Memoriam
Listed are the men of the First Platoon that fought their last battle. Most died from Agent Orange related illnesses.
Michael L. Stout, 37, of rural West Burlington, died from complications from Agent Orange related cancer Thursday, Dec. 18, 1986. He was born Jan. 25, 1949, in Burlington, the son of LeRoy and Lois Brockway Stout. On Oct. 18, 1975, in Hamilton, Ill., he married Lori Humphry.
Stout was a fireman paramedic at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War, receiving the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. |
Peter Zink was born May 3, 1949, and died on October 31, 1991, at the age of 42, He is buried at the Saint Johns Cemetery at Lansingburgh, New York. Pete had died from cancer attributed to Agent Orange.
Peter Zink at the Chu Lai hospital, 91st Evac, after being wounded January 14, 1970. Photograph provided by Bill Davenport. |
Jack F. Lanzer was born on October 6th, 1948 and died on August 22nd, 2012 at the age of 63. Jack was buried at Calverton National Cemetery in Calverton, New York. I couldn't find any information about Jack or locate a family member.
Jack Lanzer getting ready to go back to Duc Pho. Photograph provided by Mike Dankert. |
William "Bill" Davenport, 62, of Longview has been fighting cancer, and other illnesses from Agent Orange for some time and he finally lost the battle July 30, 2011, at the Veteran’s Administration Rehabilitation Center in Vancouver. He was born Dec. 13, 1948.
Bill served in the Army during the Vietnam War from 1969 to 1970. He was awarded the Bronze Star with an oak leaf, a Purple Heart with two oak leaves and a Combat Infantry Badge. Bill was an emergency medical technician with American Medical before retiring in 2006. He enjoyed fishing with his buddies at the county line.
Bill served in the Army during the Vietnam War from 1969 to 1970. He was awarded the Bronze Star with an oak leaf, a Purple Heart with two oak leaves and a Combat Infantry Badge. Bill was an emergency medical technician with American Medical before retiring in 2006. He enjoyed fishing with his buddies at the county line.
Terry L. Woolums, 63 formerly of Decatur passed away on Sunday, January 20, 2013 in Danville from illnesses caused by Agent Orange exposure.
Terry was born March 30, 1949 in Decatur, IL, the son of Arthur and Mollie (Seay) Woolums. He graduated from Mt. Zion high school and proudly served his country in Viet Nam as a member of 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment. Terry Woolums (on your left) in a position with Cliff Sivadge. Photograph provided by Cliff Sivadge. |
Allyn Paul Buff, 64, of Libby died Wednesday, July 24, 2013, at his home. He was born Dec.13, 1948, in Pomona, Calif. He attended school and lived most of his young life in Cucamonga, Calif.
Allyn was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1969 and served his country in Vietnam, earning two Bronze Service Stars as a combat infantryman. He was honorably discharged from service in 1971.
Allyn was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1969 and served his country in Vietnam, earning two Bronze Service Stars as a combat infantryman. He was honorably discharged from service in 1971.
Michael "Doc" Windows, 65, of Adelphia Road, Everett, passed away on Sunday, October 5, 2014 at home. He was born on February 22, 1949 in Pittsburgh, PA; a son of the late Hubert and Mildred (Brady) Windows. On February 30, 1997 in Cumberland,
Mike was a jack of all trades working various places throughout the years, but mainly working in the metal industry. He was a member of the Everett Redman Social Club and the Everett American Legion Post No. 08. He enjoyed hunting. |
Jerome M. "Jerry" Zwiesler Age 69 of Vandalia, passed away Monday, January 30, 2017, at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati where he had been treated for Agent Orange related congestive heart failure.
Jerry was a US Army Vietnam Veteran and a member of St. Christopher's Catholic Church.
Jerry was a US Army Vietnam Veteran and a member of St. Christopher's Catholic Church.
Ronald Warren Owens, 74, Retired Postal Carrier, died July 6, 2017.
He was serving in the National Guard as a sergeant and had worked for the US Postal Service before being called to active duty. He was from Wichita, Kansas, and had arrived at the First Platoon early June 1969. He wasn’t too tall, but chubby, with dark hair. I was unsure of his age, but he was older than most of us. He stayed with the command group most of the time and occasionally served as a team leader in the squad. Ronald liked to talk and did so on many topics. We found most of his conversations entertaining. |
Jack Lee Jurgensen was born August 10, 1949, and died peacefully in his sleep losing his battle to Agent Orange on September 9, 2017, at the age of 68, at his home in Redding California. He is buried at the Northern California Veterans Cemetery, Igo, Shasta County, California.
He graduated from Central Valley High School in 1967, and was considered one of the smartest in his class by many classmates- studies came easy to him, he enjoyed fast cars, and he did not even start dating until his senior year where he met his first love Nancy Meechum. Soon, after that, he met and married his young girlfriend, Kathrine, who became pregnant with their first child before he was drafted into the Army, and then sent off to Vietnam on 10/3/68.
He graduated from Central Valley High School in 1967, and was considered one of the smartest in his class by many classmates- studies came easy to him, he enjoyed fast cars, and he did not even start dating until his senior year where he met his first love Nancy Meechum. Soon, after that, he met and married his young girlfriend, Kathrine, who became pregnant with their first child before he was drafted into the Army, and then sent off to Vietnam on 10/3/68.
Leslie Curtis “L.C.” Pressley, 69, of 133 Crimson Leaf Lane, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 21, 2018, at St. Francis Hospital. He'd been fighting cancer, and other illnesses from Agent Orange exposure.
He graduated from Liberty High School and later received two Associate Degrees from Tri-County Technical College. He later retired from Delta Woodside Mills where he was an industrial engineer and manager.
Pressley on the left in the photograph.
He graduated from Liberty High School and later received two Associate Degrees from Tri-County Technical College. He later retired from Delta Woodside Mills where he was an industrial engineer and manager.
Pressley on the left in the photograph.
Fred Edward Katz, 72, of Tekonsha, Michigan, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, January 14, 2022 at home. surrounded by his loving family. He was born on April 12, 1949 to Joseph and Daisy (Tyler) Katz in Coldwater, Michigan.
Fred worked as a Forklift Driver at Kellogg Cereal Company in the warehouse for 39 years, retiring in 2008. Fred was a member and deacon at Crossroads Bible Church in Sherwood, Michigan and the Kellogg 25 Year Club. One of Fred's greatest passions was being a lifelong farmer. His gardens and fruit trees were some of the most bountiful in the area.
Fred worked as a Forklift Driver at Kellogg Cereal Company in the warehouse for 39 years, retiring in 2008. Fred was a member and deacon at Crossroads Bible Church in Sherwood, Michigan and the Kellogg 25 Year Club. One of Fred's greatest passions was being a lifelong farmer. His gardens and fruit trees were some of the most bountiful in the area.