Tribute to Army Veterans

1. 

This We’ll Defend

 

Lee Ayres  I served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army with the 95^th Civil Affairs Group, Fort Gordon, Georgia, from 1967-69. 

 

 

Jim Brammer  An attorney, Jim served in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corp. He later practiced law in Washington DC, Houston and Denver. 

 

Larry A. Bryan After graduating from the U.S. Military Academy (West Point) in 1964,  I attended Airborne and Ranger schools.  I was  deployed to Okinawa in 1964 and to Vietnam in 1965 as an Artillery Forward Observer and Fire Direction Officer.  In 1966, I was at Ft. Sill OK as a gunnery instructor, Commander Officer Candidate Battery and in Officer Career School.  Back to Vietnam in 1969 as a staff officer for II Corps.  I resigned in June, 1970.      

                                                                                            Dick Carlock  Served from 1964-67.

 

Bob Dallas served in the Army’s Aviation Wing from 1966 to 1969. He flew the Huey helicopters in Vietnam. He worked as a CW2, piloting rotary and fixed wing aircraft. In the 70’s, he served as a pilot in the Oregon National Guard.

 

Gerald Burton served in the Army from 1963-66. In addition to his combat duties, he competed on Army basketball teams at Fort Sill, Oklahoma and on Okinawa.

 

Tom Hickey  I served in the Army as Post Veterinarian at Fort Polk, Louisiana during 1969. Then I served a year in Vietnam (Nov. 1969-Nov. 1970). Apart from family separation, my service in Vietnam turned out to be very rewarding. It was there that I became good friends with Major Robert Whitney, who later served as acting Surgeon General of the U.S. He mentored me and pointed me to a successful career in research and development. 

 

Gerald “Jake” Jacobs I served for two years in the Army Chemical Corps.  One year was mainly in Alabama and one year was in Stuttgart, Germany.  The Chemical Corps worked with Agent Orange and other “bad” things.

 

Monte Johnson served in Vietnam, attaining the rank of Lieutenant.

 

 

 

Chuck Lawrence was in the Military Police and served two years in Germany and Vietnam, primarily Saigon.  He was a Bronze Star recipient.

 

James Lew – After graduation from West Point, I served as an Artillery staff officer from 1964-69, first in Colorado, then South Vietnam, and finally at Ft. Lewis, Washington.  We were taught the skills to do our best and to always put the health and safety of those we commanded or were responsible for, first and foremost.  That was our greatest responsibility. What I learned from my military experience was a deep desire to serve this country to the best of my ability.

Merle Lewis served three years in the Army.

Don Lowe – A career Army veteran, Don served as a Logistics Non-Commissioned officer with combat service in Viet Nam and Desert Storm. He retired in 1991 after more than 30 years of service. 

 

David Miller – Dave enlisted in the Army in 1963. He graduated from Officers Candidate School at Ft. Bragg, NC in 1966. As a member of the 1st Cavalry Division, 8th Company, he served in Vietnam and was awarded numerous commendations, among them the Combat Infantry Badge and the Purple Heart. Dave continued to serve his country in the U.S. Army Reserves, retiring as a Lt. Colonel, following Desert Storm. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Bill “Pinky” Nelson  After serving his country for 30 years in the U.S. Army in Korea and the Army reserves, Bill retired as a Lt. Colonel. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

 

 

Tom Propps is an Army veteran.

 

 

Melvyn Richardson  Melvyn served in the U.S. Army from 1964-966 as a member of the 54^th Signal Battalion, where he was deployed as a radio operator. He is a proud Vietnam Veteran and the recipient of the National Defense, Vietnam Service, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross and Vietnam Campaign ribbons.

David Robinson served in Vietnam from 1964-66, mostly in DaNang. He worked primarily as a clerk/typist in a Military Police Detachment. With encouragement from his commanding officer, he also taught English to local Vietnamese and came to understand their daily struggles to survive.

Paul Snyder was in ROTC at WSU then went into the Army Medical Service Corps where he attended specialty schools and was sent to Ft. Devens, Massachusetts. There he was chief of Supply and Service for the cantonment style hospital (many wooden wards connected by miles of hallways).  The only Army hospital in New England was organized to have 250 beds with appropriate staffing. “During Vietnam, we had 600 patients that placed extreme demands on both staff and facilities.  My NCO’s were outstanding and made the facility work.  I was promoted to first lieutenant and left the Army to go into pharmaceutical sales.”

Dan Tontz  My dad was a Naval Officer in World War II in the South Pacific. When his ship was sunk by the enemy, hundreds were killed but fortunately he survived. So, I was raised in a family that honored military service. In college, I was in the Army ROTC. I served on active duty 1965-67 and held the rank of Captain in the Army. My military assignments included Ft. Sill, OK, four months in 1965 for Basic Army Officer training in field artillery; and South Korea, 7^th Infantry Division for 13 months. I was not in combat, but I was under potential artillery fire from the enemy. I always carried my rifle and pistol. And I felt cold in my boots all the time I was there.

Floyd Watson  I volunteered for the Army Officer Candidate School, Infantry, and trained with the Army Airborne, Rangers, and Special Forces. After serving in Vietnam, I finished college and then returned to the Army, where the work felt important and meaningful. Over 30 years, I was deployed around the world, serving the country until I retired in 2000. To me, the Army was a great career and a great life. I was working with young men, training them, leading them, sometimes in dangerous situations.  You always have to accomplish the mission, and you are always looking out for the welfare of the men assigned to you. I would recommend the Army as a career.

Dennis Whitcomb  I am an Army veteran and bless all vets.  God bless all 1960 East High grads. After WSU grad school and the draft, I worked at Boeing.  Then, I moved to employment at the Government Defense Contract Audit Agency, followed by auditing in the Department of the Interior.  I retired from Government Audit Management and am now in Albuquerque. Life is good.

Tom Vosper  I served six years in the U.S. Army Reserves,  working on the Surgical Room Scrub team at Ft. Riley, Kansas.

 

 

Editor’s Note: This list of U.S. Army veterans from the Class of 1960 is incomplete. Please help us expand the record by sending names and information to Marilyn (mbellert@niu.edu) or Diane (ddzinn@aol.com).