicopter pilot. I want to go to the flight school and I want to go to Vietnam.”

My door gunners were 18 years old and I was aircraft commander at 20. We were just a bunch of kids; really scared kids. There were these guys wearing American uniforms, but none of them looked young. They could have only been another year or two older than I was. Some of the guys just walked past you and it was like they didn’t see anything. They had this blank 42

My door gunners were 18 years old and I was aircraft commander at 20. We were just a bunch of kids; really scared kids.

I attended Penn State from 1964-1969. I studied architecture and later became a city planner in Pittsburgh.

When I got to State College, a local chapter of SDS was forming. I was right there to sign up and wanted to do whatever I could to turn America against this war. As far as antiwar activity, we did what we could. We marched the streets. We made our signs.

We made noise. We engaged in debate wherever we could find a forum to debate.

I, myself, participated in the national march on Washington which was a fantastic event. So many people went down there, and to this day, I think that march helped. It helped end the war. It sent a message to Washington that the people didn't want this war.

DIANA DUNN Penn State Doctoral Student During spring semester, 1970, I was completing my PhD studies at Penn State in Recreation and Park Management and Sociology at University Park.

Throughout my doctoral program (1966-1970), there

was little mention of the Vietnam War anywhere on my campus trajectory.

I and my student colleagues were focused on completing our degrees.

In fall 1969, I was appointed Director of Research for the National Recreation and Park Association, with offices at 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C. Throughout the winter, I commuted from Penn State to Washington in order to meet with my advisor, and to have my data analyzed by the IBM 360 computer on campus.

On nights and weekends, when I was in Washington, I feverishly scrutinized reams of data and typed various drafts of my dissertation.

From my eighth-floor Arlington, Virginia, apartment, I could see below me hundreds of anti-

Let Us Serve You

I would like to take a moment to introduce you to the Veterans Affairs Office of Centre County. My name is Brian Querry and I am the Director for our office. Roger Elling, my assistant, also works in our office. As Centre County employees, we are tasked with assisting county veterans. We are both veterans and accredited Veterans Services Officers, which means that we go through annual training on the VA claims process and benefits.

As a veteran you may be eligible for benefits. The vast majority of benefits depend on your active duty as verified by your discharge papers. The most common form that documents your active duty is the DD 214, which the military started using in the 1950’s. It is important that you have/maintain a copy of your discharge papers because many benefits depend on the type of active duty and the length of active duty identified in your discharge papers. If you cannot find your discharge papers, we can help you obtain them.

The VA provides a myriad of benefits that cover: • Life Insurance

• Education Benefits • Burial Benefits

• Pension/Survivor Pensions,

(available only to Veterans of war time.)

• Compensation payments Assistant Roger Elling

Director of Veterans Affairs Brian Querry

• Health Care

Additionally, as a veteran, you may be eligible for state and county benefits.

If you are a veteran or the surviving spouse of a veteran with war time service, give us a call (814-355-6812), so that we can thank you for your service and to let us serve you!

44

war protesters crossing the bridge toward the Lincoln Memorial as they marched into D.C. The vision seemed alien to me.

My dissertation defense was scheduled for what turned out to be the first Earth Day – April 22, 1970.

I arrived for the morning event to learn that war protests on campus would necessitate my orals being postponed. I complained vigorously, pointing out that I had a full-time job in Washington, and this interruption was not acceptable. Somehow, my complaint was effective, and my orals were scheduled in the afternoon. I passed the exam, then drove back to Washington, with no thought about the war.

The smell and sights were very chaotic. It was both astounding and confusing.

SEAL Training (BUDST). I had read one article where we were called the “commandos of the swamplands.” But for the most part, nobody spoke about SEAL team. Many didn’t even know we existed.

When I graduated, I was a

RYAN MCCOMBIE U.S. Navy Northern Cambria I graduated from Penn State and reported to the Naval Special Warfare Group Atlantic. From there I was sent to underwater demolition team training, reserve training it was called.

At that time, they still had Basic Underwater Demolition

Thank you for

Protecting Our Freedom

PROUDLY SUPPORTS OUR

VETERANS

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45

pretty good BUDST student, especially in navigation. If you’re going to be a Navy SEAL, you can’t just train.

You have to go play at one point in time and I so desperately wanted to go.

I flew out to Vietnam and landed at Tan Son Nhut in Saigon, now Ho Chi Minh City. It was my first time out of the United States and here I was flying into a war zone. I knew very little about Vietnam and didn’t know what to expect. The smell and sights were very chaotic.

It was both astounding and confusing. There was nobody there to meet me so I hung around for a little while and went to play some golf.

Finally, my buddy Tom Norris found me and we went to Vung Tau, where I met my

boss, Captain Dave Shively.

Most of our missions were to go in behind enemy lines and do reconnaissance to bring out information and, if we were lucky, bring out a prisoner to interrogate. The very first time I did that, I was afraid. We had no artillery support or medivac support; everybody had just left. We had no way of extraction except to swim out in the ocean and hope to find a Navy ship. All I was thinking was, “What the heck am I doing here?”

LINDA O’NEILL State College I shall never forget that day in 1966 when I began to read the local paper and saw the words, “Countian Missing

The truth is, the people at home didn’t know much about the war and didn’t pay any attention.

in Vietnam.” Though I’d not seen Aaron B. Aumiller in five or six years and didn’t know he was in the service, I knew it was he. Aaron was a very special young man with many gifts to offer.

Years later his mother stayed at my home for a week or so. It was just after the replica of the Vietnam Wall had been at the Shrine

HONORING

All who courageously served,

And those who bravely fight today

THANK YOU!

1229 S. Atherton St., State College

(814) 234-9000

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46

in Boalsburg. I drove her there to show her where the panel was with Aaron’s name.

We sat there that beautiful evening and shared memories of that dreadful time.

Indeed, such a lovely flower gone.

RUSS SCHLEIDEN U.S. Air Force Pittsburgh We were a very patriotic family. We believed in our country and our flag, so when called upon, we served.

The first two years at Penn State were mandatory ROTC for all young males. I chose the Air Force. I knew I wasn’t going far with my athletic career but developed a strong love for aviation. After those two years, I went to pilot

training. They put us through faster. Normally it’s 55 weeks and we did it in about 47 weeks. In April of 1967, I was deployed to Vietnam.

Vietnam was very interesting.

When you fly at night and it’s a clear night, you can almost see the whole war.

You can hear it on the radios, those guys calling for help and going down in the helicopters. Seeing the flares, and knowing that it is bad.

The Centre Hall Legion Post 779 Extending our gratitude to the Happy Valley Quilts of Valor Foundation.

Mission statement: To honor veterans and service members touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor

Established in September 2015, Happy Valley Quilts of Valor is affiliated with the Quilts of Valor Foundation. Since its inception, it has presented 67 Quilts of Valor to veterans in the Centre region at American Legion and VFW posts, Central PA 4th Fest, Boalsburg Memorial Day, Centre County Grange Fair, and several local churches. Recipients are nominated; quilts are made and then presented to veterans in a ceremony. Our 56 members meet monthly September-June at the Centre Hall Lions Club to piece quilts.

Funding for the quilts comes from individual members, local civic groups, and individual donors.

To Nominate a Veteran for a Quilt of Valor, go to qovf.org

The truth is, the people at home didn’t know much about the war and didn’t pay any attention. Then when their kids started getting drafted, that’s when they paid attention. That’s

In Memory Of

Today and always, we honor and NATHAN A. SUMMERS remember the madein by Bornsacrifices February 4, 1943 Pleasant Gap, he is the son our veterans, as well as the firstof the late John Amos and Lavonne responders Weaver who sacrifice much Summers. Hesograduated High School class to keep us from safe.Bellefonte We appreciate of 1961 and served in the U.S. your serviceArmy andfromthank you for February 7, 1964, Branch: through August 17, 1967, when he Army Specialist everything you do.

Fourth Class

transferred to the Army Reserve and continued to serve for several more years.

During his years of service he earned the Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device, a Good Conduct Medal, a National Defense Service Medal, an Expert Rifle Badge, and Good Driving Badge with Bar. He is remembered fondly at the American Legion Post 779, Centre Hall where he was a Chaplain.

Just months before his passing on January 24, 2017, he was honored at Post 779 surrounded by family, and friends with a Quilt from the Happy Valley Quilts of Valor Foundation of Centre Hall.

Sincerely, Mayor Elizabeth Goreham

Sponsored by American Legion Post 799 – Centre Hall

47

when the demonstrations started, but it was too late as far as I was concerned. Those kids will always have vivid memories. Even after the war, those kids are still there. Some are in wheelchairs, some are still in and out of the VA a lot. That’s why the traveling [Memorial] Wall was, and still is, so important to us. It’s a healing process for some of the guys who haven’t healed. T&G

Supports Our Veterans To thank our veterans for their sacrifice, on November 10 th (from open to close), we are offering all veterans a FREE meal.

Choose from Ground Sirloin, Fried Shrimp, Country Fried Steak, or our Salad bar.

Drink is included.

We Salute Veterans...

Thank you for protecting us and our freedoms.

The three entrees include a hot side and the salad bar.

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48

Contact Kevin McGarry or Tim Marshall (814) 234-9007 Innovation Park at Penn State www.urishpopeck.com

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