Vietnam War Memorial

In the summer of 1974 Larry E. Lininger, Gary Lee Delancy, Gary Lee Baer and William Burkhart began the memorial work as they researched 1,053 names of Shippensburg men and women who had military service during the Vietnam Era. Funds could not be raised for bronze tablets at this time, and the work was set aside. In the spring of 1986 an anonymous citizen offered $2,000 toward the erection of the memorial if plans were resumed in 1986 and the memorial was dedicated July 4, 1987. In September and October of 1986 contributions were collected from 263 persons and firms within the community, amounting to $15,450. Additional research into men and women serving in the military during the Vietnam War brought the total to 1,249 verified names. These names are now listed on the Vietnam War Memorial, on the east side of the entrance way of Memorial Park. Vietnam Veterans from the Shippensburg Community, KIA or died in service A total of 23 men lost their lives in the Vietnam War. The following list entails names, manner of death, dates, and ranks known: Earl A Crouse killed in an auto accident while on leave June 18, 1968. (Completed basic training in the Marines) Kenneth L. Devor KIA in Vietnam February 15, 1968. (Sgt Troop C, 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 25th Division) Kenneth was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Combat Infantry Badge. Dana E. Diehl KIA in Vietnam, suffered wounds when the vehicle he was riding in struck an enemy mine. (Medical Corpsman 25th Division) Steven O. Dile KIA in Vietnam January 28, 1970. (Sgt Co. B, 101st Airborne Division) Awards included the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Air Medal and Army Commendation Medal. Raymond Ellis was KIA on the Mekong River in Vietnam September 30, 1965. (Lieutenant U.S. Navy’s Military Assistance Command 27th River Assault Group) Awards included the Purple Heart and Silver Star. Fred W. Hawley killed in auto accident during leave September 12, 1970. (Air Force) Courtney P. Hollar Jr the first Shippensburg man to be KIA in Vietnam. The plane he and several others were riding in was shot down near Saigon on May 5, 1964. (Major, Corps of Engineers, Advisory Team 95) Awards included the Purple Heart, Silver Star, Bronze Star and three Bronze Battle Stars. Courtney joined the Army in 1941, he was a career man serving in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam. Larry J. Kirby killed in auto accident while on leave March 8, 1969. (Army) Gary Lee Lininger KIA January 16, 1967 of wounds received in action. (Co. C, 3rd Battalion, 22nd Infantry of the 4th Infantry Division) Awards included the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Badge, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry and Vietnamese Military Merit Medal. John E. Marpo KIA February 23, 1969 of wounds received in a fire fight. (Specialist 6 in unit of ground troops) Awards included the Purple Heart and Combat Infantry Badge. Ronald Eugene Newell KIA July 7, 1969 when his armored personnel carrier struck an enemy mine. (Sergeant in Headquarters and Headquarters Troop of the 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment) Awards include the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. Edwin R. Nye was killed February 20, 1971 in a fall from the third floor of a building in West Germany. (Army) Jack G. Nye died stateside January 5, 1961 as a result of illness. (Army) James B. Petteys KIA January 15, 1969 when his helicopter was shot down over enemy territory. (C Troop, 7th Squadron, 17th Air Cavalry Regiment, 1st Aviation Brigade, 17th Aviation Group) Awards included the Purple Heart and Vietnamese Service Medal with a Campaign Star. Charles David Railing KIA July 12, 1967 while on ground patrol near Da Nang in South Vietnam. This was his second tour of duty in Vietnam. (Lance Corp. in the Marines) Awards included the Purple Heart and Vietnamese Service Medal with a Campaign Star. James Burr Reddig KIA in 1965 when the Air Force plane carrying his crew crashed in the North Atlantic near the New England Coast. (Air Force) Fred B. Rosenberry killed on a construction site April 3, 1971 during his second tour in Vietnam. (Sergeant in the 1st Infantry Division) Served more than 20 years active duty in the Army. Melvin D. Rosenberry accidentally drowned during his basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C. on May 27, 1967. (Army) Donald L. Thomas KIA August 6, 1967 by an enemy gunshot. (2nd Battalion, 4th Regiment of the 3rd Marine Division) Awards included the Purple Heart, Vietnam Service Medal and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Paul Alexander Tondee died September 10, 1963 of injuries suffered in a car-train accident while on leave. (Air Force Staff Sergeant) Walter J. Type III KIA April 27, 1966 while serving in the Special Forces unit doing combat duty with the 25th Infantry Division. Awards include the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. Thomas A. Warren KIA August 5, 1968. (Helicopter gunner in Ready Reaction Team, Col E, 39th Infantry of the 9th Infantry Division) Awards included the Purple Heart and Combat Infantry Badge. Donald Galen Willis killed accidentally July 12, 1967 while in training in the 305th Amphibious Unit of the Tactical Command Land Army at Fort Story, VA.