Vietnam Memorial

This page is dedicated to all the fallen Vietnam Fighting Men who were from the City of Hawthorne.
If you see someone you know, please take a moment and try to remember where you were, and what was going on in your life, when he lost his life.... far from home.

If you know someone that should be added here, please email me, and I will put them on "our wall". If you know someone below, please let me know what year he graduated and from what school.
Thank you
Thanks go to:
Donna Joslin HHS65 for adding the wall rubbings, below.
Bruce Swander USMC 66-70 for adding details.

December Heroes

"Poor is the nation that has no heroes. Shameful is the nation that has heroes?and forgets them. No nation can long survive without pride in its traditions." (Unknown)

IN MEMORY OF CPL JAMES CHARLES HOLT - Army - Selective Service; 22 year old Married, Caucasian, Male born on 08/18/46; from Hawthorne, California. His tour of duty began on 10/04/68; CASUALTY was on December 4, 1968 in GIA DINH, SOUTH VIETNAM.

IN MEMORY OF SP4 LYNN MICHAEL MATTESON - Hawthorne High Class of 1968 - Army - Regular 1st AVN BDE 19 year old Single, Caucasian, Male Born on 10/26/49 From HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA Length of service 1 year. His tour of duty began on 04/03/68 Casualty was on December 9, 1968 in BINH DINH, SOUTH VIETNAM

"The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living." (Cicero)

	MC ALLISTER , WILLIAM WALTE MAJ - Air Force - Reserve 36 year old Married, Caucasian, Male Born on 12/14/28 From HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA Length of service 16 years. Casualty was on 04/22/65 in BINH DINH, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, FIXED WING - PILOT AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND Body was recovered Panel 01E - - Line 106
RYSE , ROY LOUIS JR Hawthorne High Class of 1962 PFC - Army - Selective Service 1st Cav Division (AMBL) 21 year old Single, Caucasian, Male Born on 02/07/44 From HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA His tour of duty began on 10/30/65 Casualty was on 11/17/65 in SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY OTHER EXPLOSIVE DEVICE Body was recovered Religion BAPTIST Panel 03E - - Line 88	ONE YEAR WHEN I WAS 17 I WORRIED ABOUT: learning enough to pass final exams would I have enough gas for my car friends going their own way after graduation having a date on Friday night losing my girlfriend WHEN I WAS 18 I WORRIED ABOUT: learning enough to survive a war, not pass an exam having enough ammunition for my rifle, rather than gas for my car my friends being killed, rather than going their own ways being point man on a Friday night ambush, rather than a date losing my life, rather than my girlfriend Don Schaffer
	ZOBOBLISH , DONALD Hawthorne High Class of 1962 LCPL - Marine Corps - Regular 22 year old Single, Caucasian, Male Born on 03/05/43 From HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA Length of service 1 year. Casualty was on 03/01/66 in QUANG TIN, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY OTHER EXPLOSIVE DEVICE Body was recovered Religion ROMAN CATHOLIC Panel 05E - - Line 94
BACCUS , JIMMY DEVER Leuzinger High Class of 1964 PFC - Marine Corps - Regular 20 year old Single, Caucasian, Male Born on 07/15/46 From LAWNDALE, CALIFORNIA Length of service 1 year. Casualty was on 07/28/66 in QUANG NAM, SOUTH VIETNAM NON-HOSTILE, FIXED WING - NONCREW AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND Body was recovered Religion PROTESTANT Panel 09E - - Line 83	I graduated from Leuzinger class of '67 and knew Jimmy Baccus very well, as we grew up neighbors for approximately 15 years. I will never forget when he was home on leave just before leaving for Nam; the Marines had come to LHS for some physical testing and Jimmy was with them. I was trying to do some chin ups and wasn't doing too well. I was just barely able to start my second one when Jimmy egged me on until I was able to get 5 done. It taught me not to give up because things were rough or hard but to keep on trying. He left shortly after and then we got word about his fate. Then we found out that he had a chance to come home but requested to go back to his outfit and that is when his plane crashed in route to his "bud's", "his brothers in combat". It was so much like him to go back and finish his work and "not to give up". I later went to Nam and now I know how he felt about going back. Max Bettman, LHS 67
	ANDERSON , DONALD LEROY JR Hawthorne High Class of 1965 LCPL - Marine Corps - Regular 19 year old Single, Caucasian, Male Born on 06/20/47 From HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA Length of service 1 year. Casualty was on 09/18/66 in QUANG TRI, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE Body was recovered Religion ROMAN CATHOLIC Panel 10E - - Line 111
BOELZNER , ROBERT CRAIG Leuzinger High Class of 1964 PFC - Army - Selective 25th Infantry 20 year old Single, Caucasian, Male Born on 08/26/46 From HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA His tour of duty began on 08/12/66 Casualty was on 11/28/66 in SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE Body was recovered Panel 12E - - Line 126	Seems like only yesterday that we attended Rob's memorial service. Rob attended and graduated from Leuzinger High. His dad was a Hawthorne Fireman, assistant Chief I believe. Steve Eide
	DAILY , THOMAS BLAKE 1LT - Army - Reserve 26 year old Married, Caucasian, Male Born on 09/01/40 From HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA Length of service 4 years. His tour of duty began on 09/01/66 Casualty was on 05/21/67 in BIEN HOA, SOUTH VIETNAM Hostile, died of wounds GROUND CASUALTY MULTIPLE FRAGMENTATION WOUNDS Body was recovered Religion EPISCOPAL, ANGLICAN Panel 20E - - Line 72
MYERS JR. , CHARLES DEAN R.H. Dana Jr. High LCPL - E3 - Marine Corps - Regular 20 year old Married, Caucasian, Male Born on Feb 14, 1947 From DUARTE, CALIFORNIA Casualty was on Jun 15, 1967 in QUANG TIN, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE Body was recovered Religion ROMAN CATHOLIC Panel 21E - - Line 107
GAZDAGH , JAMES ALEX Hawthorne High Class of 1966 LCPL - Marine Corps - Regular 19 year old Single, Caucasian, Male Born on 07/20/47 From HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA Casualty was on 07/08/67 in QUANG TRI, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY OTHER EXPLOSIVE DEVICE Body was recovered Religion PROTESTANT Panel 23E - - Line 36
	HAHN , PAUL EDWARD Lawndale High Class of 1966 LCPL - Marine Corps - Regular 19 year old Single, Caucasian, Male Born on 09/29/47 From HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA Casualty was on 08/23/67 in QUANG NAM, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE Body was recovered Religion PROTESTANT Panel 25E - - Line 33
SKIRVIN , ORVAL L SFC - Army - Regular 37 year old Single, Caucasian, Male Born on 05/04/30 From HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA Length of service 18 years. His tour of duty began on 08/07/67 Casualty was on 10/15/67 in QUANG TIN, SOUTH VIETNAM Non-Hostile, died of illness/injury GROUND CASUALTY HEART ATTACK Body was recovered Religion BAPTIST Panel 28E - - Line 12
	PINATELLI , THOMAS MICHAEL PFC - Marine Corps - Regular 19 year old Single, Caucasian, Male Born on 06/13/48 From HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA Casualty was on 02/10/68 in QUANG TRI, SOUTH VIETNAM Hostile, died of wounds GROUND CASUALTY OTHER EXPLOSIVE DEVICE Body was recovered Religion ROMAN CATHOLIC Panel 38E - - Line 71
THOMAS , TIM Hawthorne High Class of 1965 CPL - Army - Selective Service 1st Cav Division (AMBL) 21 year old Single, Caucasian, Male Born on 11/25/46 From HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA His tour of duty began on 10/14/67 Casualty was on 02/13/68 in QUANG TRI, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY MULTIPLE FRAGMENTATION WOUNDS Body was recovered Religion CHURCH OF CHRIST Panel 39E - - Line 27
	PRITCHETT, GREGORY Leuzinger High Class of 1966 HM3 - E4 - Navy - Regular 20 year old Single, Caucasian, Male Born on 2/6/48 From WALNUT, CALIFORNIA His tour of duty began on 4/16/68 Casualty was on 05/3/68 in QUANG NAM, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY MISADVENTURE Body was recovered Religion PROTESTANT Panel 54E - - Line 28
	JONES , JAMES WALTER CAPT - Marine Corps - Regular 48 year old Married, Caucasian, Male Born on 08/05/20 From HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA Length of service 22 years. His tour of duty began on 06/13/68 Casualty was on 08/30/68 in QUANG NGAI, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY ARTILLERY, ROCKET, or MORTAR Body was recovered Religion PROTESTANT Panel 45W - - Line 7
SCOTT , DAYNE YORK HM2 - Navy - Regular 35 year old Married, Caucasian, Male Born on 09/28/33 From HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA Length of service 16 years. Casualty was on 10/17/68 in QUANG TRI, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, HELICOPTER - NONCREW AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND Body was recovered Religion PROTESTANT Panel 41W - - Line 70
	SPAFFORD , GALON GENE SP4 - Army - Selective Service 9th Infantry Division 23 year old Married, Caucasian, Male Born on 12/11/44 From HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA His tour of duty began on 05/11/68 Casualty was on 11/22/68 in LONG AN, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE Body was recovered Religion CHURCH OF CHRIST Panel 38W - - Line 39
HOLT , JAMES CHARLES CPL - Army - Selective Service 22 year old Married, Caucasian, Male Born on 08/18/46 From HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA His tour of duty began on 10/04/68 Casualty was on 12/04/68 in GIA DINH, SOUTH VIETNAM Non-Hostile, died of illness/injury HELICOPTER - NONCREW AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND Body was recovered Religion PROTESTANT Panel 37W - - Line 39
	MATTESON , LYNN MICHAEL Hawthorne High Class of 1968 SP4 - Army - Regular 1st AVN BDE 19 year old Single, Caucasian, Male Born on 10/26/49 From HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA Length of service 1 year. His tour of duty began on 04/03/68 Casualty was on 12/09/68 in BINH DINH, SOUTH VIETNAM Non-Hostile, died of illness/injury GROUND CASUALTY BURNS Body was recovered Religion PROTESTANT Panel 37W - - Line 76
THOMPSON , WILLIAM JAMES Leuzinger High Class of 1951 COL - Air Force - Reserve 46 year old Married, Caucasian, Male Born on 02/19/33 From HOUSTON, TEXAS His tour of duty began on 08/01/68 Officially declared dead on 03/05/79 in NORTH VIETNAM Hostile, died while missing FIXED WING - PILOT AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND Body was not recovered Religion BAPTIST Panel 50W - - Line 46
	HELGESON , DALE GEORGE Leuzinger High Class of 1962 SGT - Army - Selective Service 25th Infantry Division 23 year old Single, Caucasian, Male Born on Apr 18 1945 From LAWNDALE, CALIFORNIA His tour of duty began on Aug 28 1968 Casualty was on Mar 01 1969 in BINH LONG, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE Body was recovered Panel 30W - - Line 4
HERTZLER , RICHARD DALE PFC - Army - Selective Service 25th Infantry Division 21 year old Single, Caucasian, Male Born on 03/27/48 From HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA His tour of duty began on 01/09/69 Casualty was on 04/28/69 in TAY NINH, SOUTH VIETNAM NON-HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY ACCIDENTAL SELF-DESTRUCTION Body was recovered Religion PROTESTANT Panel 26W - - Line 71
	SHAUGHNESSY , EDWARD JEROME PFC - Army - Selective Service 198th Light Infantry Brigade 24 year old Married, Caucasian, Male Born on 08/31/44 From HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA Length of service 1 year. His tour of duty began on 03/10/69 Casualty was on 06/11/69 in QUANG NGAI, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY MULTIPLE FRAGMENTATION WOUNDS Body was recovered Religion ROMAN CATHOLIC Panel 22W - - Line 27
COUNCIL , ARTHUR COBY III Hawthorne High Class of 1967 PFC - Marine Corps - 20 year old Single, Caucasian, Male Born on 03/05/49 From HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA His tour of duty began on 03/06/69 Casualty was on 06/21/69 in QUANG NAM, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, HELICOPTER - NONCREW AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND Body was recovered Religion PROTESTANT Panel 22W - - Line 103	Cheryl Carter Kirk writes: Art Council was from the HHS Class of '67. There was 1 survivor from the crash. His name is Al Herlicka. I met him in the Long Beach Naval Hospital a few months after the crash. Art was the best friend (since childhood) to my husband at the time, RODNEY J. TODD Hawthorne High Class of 1967 who was in LBNH at the time recovering from severe injuries sustained in Viet Nam. Rod never fully recovered from his injuries and died about 10 years later from complications. He did father a lovely blonde haired, blue eyed girl who is the 'spit in image' of her dad & has the same quick smile & dry sense of humor. Cheryl Carter Kirk (class of 68)
	FARAN , DANIEL EDWARD Hawthorne High Class of 1968 CPL - Army - Regular 25th Infantry Division 19 year old Single, Caucasian, Male Born on 07/07/50 From HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA His tour of duty began on 04/06/69 Casualty was on 08/24/69 in HUA NGHIA, SOUTH VIETNAM Hostile, died of wounds GROUND CASUALTY ARTILLERY, ROCKET, or MORTAR Body was recovered Religion ROMAN CATHOLIC Panel 19W - - Line 106
WHITMORE , RICHARD ALLEN Hawthorne High Class of 1965 PFC - Marine Corps - Selective Service 22 year old Single, Caucasian, Male Born on 08/20/47 From HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA His tour of duty began on 10/11/69 Casualty was on 02/19/70 in QUANG NAM, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY MULTIPLE FRAGMENTATION WOUNDS Body was recovered Religion PROTESTANT Panel 13W - - Line 34