It’s over! The 50th anniversary of the end of America’s involvement in the Vietnam war takes place on April 30, 2025.
The United States participation in the Vietnam War began in the 1950s and greatly escalated in 1965 until its withdrawal of combat forces in March 1973. The U.S. military presence in Vietnam peaked in April 1969, with 543,000 military personnel stationed in the country. America fully left Vietnam on April 30, 1975, when Saigon fell to North Vietnamese forces. By the end of the U.S. involvement, more than 3.1 million Americans had been stationed in Vietnam, and 58,279 had been killed.
Here is recognition of 14 heroes from Buchanan County who paid the ultimate price in service to their country:
- Terry Allen Chase, Stanley, August 24, 1965, 20 years old.
- Gerald Thomas Fettkether, Jesup, February 8, 1967, 21 years old.
- Arnold Ralph Palmer, Independence, July 4, 1967, 23 years old.
- Ralph Bernard Gerken, Winthrop, July 5, 1967, 20 years old.
- Richard Joseph Payne, Quasqueton, December 20, 1967, 20 years old.
- Martin John Reidy, Independence, April 10, 1968, 21 years old.
- Michael Lee Ewing, Independence, June, 11, 1968, 21 years old.
- Donald Paul Kremer, Aurora, December 2, 1968, 20 years old.
- Duane Alan Clefisch, Hazleton, August 30, 1969, 19 years old.
- John Milton Cone, Independence, November 17, 1969, 26 years old.
- Robert John Schares, Jesup, November 18, 1969, 21 years old.
- Frank Lynn Staton, Winthrop, February 27, 1970, 20 years old.
- William David Thorp, Jesup, August 26, 1970, 19 years old.
- Cecil Chancey Olsen, Rowley, January 8, 1971, 21 years old.
May we never forget and may we always honor their memory.
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