I do this every couple years to honor the memory of four brother vets, classmates and friends from Gettysburg who paid the ultimate price.
John Holoka, Marine CPL, L Co, 3rd BN, 5th Marines, Rifleman. John died 22 Jul 66 in Quang Tri Province, KIA Operation Hastings forcing the NVA back across DMZ. John volunteered for a mission with 2 weeks to go wanting to be with his brothers in Lima Co. Died of wounds while medevacking out. An upperclassman I idolized. Took time to help us young ones along on the field where he stood out. John was an all-around good guy.
https://app.nimia.com/video/187355/marines-talk-about-operation-hastings-and-prarie-i
Larry Brent, Army SP4, A Battery, 6th BN, 77th Artillery, Field Artillery-infantry support. Larry died 16 Jan 68, Hau Nghia Province, Non-Hostile fire. Always felt sorry for Larry who battled with his mixed ethnicity but tolerated my lusting after his sister. We had some laughs.
Robert Kessel, Marines LCPL, D Co, 1st BN, 4th Marines, Machine Gunner-Heavy, died 20 Jan 67, Quang Tri Province, KIA, mortar attack. Tough MOS for a little guy like Bobby humping 70 lbs through the bush, but he had a big heart and was fearless.
Richard Sietz, Navy PO3, USS Forrestal, TF 7, 7th Fleet, Aviation Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class, Rich died 29 Jul 67, Gulf of Tonkin in the fire that killed 134 sailors aboard the Forrestal. Like John, Rich was strong as a bull, a typical quiet guy from rural America.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIE2QfDzmGc
John Holoka, Marine CPL, L Co, 3rd BN, 5th Marines, Rifleman. John died 22 Jul 66 in Quang Tri Province, KIA Operation Hastings forcing the NVA back across DMZ. John volunteered for a mission with 2 weeks to go wanting to be with his brothers in Lima Co. Died of wounds while medevacking out. An upperclassman I idolized. Took time to help us young ones along on the field where he stood out. John was an all-around good guy.
https://app.nimia.com/video/187355/marines-talk-about-operation-hastings-and-prarie-i
Larry Brent, Army SP4, A Battery, 6th BN, 77th Artillery, Field Artillery-infantry support. Larry died 16 Jan 68, Hau Nghia Province, Non-Hostile fire. Always felt sorry for Larry who battled with his mixed ethnicity but tolerated my lusting after his sister. We had some laughs.
Robert Kessel, Marines LCPL, D Co, 1st BN, 4th Marines, Machine Gunner-Heavy, died 20 Jan 67, Quang Tri Province, KIA, mortar attack. Tough MOS for a little guy like Bobby humping 70 lbs through the bush, but he had a big heart and was fearless.
Richard Sietz, Navy PO3, USS Forrestal, TF 7, 7th Fleet, Aviation Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class, Rich died 29 Jul 67, Gulf of Tonkin in the fire that killed 134 sailors aboard the Forrestal. Like John, Rich was strong as a bull, a typical quiet guy from rural America.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIE2QfDzmGc
