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The
Washington County Washington, Pennsylvania Dedicated November 11, 1999 |
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"I
gave my life for freedom -- this I know: for those who bade me fight had told me so." W. N. EWER |
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INTRODUCTION 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: "In my eyes you have always stood just a little taller than everyone else – you will not be forgotten – welcome home." |
Washington
County |
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Bronze
eagle perched on black |
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The
Washington County The Washington
Cemetery, Inc. Phone: (724)
225-1040 Paul R. Shiring, Superintendent |
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U.S. Army medallion |
| The memorial includes. . . |
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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 |
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Remember
us -
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Inverted
M-16 with helmet and boots, |
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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: |
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WELCOME HOME |
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The
center panel is flanked by angled, polished, Galaxy-black granite
"wings" that are similar to those on THE WALL in Washington, DC |
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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. |
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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 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
Missing
in Action: James A. McEwen, O2 - Washington - 10/22/65 - AF - 24
Paul
D. Urquhart, O3 - McMurray - 5/28/71 - A - 26
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Vietnam
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The Medal of Honor
The
Medal of Honor is awarded by the President, in the name of Congress, to
a person who, while a member of the Army, distinguishes himself or
herself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or
her life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in action
against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military
operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while
serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict
against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a
belligerent party. The deed performed must have been one of personal
bravery or self-sacrifice so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish the
individual above his or her comrades and must have involved risk of
life. Incontestable proof of the performance of the service will be
exacted and each recommendation for the award of this decoration will be
considered on the standard of extraordinary merit. |
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| WALTER JOSEPH MARM, JR. Washington, PA |
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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 |
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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. |
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| Commemorative stone at the
entrance to Independence Cemetery on Route 844 near Independence, Pa. |
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| KARL GORMAN TAYLOR 1939 - 1968 S/SGT CO 1 3RD BN US MARINE CORPS VIETNAM |
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MEDAL OF HONOR LINK |
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This page is dedicated to all the men and women who served in the Vietnam War |
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The Washington
County Vietnam Veterans' Memorial After entering the
cemetery entrance marked
Click
here for written directions from MapQuest You may also call
the cemetery for directions:
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"50,000 Names" by George Jones (YouTube) |
| Washington, Pennsylvania |
| Allegheny County (Pittsburgh) Vietnam Memorials |
| Washington and Jefferson College War Memorial New! |
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