Remembering

Formally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day was originally a day set aside to honor fallen members of the armed service. Across the nation, people would place flowers at the graves of the soldiers. The first Memorial Day dates back to 1866. I had the privilege of speaking briefly to a WWII veteran today. I think he said he was 85. Here are some quick facts I thought I would post in memory of both those who served our country, and those who paid the ultimate price in their service.

American Revolutionary War claimed the lives of 25,324. The American Civil War killed over 600,000 American soliders (including union and confederate). That is more than all of the other wars COMBINED!!

World War II took the lives of 405,399 American soldiers. The Korean War--54,246, and the Vietnam War 56,244. To date over 3000 soldiers have died in Iraq.

I thought the following facts were worthy to mention because by dad is a veteran. I got these from the Vietnam Wall page:

Names on the Wall

The first American soldier killed in the Vietnam War was Air Force T-Sgt. Richard B. Fitzgibbon Jr. He is listed by the U.S. Department of Defense as having a casualty date of June 8, 1956. His name was added to the Wall on Memorial Day 1999.

“The last American soldier killed in the Vietnam War was Kelton Rena Turner, an 18-year old Marine. He was killed in action on May 15, 1975, two weeks after the evacuation of Saigon, in what became known as the Mayaguez incident.”

The youngest Vietnam KIA is believed to be Dan Bullock USMC, at 15 years old.
At least 5 men killed in Vietnam were 16 years old.
At least 12 men killed in Vietnam were 17 years old.

To all those who served…THANK YOU!!