Washington County Vietnam Veterans' Memorial in Washington, Pennsylvania


INTRODUCTION The home for the Washington County Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial is in the Washington Cemetery located at 498 Park Avenue, Washington, PA, 15301. The site for the Memorial was carefully selected for its close proximity to the Veteran’s Section where hundreds of soldiers from all wars have been laid to rest. Carved out of the hillside directly downhill of the Veteran’s Section, the setting is reminiscent of the seclusion offered to visitors at "The Wall" in Washington, DC. Here the Memorial will perpetually honor the 67 fallen sons of Washington County who made the ultimate sacrifice, "Lest We Forget". The Memorial project originated with Todd Ashmore, resident of Washington whose father, father-in-law, and cousin all served in Vietnam: "I feel it’s my generation’s responsibility to set this situation right. They didn’t get the ticker tape parade of World War II. You always feel that they felt let down." "In my eyes you have always stood just a little taller than everyone else – you will not be forgotten – welcome home."	Washington County Vietnam Veterans Memorial

	Bronze eagle perched on black granite column bearing the five service branch medallions
The Washington County Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial The Washington Cemetery, Inc. 498 Park Avenue Washington, PA 15301 Phone: (724) 225-1040 FAX: (724) 225-5212 Paul R. Shiring, Superintendent
	U.S. Army medallion

The memorial includes. . .

A center Colonial blue granite panel displays a bronze plaque. This plaque contains an epitaph and the names of the 67 servicemen from Washington County whose names are on the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington, DC

The epitaph by W. Nickles reads:

Remember us -
we were just kids - the most of us -
not militant, not warriors,
and certainly not men
but trying just as hard as
any can imagine to be so;
just ordinary guys
like you;
and had we made it home we would be...
standing where you stand,
quiet with the thoughts you think
no different -
the same;
just guys
...looking to be home.

Inverted M-16 with helmet and boots,
Honor Roll and epitaph in center, with
Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia map on right

On the left of the plaque is a bronze 'bas relief' of an M-16 rifle and Vietnam-era helmet and combat boots. On the right of the plaque is a bronze map of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Across the top of this panel are the words:

WELCOME HOME

The center panel is flanked by angled, polished, Galaxy-black granite "wings" that are similar to those on THE WALL in Washington, DC

An exposed-aggregate walk leads into a patio that surrounds the front of the memorial. In the middle of the patio is a five-sided, polished, Galaxy-black granite column. The column sits on a black granite star. On each face of the column is one of the five service branch medallions. On the top of the column sits a large, bronze eagle.

Washington County
Honor Roll

67 men from Washington County
killed in the Vietnam War

Name - Grade - Home - Date of Loss - Branch - Age

Allen R. Ambrogi, E5 - Finleyville - 6/7/69 - A - 20

Samuel H. Barnett, E6 - Washington - 1/21/71 - N - 30

Ronald D. Belarski, E5 - Charleroi - 8/25/70 - A - 20

Albert Brillo, Jr., E5 - Canonsburg - 11/1/67 - A - 18

Robert G. Brown, E3 - Finleyville - 3/21/66 - M - 19

Robert E. Bryant, E4 - Washington - 9/13/66 - M - 22

Joseph L. Byrne, Jr., E2 - Roscoe - 7/20/66 - M - 19

Michael W. Campos, E4 - Burgettstown - 3/26/68 - A - 22

Daniel C. Capitani, E3 - McDonald - 12/16/69 - A - 20

Michael A. Caputo, Sr., E7 - Richeyville - 11/6/69 - A - 37

Andrew P. Chamaj, E4 - Scenery Hill - 7/15/66 - N - 24

James H. Colbert, E5 - Fredericktown - 3/1/71 - A - 27

Gerald A. Coyle, E5 - Bentleyville - 5/13/75 - AF - 32

Edwin H. Curtiss, W1 - Stockdale - 10/14/70 - A - 20

Kenneth G. Cushman, E4 - Finleyville - 9/13/68 - A - 20

Dennis P. Day, E3 - Monongahela - 2/2/68 - N - 21

Donald J. Fawcett, E6 - Monongahela - 7/3/66 - A - 25

Robert G. Findley, E2 - Washington - 3/14/68 - M - 19

Floyd S. Giebell, E5 - Burgettstown - 10/31/69 - A - 22

Terry L. Gilpin, E3 - Marianna - 8/2/70 - A - 21

George E. Glenn, Jr., E4 - Marianna - 9/25/67 - M - 21

Lawrence F. Greer, E2 - Strabane - 2/2/69 - M - 19

William E. Guseman, III, E4 - Finleyville - 1/25/67 - M - 20

Walter W. Hamilton, E4 - Eighty Four - 7/26/70 - A - 20

Charles L. Harris, E6 - Marianna - 9/5/69 - A - 20

Robert K. Hice, E1 - Rea - 4/13/67 - M - 23

Lemuel Isabelle, E5 - Charleroi - 2/25/69 - A - 21

Donald W. Jacobs, O2 - McDonald - 6/11/68 - A - 22

George R. Johnson, E3 - Amity - 10/2/70 - A - 19

Michael Karpiak, Jr., E5 - Richeyville - 12/8/67 - A - 20

Joseph R. Karpy, E4 - Canonsburg - 5/4/69 - A - 22

Donald W. Keenan, E4 - Claysville - 9/1/67 - M - 18

Harry K. Latshaw, E2 - Rea - 3/6/68 - M - 18

Gary W. Leighton, E2 - Washington - 5/29/69 - M - 19

Thomas M. Lejeune, E6 - Monongahela - 6/5/72 - A - 24

Gerald J. Lynch, E6 - Donora - 5/10/70 - A - 23

Thomas R. Matty, E4 - Denbo - 12/21/67 - M - 22

David B. Matykiewicz, E4 - Washington - 5/21/71 - A - 20

Donald W. McCammon, E7 - West Alexander - 12/5/65 -A- 40

Robert A. McPherson, E3 - Canonsburg - 4/30/68 - M - 19

Joseph J. Melnyk, Jr., E3 - Burgettstown - 3/7/68 - A - 20

David R. Myers, O2 - Washington - 12/21/67 - A - 26

Louis J. Orison, E6 - Burgettstown - 2/6/68 - A - 27

John Panak, Jr., E6 - Coal Center - 8/31/68 - A - 28

Jay W. Parola, E4 - Charleroi - 10/28/68 - A - 19

Paul J. Perecko, O5 - Monongahela - 2/10/67 - A - 43

Thomas A. Preaux, E5 - Cecil - 4/26/67 - AF - 38

John L. Reagle, E3 - Centerville - 1/28/69 - A - 20

James J. Reilly, Jr., E7 - Washington - 10/10/65 - A - 39

Charles H. Richards, Jr., E3 - Canonsburg - 7/16/67 - A - 20

David L. Rizor, E2 - Washington - 10/9/65 - A - 21

John J. Rudinec, E4 - Donora - 2/21/67 - A - 22

Larry G. Salisberry, E3 - Washington - 8/2/67 - N - 21

Thomas A. Shipe, E3 - Venetia - 9/19/70 - A - 22 More

Robert A. Sikon, E3 - Washington - 12/26/67 - A - 18

Ray O. Simons, Jr., E4 - Avella - 1/26/68 - M - 22

John D. Slesh, Jr., E2 - Washington - 5/8/67 - M - 21

Alfred C. Springfield, Jr., E4 - Canonsburg - 11/8/67 - M - 21

MEDAL OF HONOR
Karl G. Taylor, E6 - Avella - 12/8/68 - M - 29

Harold R. Vogel, O3 - Monongahela - 6/14/68 - AF - 27

James R. Waltz, E7 - Washington - 5/13/68 - M - 39

Sherman T. Washington, E2 - Marianna - 3/31/68 - M - 20

Richard L. Windsheimer, E4 - Burgettstown - 7/30/69 - M - 28

Roland S. Zierden, E2 - Cecil - 3/28/69 - M - 20

Charles L. Zoog, E2 - Mount Pleasant - 3/6/66 - M - 22
(a later report indicates Pvt. Zoog was from Hickory)

Missing in Action:
(Listed as B.N.R. - Body not recovered)

James A. McEwen, O2 - Washington - 10/22/65 - AF - 24

Paul D. Urquhart, O3 - McMurray - 5/28/71 - A - 26 More

WALTER JOSEPH MARM, JR. Washington, PA

Rank and organization: First Lieutenant (then 2d Lt.), U.S. Army, Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile).
Place and date: Vicinity of la Drang Valley, Republic of Vietnam, 14 November 1965.
Entered service at: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Born: 20 November 1941, Washington, Pa. G.O. No.: 7, 15 February 1967.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. As a platoon leader in the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), 1st Lt. Marm demonstrated indomitable courage during a combat operation. His company was moving through the valley to relieve a friendly unit surrounded by an enemy force of estimated regimental size. 1st Lt. Marm led his platoon through withering fire until they were finally forced to take cover. Realizing that his platoon could not hold very long, and seeing four enemy soldiers moving into his position, he moved quickly under heavy fire and annihilated all 4. Then, seeing that his platoon was receiving intense fire from a concealed machine gun, he deliberately exposed himself to draw its fire. Thus locating its position, he attempted to destroy it with an antitank weapon. Although he inflicted casualties, the weapon did not silence the enemy fire. Quickly, disregarding the intense fire directed on him and his platoon, he charged 30 meters across open ground, and hurled grenades into the enemy position, killing some of the 8 insurgents manning it. Although severely wounded, when his grenades were expended, armed with only a rifle, he continued the momentum of his assault on the position and killed the remainder of the enemy. 1st Lt. Marm's selfless actions reduced the fire on his platoon, broke the enemy assault, and rallied his unit to continue toward the accomplishment of this mission. 1st Lt. Marm's gallantry on the battlefield and his extraordinary intrepidity at the risk of his life are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.

KARL GORMAN TAYLOR, SR. Avella, PA

Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, Company 1, 3d Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division (Rein), FMF.
Place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 8 December 1968.
Entered service at: Baltimore, Md.
Born: 14 July 1939, Laurel, Md.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving at night as a company gunnery sergeant during Operation MEADE RIVER. Informed that the commander of the lead platoon had been mortally wounded when his unit was pinned down by a heavy volume of enemy fire, S/Sgt. Taylor along with another marine, crawled forward to the beleaguered unit through a hail of hostile fire, shouted encouragement and instructions to the men, and deployed them to covered positions. With his companion, he then repeatedly maneuvered across an open area to rescue those marines who were too seriously wounded to move by themselves. Upon learning that there were still other seriously wounded men Lying in another open area, in proximity to an enemy machinegun position, S/Sgt. Taylor, accompanied by 4 comrades, led his men forward across the fire-swept terrain in an attempt to rescue the marines. When his group was halted by devastating fire, he directed his companions to return to the company command post; whereupon he took his grenade launcher and in full view of the enemy, charged across the open rice paddy toward the machinegun position, firing his weapon as he ran. Although wounded several times, he succeeded in reaching the machinegun bunker and silencing the fire from that sector, moments before he was mortally wounded. Directly instrumental in saving the lives of several of his fellow marines, S/Sgt. Taylor, by his indomitable courage, inspiring leadership, and selfless dedication, upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the U.S. Naval Service.

Commemorative stone for Karl Gorman Taylor

Commemorative stone at the entrance to Independence Cemetery
on Route 844 near Independence, Pa.

KARL GORMAN TAYLOR
1939 - 1968
S/SGT CO 1 3RD BN US MARINE CORPS
VIETNAM

MEDAL OF HONOR LINK

Medal of Honor