Birth 29JAN47 Rank PFC Date of Death 04MAY66 P. of birth Chicago IL Service Marines Place Quang Nam, S. Vietnam town of record Seattle Unit ... Death Code Hostile, died of wounds; Ground Casualty; Gun, Small Arms Fire Hometown Seattle WA service # 2148247 Panel 07EAST - 24 married Single Enlisted 22JUL65 Medals   Tour Date   Comment   Cemetery Washelli Cemetery, Seattle WA   Lincoln High School, Seattle WA,1964

Pfc. William M. Denhoff Funeral services for Marine Corps Pfc. William M. Denhoff, 19, will be at 10 o'clock Tuesday at the Zion Lutheran Church, under the direction of Wiggen & Sons. Burial will be in the veterans section of Washelli. Private Denhoff was killed in Viet-Nam May 4 (1966). He was born in Chicago and came to Seattle five years ago. He joined the Marine Corps soon after graduation from Lincoln High School in 1965. Survivors include his step-father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Siemers, 118 N. 42nd St.; three sisters, Robin, Jayne and Diane Denhoff, and three brothers, Robert, David and Scott Denhoff, all of Seattle and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Schmidt, Gages Lake IL. The body will lie in state from 1 to 5 o'clock today and 9 to 9 o'clock tomorrow at Wiggen & Sons. (Evergreen-Washelli, Seattle WA - Obituary Records)

    Darwin Harold ENGMAN

Birth 10JUL33 Rank WO Date of Death 06MAY66 P. of birth   Service Army (Reserve) Place S. Vietnam town of record Anacortes Unit 1st Cav Div, Trp B, 1st Sqd, 9th Cav Death Code Hostile, Helicopter Pilot - Air Loss, Crash on Land Hometown   service # W3152324 Panel 07EAST - 33 married Married Medals   Links Vietnam Helicopter Comment   Tour Date 16AUG65 Cemetery

    Edgardo CACERES

Birth 08JAN45 Rank LCPL Date of Death 12MAY66 P. of birth   Service Marines Place Quang Nam, S. Vietnam Town of record Tacoma Unit B Co, 1st Bn, 9th MARS Death Code Hostile, Died; Ground Casualty; Gun, Small Arms Fire Hometown   service # 2108262 Panel 07EAST - 51 married Single VirtualWall.org Medals silver star posthumously Comment   Tour Date   Cemetery   Clover Park High School, Tacoma WA, 1964

"We Took it Standing Up," Says Survivor
BRAVERY AND DEATH IN RED AMBUSH
By Robert D. Ohman
Da Nang, Viet-Nam, 13 May (1966)
    Pvt. Reuben Morales, is a young marine who went out on a routine patrol yesterday with 13 buddies. They left the company area in a broad valley 17 miles southwest of Da Nang, at 6:30 a.m.
    Three hours later, about 200 Viet-Cong attacked the patrol.
    Morales was one of only two men who survived, but the patrol killed 30 guerrillas before being overwhelmed.
    Marine Corps reinforcements plus artillery and air strikes killed 145 more Viet-Cong in the battle that ended at dusk.
    Morales, 19, La Puente CA, said today from his hospital bed that he was shot in the head and neck, feigned death as Viet-Cong executioners killed other Leathernecks - and fled from a burning evacuation helicopter before finally being rescued.
    The Battle Opened as a patrol was crossing a rice paddy. "The first guy hit was the point man," Morales said. "Then they hit a corpsman and then a private on the right flank."
    As bullets poured into the patrol, one struck Morales head, and he fell.
    "The radio was hit, and we couldn't call the company," Morales said. "When someone tried to run, he was hit. A Filipino boy - he had only two days left to serve here -- tried to make a run for it. He was hit in the back, but got up and started running again. Then he was hit again and fell. I knew he was running for help.
    "He fell three different times. I stood up after the second time. I was dizzy, but I could see the Viet-Cong coming toward us. I wanted to take it standing up. The other guys who could stand, stood up, firing away. The wounded were shooting too. They fought all the way.
    "The Viet-Cong? You could close your eyes and not miss.
    " I ran out of ammunition when the V.C. hit the first paddy wall, a low mound of dirt, and I was ready to start swinging my rifle when I got hit in the neck.
    I Fell On My Back , but I was not unconscious. I heard all the noises --the mortars, and grenades.
    " A few seconds later, it stopped. Then the shooting started again. I opened my eyes and saw the Viet-Cong shoot two other guys out in front of me on the second paddy wall.
    "I heard them coming toward me and closed my eyes. They took my rifle, a grenade I had, and ammunition. Then one picked me up by the shirt to search me, but dropped me back. I was waiting, thinking, 'When will he pull the trigger?'
    "More shooting started and the two V. C. near me started walking away. When the mortars opened up, I looked and saw them running back into the treeline.
    "I heard another marine calling, 'Corpsmen. Over here. Over here!' I heard our troops (the reinforcements) trying to get to us, but they couldn't. After awhile the other marine stopped hollering.
    I was scared. I though we had been left."
    As The Sun Rose Higher, temperatures went above 100 degrees. Morales, lying for more than three hours in the parched rice paddy and blistering under the burning heat, decided to take a chance.
    "As I started to craw, I expected them to shoot me in the back," he said. "There was a marine with his legs over the paddy wall. He said he couldn't move and I told him I'd be back. I could see our troops across the field, but they were moving very slow.
    "I came to another trooper from our squad, but he couldn't move his legs. And I saw three others, all of them face down. I guess they were dead. Then I crawled over to Binkley. He said he was all right, but he couldn't use his arms."
    Pfc. James K. Binkley, 19, of Ashland City TN was the other survivor of the patrol. He was shot through both arms. The Viet-Cong also took his rifle and passed him for dead.
    Morales Took Off Binkley's cartridge belt and "we started moving to where we could see our troops kneeling. Then we started walking and when we finally got there, the first thing we asked for was water."
    Morales and Binkley were given water and first aid. With a number of marines suffering from heat exhaustion, they waited for a medical evacuation helicopter.
    "I ran to the helicopter," Morales reported. "There was all sorts of firing and a lot of confusion. Someone said a bullet hit the chopper's fuel line and we had to get out. I ran and dived into some weeds -- I heard slugs flying over us. The (helicopter) crew told us the chopper was going to explode and I ran again, just before it blew up."
    Pfc Larry Stulz, 21, Chicago, who was in Morales I Company and near the burning chopper, tossed a rifle to his friend. They ran to a trench. "When another chopper landed, I gave my rifle to a trooper and went out," the dark-skinned, dark-eyed young marine recalled. "it brought me here." (Times, Seattle WA, 13 May 1966)

Killed Days Away From Return
NO STRANGER TO COMBAT, TACOMA CORPORAL KNEW DANGER OF FINAL WEEKS OF VN DUTY
By Charles Rice
    Edgardo Caceres, 21, an out-standing athlete at Clover Park High School a few years ago, was to have left Viet Nam for home today.
    But he was one of those who didn't make it.
    Marine Lance Cpl. Caceres was a member of a small squad from the 3rd Marine Division that stumbled into some 200 Viet Cong last Thursday 18 miles southwest of Da Nang. The men were out-numbered 10 to 1, but stood their ground for 10 hours.
    When a relief force finally arrived, there were two wounded survivors. One of them was Caceres. He later died.
    The news of his death came as his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Florencio Q. Caceres, of 3220 S. 92nd St., were counting the days until his return. And they were planning. Eddie wanted to attend the graduation exercises of his sister, Tessie, next month. He also had saved money for his college education.
    Eddie's parents had just purchased a 1965-model automobile as a surprise gift for their son, reported Maj. John Fahey, of the Marine Corps Training Center here. The car was sitting in front of the Caceres home.
    His plans died last week near Da Nag.
    But way down deep, his mourning parents believe Eddie knew what his fate would be They cited his last letter, dated 28 Apr (1966):
    "I just found out today the date I'm leaving Viet Nam for home. I'm leaving the 17th of June."
    Then he added: "Tomorrow our company is going out in the front line again. That means I have a couple of weeks of fighting to do here. I just hope I make it through all right."
    His other letters are filled with small talk and jokes. They ask about his brothers and sisters -- Linda, 19, Tessie, 17, Marie, 15, Lillian, 13, and Robert, 8 -- and his mother's bowling score. His last letter is solemn and to the point.
    Combat Veteran "Maybe he ad a feeling," his mother said. "He had one experience early in the war. Eddie was pinned down for 30 minutes and was almost killed."
    Now Mr. and Mrs. Caceres have only a memory. they read again and again his last few letters. His pictures are around the home. On the mantel piece are Eddie's trophies: The Clover Park Inspiration Award in 1963 and 1964 and the school boxing championship for his weight class.
    Track Athlete A clipping from the school newspaper tells how the youngster competed in the 100-yard dash, and the 220, the low hurdles, and the broad jump and the high jump, the mile relay and the 880 relay.
    Eddie's father, retired after 30 years in the Army, is a barber. His mother is a Tacoma beauty operator.
    "it hurts them (the other children) very much," Mrs. Caceres said. "They loved their brother.
    "And it hurt us too. It is especially hard when he was due home so soon." (Tacoma News Tribune, Tacoma WA, 17 May 1966)

    George Malcolm 'Mac' HIGHTOWER

Birth 14JAN42 Rank SGT Date of Death 12MAY66 P. of birth   Service Army Place S. Vietnam town of rec. Seattle Unit 1st Inf Div, 1st Sqdr, 4th Cav Death Code Hostile, Died; Ground Casualty; Misadventure Hometown Queen Anne Magnolia (Seattle) service # 19709637 Panel 07EAST - 52 married Married MIA -   Medals   Comment   Tour Date 25 Mar 66 Cemetery Mt. Pleasant Cem, Queen Anne Hill, Seattle

    Ralph Carol BALCOM

Birth 24DEC33 Rank COL Date of Event 15MAY66 P. of birth   Service Air Force (Reserve) Place N. Vietnam Town of Record Seattle Unit 421 TAC FTR SQ Death Code Hostile, Died Missing; Fixed Wing - Crew; Air Loss, Crash - Land Hometown   service # 534822879 Panel  07EAST - 61 married Married MIA - BNR Medals   DD 27DEC77 Comment   Cemetery

(MIA extracted information from POWnetWork.org) Ralph Balcom Jr. was born 24 Dec 1933. On 15 May 1966 he was shot down over North Vietnam about 20 miles north of the Demilitarized Zone in Quang Binh Province. An emergency radio signal indicataed that Major Balcom had parachuted to the ground. Visibility at the time was nearly zero and search planes were unable to locate his position. Nothing is Definite about Balcom's loss. The exact spot where he bailed out could have been Laos or North Vietnam. One government agency carried him as a POW and another carried him as MIA (yep there was a difference.) While missing Balcom was promoted to Colonel. More Information available at P.O.W.NetWork

    George William JENSEN

Birth 24FEB25 Rank COL Date of Event 15MAY66 P. of birth   Service Air Force Place Laos Town of Record Seattle Unit 4th Air Commando Squadron, Da Nang Death Code Hostile, died while missing, Fixed Wing Pilot - Air Loss, Crash on Land Hometown   service # 538127142 Panel 07EAST - 61 married Married MIA - ret. 11MAR97 id 24NOV99 Medals   DD 22OCT76 Comment   Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery   Queen Anne High School, Seattle WA, 1943

Colonel George William Jensen, USAF 125-1966 Colonel George William Jensen and his crew will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery on 15 May 2000. The 34th Anniversary of their being listed as missing in action in Vietnam. Colonel Jensen's remains were recently identified and returned to the United States. He grew up in Seattle, the son of George Alf and Marguerite Jensen. He graduated from Queen Anne High School and the University of Washington. He married Mary Jane Holmes of Tacoma. He was a member of Delta Upsilon National Fraternity. He served his country during WWII, Korea and Vietnam as a member of the Air Force. He is survived by his wife, Mary; daughter, Carolyn (John) Thayer, Yakima; George Alf Jensen, San Francisco; sister, Anabel Bianchi, Seattle; niece, Paula; nephew, George; and grandmother, Shirley (Scott) Webster, Tacoma. (Tacoma News Tribune, Tacoma WA, 10 May 2000)

MIA Report extracted from the P.O.W. Network.org   George William Jensen, born 24 Feb 1925. Was raised in Seattle WA. His unit was the 4th Air Commando Squadron, stationed at DaNang Airbase. On 15 May 1966 Maj. George W. Jensen was the pilot of an AC47 aircraft which departed Ubon Air Base, Thailand on an armed visual reconnaissance mission over Laos. He was assisted by a 7 man crew including two gunners. (according to Hector Castro of the Seattle PI in a 15 May 2000 article describes Jensen's aircraft "...the AC-47D "Spooky" gunship, a two-prop airplane armed with three miniguns capable of firing 6,000 rounds per minute. The plane was noted for being vulnerable to enemy fire. It was slow, and its guns were mounted all on one side of the plane.") He reported his position twice during the flight and indicated that everything was normal. When the aircraft failed to return to base as scheduled, an aerial search was conducted on the next day with no results.
   In December 1999 it was announced that the remains of 11 men were returned from Laos. All eight men in Col. Jensen's aircraft had returned home.
   May 2000 Jensen's remains were interred at the Arlington National Cemetery.
More Information available on George Jenson at POWNETWORK

    Robert Allan POTTER

Birth 15SEP45 Rank PFC Date of Death 17MAY66 P. of birth   Service Marines Place S. Vietnam Town of record Seattle Unit radio operator HQ battery 2/12 Death Code Non-Hostile, Died Illness/Injury; Ground Casualty; Accidental Homicide Hometown   service # 2108231 Panel 07EAST - 75 married Single Inservice 1 yr Medals   Comment   Tour Date   Cemetery

    John Peters RANDLES

Birth 28DEC45 Rank CPL Date of Death 17MAY66 P. of birth   Service Army Place S. Vietnam Town of record Seattle Unit 1st Cav Div, A Co, 11th Avn Bn Death Code Hostile, Died; Ground Casualty; Gun, Small Arms Fire Hometown   service # 19804442 Panel 07EAST - 75 married Single MIA -   Medals   Comment   Tour Date 16AUG65 Cemetery   Franklin High School, Seattle WA, Senior - Class 1964: Class Com. 4

John Randles of Renton Dies in Viet-Nam Army Specialist 4th Class John P. Randles, 20 of Renton, a paratrooper with the 1st Air Cavalry Division in Viet-Nam, was killed in action Tuesday. Randles was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Melang Randles, 13615 156th St. S. E. Renton. Born in Renton he was graduated from Franklin High School in 1964. Randles joined the Army in July, 1964 and served two months in Santo Domingo before he went overseas last September. Surviving besides his parents are seven brothers - Michael, 21, in the Army in Germany, Thomas, 29, whose assignment in the Army Thailand was delayed because of his brother's death; Stephen, 17; Daniel 12; Matthew, 11; Timothy, 7, and Paul, 5 months, and two sisters, Kathleen, 14, and Ruth Ann, 5, and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. M. Poster Randles and Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Gress, all of Seattle. (Seattle Times, Seattle WA, Friday 20 May 1966)

    Albert Richard WILSON

Birth 17FEB39 Rank 1LT Date of Death 18MAY66 P. of birth   Service Air Force (Reserve) Place Binh Dinh, S. Vietnam Town of record Seattle Unit ... Death Code Hostile, Died Missing; Fixed Wing - Crew; Air Loss, Crash - Land Hometown   service # 3119382 Panel 07EAST - 83 married Married MIA -   Medals   Comment   Tour Date   Cemetery Willamette National Cem., Portland OR

    Gordon Michael BRIGGS

Birth 07FEB47 Rank PFC Date of Death 29MAY66 P. of birth   Service Marines Place Thua Thien, S. Vietnam Town of Record Seattle Unit G Co, 2nd Bn, 1st Mars Death Code Hostile, Died; Ground Casualty; Gun, Small Arms Fire Hometown   service # 2108012 Panel 07EAST - 115 married Single Enlisted 10APR64 Medals   Tour Date   Comment   Cemetery Evergreen-Washelli, Seattle WA

Funeral services for Marine Pfc. Gordon Michael Briggs, 19, will be at 2 o'clock tomorrow at the Green Lake Seventh-Day Adventist Church. He was killed in action May 29 (1966) in Viet-Nam, where he had been stationed since November. Survivors include his mother, Mrs. Leila M. Briggs, 4106 S. Locust Court; his father, Gordon L. Briggs, Rochester, NY; two sisters, Katherine Marie and Verna Ellen Briggs, and a brother, Steven Jay Briggs, all of Seattle and his grandparents, Mrs. Blanche Briggs, Seattle, and Mr. and Mrs. Paul Thompson, Clatskanie OR (Evergreen-Washelli Memorial Park, Seattle WA - Obituary Records)

     Richard Ralph ROUNDTREE

Birth 30JUL45 Rank PFC Date of Death 29MAY66 P. of birth Olympia WA Service Army (Draft) Place S. Vietnam Town of Record Shelton Unit 25th Inf Div, A Co, 1st Bn, 35th Inf Death Code Hostile, Died; Ground Casualty; Multiple Fragmentation Wounds Hometown   service # 56390650 Panel 07EAST - 119 married Single Link Cacti Medals   Comment   Tour Date 28 Mar 66 Cemetery Shelton Memorial Park

Two Tacoma Area Soldiers Killed in VN
    An Army man from Tacoma and another from Shelton are among 49 Americans killed in Viet Nam, according to a casualty list released Wednesday by the Defense Department. They are Sgt. Victor D. Bermea, husband of Mrs. Ruth Bermea, 7114 S. 146th St.,and Pfc. Richard R. Roundtree, son of Mrs. Clifford L. Roundtree, of Shelton. Little information was obtainable Wednesday morning about the Tacoman, whose widow had gone to Fort Lewis and could not be reached immediately.
    Roundtree, 20, was the younger son of Mrs. Martha Roundtree and her late husband Clifford. According to a great aunt, Mrs. C.P. Roundtree, Richard was born near Shelton and was a graduate of the Irene S. Reed High School there. He joined the Army about a year ago, she said. In addition to his mother, he is survived by an elder brother, a sister, and numerous other relatives in Mason County. (Tacoma News Tribune, Tacoma WA, 1 Jun 1966, front page)

Service Held Here For Soldier Killed In Action
    Pfc. Richard Roundtree, 20, Shelton, the first local man to lose his life in the war in Viet Nam, was buried with full military services at Shelton Memorial Park Monday.
    Capt. Clem, a military chaplain, conducted the services with Batstone Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Services were held at 1 p.m. Monday at the Funeral Home followed by burial in Shelton Memorial Park.
    PFC ROUNDTREE lost his life from a fragmentation burst while in combat serving with the Co. A, 35th Infantry Battalion, 25th Division, 29 May (1966).
    He was born in Olympia 30 Jul 1945 and entered the Army last October. He attended schools in Shelton and graduated from Shelton High School in 1963.
    Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Roundree, Shelton; one brother, David, Renton, and his grandmother, Mrs. H. L. Roundreee, Shelton. (Shelton-Mason County Journal, Thursday, 9 Jun 1966)

List of Medals The decorations earned by PFC Richard Roundtree include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation. Information from the Cacti Website... Cacti

    Leonard Joseph KROSHUS

Birth 24APR47 Rank PFC Date of Death 31MAY66 P. of birth Whitefish MT Service Marines Place Quang Nam, S. Vietnam town of rec. Seattle Unit 3rd Marine G Co., 2Bn, 9th Marines Death Code Hostile, died of wounds; Ground Casualty; Other Explosive Device Hometown Seattle WA service # 2148307 Panel 07EAST - 128 married Single Enlisted 22JAN65 Medals   Tour Date   Comment   Cemetery Evergreen-Washelli, Seattle WA

Seattle Marine Dies of Wounds Marine Pfc. Leonard J. Kroshus, 19, of 7016 23rd Av. N.E., died Tuesday of multiple wounds suffered while on combat patrol Monday near Da Nang, Viet-Nam. Kroshus died while being flown to Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. The youth joined the Marine Corps, last June. He had been in Viet-Nam since January 5 (1966). Kroshus was born in Whitefish MT. He attended Roosevelt High School. His mother, Mrs. Arthur T. Sullivan, said funeral services will be planned later. Burial will be in Washelli. Also surviving are his father, Ralph Kroshus, Missoula MT; a stepbrother, Arthur P. Sullivan, 10, and a brother, Daniel Kroshus, and a brother, Daniel Kroshus, 16; two sisters, Janet Kroshus, 14, and Shirley Kroshus, 17, and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Kroshus, Crosby ND and Mrs. Evald Lindell, Colgan ND. (Washelli-Evergreen, Seattle WA - Obituary Records)

    Emmett Raymond 'Skip' MC DONALD

Birth 27JUL39 Rank MAJ Date of Event 31MAY66 P. of birth   Service Air Force Place N. Vietnam Town of Record Bellevue Unit 7th AF, 61st TCS Death Code Hostile, Died Missing; Fixed Wing Crew - air Loss, Crash on Land Hometown   service # 532368991 Declared Dead 11FEB75 married Single Panel 07EAST - 130 Medals   MIA - BNR VirtualWall.org Cemetery

(MIA information extracted from the POWNETWORK.org) The Thanh Hoa Railroad and Highway Bridge spanned the Song Ma River 3 miles north of Thanh Hoa, the capital of Annam Province, North Vietnam. The Vietnamese called it Ham Rong (the Dragon's Jaw). It was built to last. In March 1965 it was decided to disrupt the North Vietnamese rail system and destroying the bridge became an obsession. 104 American pilots were shot down within 75 miles of the bridge in a two year period. Some of the men were captured and held in various prison camps for as long as 7 years and others just disappeared. In September 1965, the Dragon Jaws had taken just about everything that could be thrown at it and it still remained functioning and standing. A decision was made to send in C130s, with specially trained pilots, at a low level (below 500 ft) to drop a massive (5000 lb) floating bomb into the river above the bridge. F4's were used as decoys to draw attention away from the bridge. Major Case was the specially trained pilot with only 2 weeks in country to make the second attempt at the bridge. (The first was a success as far as everyone returning safely but recon showed no damage to the bridge) Capt. Emmett R. McDonald was one of the 8 man crew on Maj. Case's C130. As the F4's started their diversionary attack at a nearby road, they saw anti-aircraft fire and a large ground flash in the bridge vicinity. Maj. Case, Emmett McDonald, and 6 other men disappeared. One of the F4's was also hit. It flew out into the sea with the loss of two more men.
The Pownetwork.Org has a very thorough report on the Thanh Hoa Bridge and it's ability to withstand everything thrown at it. Visit Pownetwork.org for a detailed report.