Calhoun’s Heros

ROLL CALL

We Honor our Classmates from Merrick, Bellmore
and East Meadow, New York who made the supreme sacrifice
and still do today

PERSPECTIVE OF THE VIETNAM MEMORIAL

I am the wall of soldiers lost
And I have a job to do.
I’m here to testify to the cost
Of holding the Red, White and Blue.

Red for the blood, white for the tears,
Blue for those left alone.
Together they stand for all we hold dear..
For the finest country known.

And what do you see when you look at me
All covered with names of our dead?
Do you see them fighting gallantly
On battlefields covered with red?

Do you see the face of every widow?
Do you see each shattered home?
Do you see a baby’s face in a window
Waiting for Daddy to come?

See each widow who lost her man;
We all must bear the shame…
For all of her future, each unfulfilled plan
Who else is she to blame?

And the children for which my men did fall,
For which they fought so long—
Does the future hold another wall
With the names of my mens’ sons?

See each mother who nurtured with love
Each father filled with pride
All the years spent raising their gift from above
Till he fought for his country and died.

See the survivors who lived through the hell,
Who fought side by side with my men.
Were wounded and crippled and shattered themselves,
Yet fought on again and again.

So I am the Wall of soldiers lost
But it isn’t that simple, you see…
For in my surface, smoothed and glossed
Is America, great and free.

Written for Williard M. Shannon, USAF Ret
Father….Soldier….Hero

Copyright D. Judy/T. Powell 1992

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JOSEPH WILLIAM DEVLIN
1LT – O2 – Marine Corps – Reserve
6 year old Married, Caucasian, Male
Born on Aug 01, 1943
From MERRICK, NEW YORK
Length of service 3 years.
His tour of duty began on Jul 26, 1969
Casualty was on Mar 08, 1970
in QUANG NAM, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE
Body was recovered
Religion
PROTESTANT
Panel 13W – – Line 96

Class of ’61

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GEORGE FRANK SODAITIS
1LT – O2 – Army – Reserve
23 year old Married, Caucasian, Male
Born on Aug 17, 1943
From MERRICK, NEW YORK
Length of service 4 years.
His tour of duty began on Jun 18, 1967
Casualty was on Aug 09, 1967
SOUTH VIETNAM
Non-Hostile, died missing
HELICOPTER – PILOT
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was recovered
Religion
ROMAN CATHOLIC
Panel 24E – – Line 97

Class of ’61

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PAUL WILLIAM CASEY
PFC – E3 – Army – Selective Service
1st Cav Division (AMBL)
23 year old Single, Caucasian, Male
Born on Jul 20, 1943
From MERRICK, NEW YORK
His tour of duty began on Feb 13, 1967
Casualty was on May 15, 1967
in BINH DINH, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
MULTIPLE FRAGMENTATION WOUNDS
Body was recovered
Religion
ROMAN CATHOLIC
Panel 19E – – Line 125

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PAUL JAMES COATES
LCPL – E3 – Marine Corps – Reserve
27 year old Single, Caucasian, Male
Born on Jan 13, 1949
From MERRICK, NEW YORK
His tour of duty began on Jun 26, 1967
Casualty was on Oct 09, 1976
in QUANG TRI, SOUTH VIETNAM
Hostile, died of wounds
GROUND CASUALTY
GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE Y
Body was recovered
Panel 63W – – Line 15

Class of ’67

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JOHN FREDERICK DUGAN
PFC – E2 – Marine Corps – Selective Service
20 year old Married, Caucasian, Male
Born on Aug 21, 1946
From MERRICK, NEW YORK
Length of service 1 year.
Casualty was on May 26, 1967
in QUANG TRI, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
OTHER EXPLOSIVE DEVICE
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
Body was recovered
Religion
ROMAN CATHOLIC
Panel 20E – – Line 113

Class of ’64

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FREDERICK JOHN BURNS
SGT – E5 – Marine Corps – Regular
19 year old Single, Caucasian, Male
Born on Jun 11, 1949
From MERRICK, NEW YORK
Length of service 2 years.
His tour of duty began on Jan 01, 1969
Casualty was on Jan 02, 1969
in QUANG NAM, SOUTH VIETNAM
Hostile, died captured
GROUND CASUALTY
OTHER CAUSES
Body was recovered
Religion
ROMAN CATHOLIC
Panel 32E – – Line 56

Class of ’67

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PETER F GERSTENLAUER
A1C – E3 – Air Force – Regular
19 year old Single, Caucasian, Male
Born on Feb 23, 1949
From N MERRICK, NEW YORK
Length of service 1 year.
His tour of duty began on Jul 08, 1968
Casualty was on Jan 10, 1969
in PHONG DINH, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
ARTILLERY, ROCKET, or MORTAR
Body was recovered
Religion
LUTHERAN & MISSOURI SYNOD
Panel 35W – – Line 64

Class of ’67

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ROGER EDWARD HUESTIS
CN – E3 – Navy – Regular
20 year old Single, Caucasian, Male
Born on Jan 27, 1947
From NORTH MERRICK, NEW YORK
Length of service 1 year.
His tour of duty began on Sep 15, 1967
Casualty was on Dec 14, 1967
in QUANG TRI, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
ARTILLERY, ROCKET, or MORTAR
Body was recovered
Religion
PROTESTANT
Panel 31E – – Line 92

Class of ’66

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JAMES FRANCIS WESTPHAL
CPL – E4 – Army – Regular
1st Cav Division (AMBL)
19 year old Single, Caucasian, Male
Born on Jan 07, 1950
From NORTH MERRICK, NEW YORK
Length of service 1 year.
His tour of duty began on Apr 30, 1969
Casualty was on Jan 06, 1970
in TAY NINH, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE
Body was recovered
Religion
ROMAN CATHOLIC
Panel 14W – – Line 6

Class of ’68

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LAWRENCE GEORGE KOCH
SP4 – E4 – Army – Selective Service
25th Infantry Division
20 year old Single, Caucasian, Male
Born on Mar 06, 1948
From MERRICK, NEW YORK
His tour of duty began on Aug 20, 1968
Casualty was on Nov 26, 1968
in HUA NGHIA, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE
Body was recovered
Religion
ROMAN CATHOLIC
Panel 38W – – Line 67

Class of ’66

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DONALD EDWARD KREUSCHER
SGT – E5 – Army – Selective Service
4th Infantry Division
21 year old Single, Caucasian, Male
Born on Sep 17, 1946
From MERRICK, NEW YORK
Length of service 1 year.
His tour of duty began on Mar 23, 1967
Casualty was on Nov 15, 1967
in PHUOC LONG, SOUTH VIETNAM
Hostile, died of wounds
GROUND CASUALTY
MISADVENTURE
Body was recovered
Religion
ROMAN CATHOLIC
Panel 29E – – Line 101

Class of ’64

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JOEL MELNICK
PFC – E3 – Army – Selective Service
1st Cav Division (AMBL)
22 year old Single, Caucasian, Male
Born on Nov 17, 1943
From MERRICK, NEW YORK
His tour of duty began on Nov 11, 1965
Casualty was on May 10, 1966
SOUTH VIETNAM
NON-HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
ACCIDENTAL HOMICIDE
Body was recovered
Religion
JEWISH
Panel 07E – – Line 44
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ROBERT GARY PIAZZA
PFC – E2 – Marine Corps – Regular
19 year old Single, Caucasian, Male
Born on Sep 01, 1948
From MERRICK, NEW YORK
His tour of duty began on Dec 19, 1967
Casualty was on Apr 06, 1968
in QUANG TRI, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE
Body was recovered
Religion
ROMAN CATHOLIC
Panel 48E – – Line 33

Class of ’66

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JOSEPH RALPH SIMONE
PFC – E2 – Marine Corps – Regular
19 year old Single, Caucasian, Male
Born on Apr 01, 1947
From MERRICK, NEW YORK
Casualty was on Oct 21, 1966
in QUANG NAM, SOUTH VIETNAM
NON-HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
VEHICLE CRASH
Body was recovered
Religion
ROMAN CATHOLIC
Panel 11E – – Line 93

Class of ’65

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GEORGE HENRY “SKIP” ULRICH
CPL – E4 – Army – Selective Service
101st Airborne Division
19 year old Single, Caucasian, Male
Born on Dec 19, 1947
From MERRICK, NEW YORK
His tour of duty began on Jun 15, 1967
Casualty was on Sep 29, 1967
in QUANG TIN, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE
Body was recovered
Religion
ROMAN CATHOLIC
Panel 27E – – Line 32

Class of ’65

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JOSEPH ROBERT PIAMBINO
PFC – E3 – Army – Selective Service
4th Infantry Division
21 year old Single, Caucasian, Male
Born on Jul 01, 1945
From BELLMORE, NEW YORK
Length of service 1 year.
His tour of duty began on Sep 15, 1966
Casualty was on Mar 22, 1967
in PLEIKU, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE
Body was recovered
Religion
ROMAN CATHOLIC
Panel 17E – – Line 23

Class of ’64

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JOEL STEPHEN WILLIAMSON
SGT – E5 – Marine Corps – Regular
23 year old Married, Caucasian, Male
Born on Oct 01, 1944
From EAST MEADOW, NEW YORK
Length of service 3 years.
His tour of duty began on Jan 25, 1967
Casualty was on Nov 19, 1967
in QUANG NAM, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE
Body was recovered
Religion
ROMAN CATHOLIC
Panel 30E – – Line 36
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WALTER EDMUND GIBLIN JR
PFC – E3 – Army – Selective Service
199th Light Infantry Brigade
19 year old Single, Caucasian, Male
Born on Dec 23, 1947
From LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK
Length of service 1 year.
His tour of duty began on Nov 23, 1966
Casualty was on Jul 19, 1967
SOUTH VIETNAM
NON-HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
VEHICLE CRASH
Body was recovered
Religion
ROMAN CATHOLIC
Panel 23E – – Line 91

Class of ’65
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GREG BENSON ELLISON
1LT – O2 – Army – Reserve
22 year old Single, Caucasian, Male
Born on Oct 24, 1946
From BELLMORE, NEW YORK
Length of service 2 years.
His tour of duty began on Feb 14, 1968
Casualty was on Jan 17, 1969
in PHUOC LONG, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE
Body was recovered
Religion
PRESBYTERIAN
Panel 34W – – Line 23

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JAMES MICHAEL KENDRICK
SP4 – E4 – Army – Selective Service
9th Infantry Division
25 year old Single, Caucasian, Male
Born on Oct 17, 1941
From BELLMORE, NEW YORK
His tour of duty began on Dec 11, 1966
Casualty was on Mar 11, 1967
in LONG AN, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE
Body was recovered
Religion
ROMAN CATHOLIC
Panel 16E – – Line 61
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WILLIAM BLUE KLENERT
LCDR – O4 – Navy – Reserve
33 year old Single, Caucasian, Male
Born on Oct 17, 1940
From BELLMORE, NEW YORK
His tour of duty began on Oct 22, 1966
Casualty was on Nov 09, 1973
NORTH VIETNAM
Hostile, died while missing
FIXED WING – CREW
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was recovered
Religion
PROTESTANT
Panel 11E – – Line 99
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MICHAEL CARMELO MANNINA
SP4 – E4 – Army – Selective Service
1st Infantry Division
21 year old Single, Caucasian, Male
Born on May 30, 1947
From BELLMORE, NEW YORK
Length of service 1 year.
His tour of duty began on Feb 21, 1968
Casualty was on Nov 10, 1968
in BINH DUONG, SOUTH VIETNAM
Hostile, died of wounds
GROUND CASUALTY
ARTILLERY, ROCKET, or MORTAR
Body was recovered
Religion
ROMAN CATHOLIC
Panel 39W – – Line 44
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CHARLES J MEERHOLZ JR
SP4 – E4 – Army – Regular
4th Infantry Division
21 year old Single, Caucasian, Male
Born on Nov 18, 1946
From BELLMORE, NEW YORK
Length of service 1 year.
His tour of duty began on Nov 10, 1967
Casualty was on Apr 21, 1968
in KONTUM, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
ARTILLERY, ROCKET, or MORTAR
Body was recovered
Religion
ROMAN CATHOLIC
Panel 51E – – Line 26
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RICHARD JOHN WEIDNER
CPL – E4 – Army – Selective Service
198th Light Infantry Brigade
20 year old Single, Caucasian, Male
Born on Dec 21, 1947
From BELLMORE, NEW YORK
His tour of duty began on Feb 04, 1968
Casualty was on May 25, 1968
in QUANG TIN, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
MULTIPLE FRAGMENTATION WOUNDS
Body was recovered
Religion
ROMAN CATHOLIC
Panel 67W – – Line 7
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WILLIAM ARTHUR WICKS
CPL – E4 – Army – Selective Service
196th Light Infantry Brigade
21 year old Single, Caucasian, Male
Born on Apr 21, 1949
From NORTH BELLMORE, NEW YORK
His tour of duty began on Nov 17, 1969
Casualty was on Jul 12, 1970
in QUANG TIN, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
OTHER EXPLOSIVE DEVICE
Body was recovered
Religion
LUTHERAN & MISSOURI SYNOD
Panel 08W – – Line 13
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Scott M. Bandhold
SPC – Army – Regular
1st Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team
37 year old Divorced, Caucasian, Male
From North Merrick, NEW YORK
His tour of duty began 2003
Casualty was on April 12, 2006
in Misiab, Iraq
ROADSIDE BOMB DETONATED NEAR HIS HUMVEE
INJURIES SUSTAINED
Body was recovered


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