Virtual Vietnam Wall.....

[TheAxeman]

Virtual Wall

Click on a State, a city, an individual and get a picture/bio/and medals received.

Truly humbling.

 

[SacramentoMike]

Yeah. Thank you, Axeman. I went into the Air Force in '67 and never lived in my home town again, and I've always wondered what might have happened to people I'd known back then. I do know of some who came out of it wounded but alive, but I read through the names on this list very carefully and with a lot of dread, hoping not to recognize any names. I didn't, but reading strangers' names who didn't get to see these last 40 years or so wasn't much better. Humbling for sure. And sobering.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Thanks for that link Chris. A somber reminder of the sacrifices made by our countrymen during that time.

According to the website, 14 of Wheaton's best died in that armed conflict. Although James Howard Monroe has Chicago as his "Home of Record", he was a Wheaton boy through and through. One of the Junior High Schools in Wheaton was named after him. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

He was a combat medic.

James Howard Monroe

Private First Class

PERSONAL DATA

Home of Record: Chicago, IL

Date of birth: 10/17/1944

MILITARY DATA

Service: Army of the United States

Grade at loss: E3

Rank: Private First Class

ID No: 54801435

MOS: 91B20: Medical NCO

Length Service: 00

Unit: HHC, 1ST BN, 8TH CAVALRY, 1ST CAV DIV, USARV

CASUALTY DATA

Start Tour: 11/21/1966

Incident Date: 02/16/1967

Casualty Date: 02/16/1967

Age at Loss: 22

Location: Binh Dinh Province, South Vietnam

Remains: Body recovered

Identified: 02/21/1967

Casualty Type: Hostile, died while missing

Casualty Reason: Ground casualty

Casualty Detail: Other explosive device

URL: www.VirtualWall.org/dm/MonroeJH01a.htm

ON THE WALL Panel 15E Line 048

The information in the file sounds so sterile and accountant-like...but I cry as I write this as I reflect on the cost of his life and others like him who have served our country and lost their lives for it.

I will be thinking of James Howard Monroe, Jordan and all the others on Memorial Day..after my son David in the Wheaton North band marches from Memorial Park to Wheaton Cemetery.

 

[TheAxeman]

Pfc Monroe's Medal of Honor Citation.....Humbling indeed.

Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. His platoon was deployed in a night ambush when the position was suddenly subjected to an intense and accurate grenade attack, and 1 foxhole was hit immediately. Responding without hesitation to the calls for help from the wounded men Pfc. Monroe moved forward through heavy small-arms fire to the foxhole but found that all of the men had expired. He turned immediately and crawled back through the deadly hail of fire toward other calls for aid. He moved to the platoon sergeant's position where he found the radio operator bleeding profusely from fragmentation and bullet wounds. Ignoring the continuing enemy attack, Pfc. Monroe began treating the wounded man when he saw a live grenade fall directly in front of the position. He shouted a warning to all those nearby, pushed the wounded radio operator and the platoon sergeant to one side, and lunged forward to smother the grenade's blast with his body. Through his valorous actions, performed in a flash of inspired selflessness, Pfc. Monroe saved the lives of 2 of his comrades and prevented the probable injury of several others. His gallantry and intrepidity were in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army, and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.

 

[juniorfjr]

I've seen it twice and will see it anytime it comes even remotely close.

 

[jzzmusician]

Thank you for the link.

I remember a couple of years ago there was a special on PBS on the Vietnam Memorial. The tears started flowing about 15 minutes into the program.

I've never been to the one in Washington, but have seen the touring replica. Same thing happened there.

Thanks again,

Bob