ARCHIE LEE STRICKLAND July 4, 1947 – September 22, 2019 The 4th of July in the Summer of 1947 in Blackshear, Georgia witnessed the birth of Archie Lee Strickland to the already large family created by father William Henry Strickland (1898-1975) and mother Ella Crawford Strickland (1906-1987). Ultimately there were 6 children whose births spanned 21 years. Eldest sister Lena…
PFC KENNETH JAMES SMOLAREK PFC ROBERT JOHN SILVA Killed in action 11/27/1969, Thanksgiving Day – 50 years ago! Both of these young warriors voluntarily enlisted after high school, graduated Advanced Infantry Training, then went to Ft. Benning where they joined the elite Paratroopers after successfully completing jump school. They took different paths, but soon found their way to the big,…
THOMAS MICHAEL HUTHER May 30, 1947 – January 19, 2016 Tom was born in Williamsport, PA on May 30, 1947 to Louis O Huther (1920-2007) and Ethree Johnson Huther (1923-2007). His great-grandparents emigrated from Germany to PA in the early part of the 1800s. Why they chose central PA we do not know, but settle they did and raised their…
SGT LUIS HILERIO-PADILLA PFC EDDIE DEAN CARPENTER Killed in action 11/13/1969 – 50 years ago It was to be a “milk run”. TL Luis Hilerio-Padilla of Yonkers, NY and ATL Eddie Carpenter of Lexington, KY were both seasoned veterans who had pulled several missions together. New to the team was PFC David Burdock of Joplin, MO, PFC Angel Jiminez of…
ROBERT JOHN SILVA May 9, 1951 – November 27, 1969 Killed in Action in Vietnam Bobby was born in Cambridge, MA to father Alfred Silva (1911 – 1971) and mother Barbara Cashman Silva. The family ncluded brothers Alfred Silva, Daniel Silva, John Silva, and his sister Barbara Jane Silva. At the time of Bobby’s death, his brother Alfred was just…
KENNETH JAMES SMOLAREK August 23, 1950 – November 27, 1969 Killed in Action in Vietnam Ken’s parents Alexander Smolarek (1914 – 2010) and Janina Prazuch Smolarek (1919 – 2012) were married on September 28, 1940. They were to live their entire lives in the Warrendale section of Detroit, MI and raise their children understanding and enjoying their rich Polish heritage. …
DOLORES FRANCISCO BARRETO-RODRIGUEZ April 2, 1946 – January 11, 2017 Arecibo is a town in northern Puerto Rico. It lies on a small inlet near the mouth of the Arecibo River. In 1946, still celebrating the end of WWII, the bright sun of Arecibo first shone on the face of Dolores Francisco “Frank” Barreto-Rodriguez. His birth was the pride of his father…
JOSEPH ANTHONY “HERK” NAPERKOWSKI JR October 3, 1950 – August 17, 2019 Joe’s parents, Joseph Anthony Naperkowski (1917-1986) and Marie Francis Gutkowski Naperkowski (1928-1984) were both born in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania the children of Polish immigrants. They were married on June 12, 1947 in preparation for the arrival of their son Joseph Anthony Naperkowski Jr. to become known in the…
MERRILL JAMES SHOVER JR. December 17, 1945 – December 17, 2018 Merrill James “Jim” Shover Jr., aka “Shorty Shover” was born in New London, Connecticut to Merrill J. Shover (1919-1991) and Evelyn Isabelle Emory Shover (1921). Who could predict this coastal community, home of the US Navy Submarine fleet, would produce one of the finest Army Rangers this country had…
WALTER J “LADDIE” CHOJNACKI JR December 4, 1946 – February 7, 2006 The war was over, Christmas was approaching and his father, Walter J. Chojnacki Sr. (1917-1999) was home from the Merchant Marine having honorably served in the war effort. Year 1946 found his mother Jean Niedzinski Chojnacki (1916-2000) waiting patiently for both her husband to safely return and for…