You may have already known of this, but I sure didn't. In spite of watching film about WW II and the European theater, I never thought to wonder how all the military vehicles were supplied with fuel. They sure couldn't just stop at the corner station and fill up their vehicle, tank or jeep or car. I found this film fascinating.
Joe Carfora 1962

http://www.youtube.com/v/Nv9lBqPVuoE%26feature=uploademail  

Hicksville Vietnam War Era Memorial

Five new names were added to the Confirmed List of Names in March for a new total of 1,809.  It is surprising, but appreciated that even at this late date new names continue to be added from HixNews readers! Also, we made more progress on missing information for names already on the list, thanks to the continued efforts by many readers.  In our work to insure that no one is left behind who should be included in the Memorial, please continue to help us by reviewing the Confirmed List of Names when you select the "click here for confirmed list" link near the bottom of this update with your computer mouse.  To speed the process, just use your class year or the years you may be familiar with as a reference and see if you have a new name or some missing data to email to us.  Class years, where known, are specifically shown to make this effort easier for our readers.  All missing data for names already on the list is shown in red, again making it easier for readers to see what's needed.

In addition, please go to the second website link shown below to see the full List of UNCONFIRMED Names for the Memorial and see if you can help us to establish whether or not these folks served during the Vietnam Era (note:  Vietnam Era dates are shown in the "Memorial Qualifications" section below). 

To support Bill Walden's efforts and his letter of 10/19/12 to the Hicksville Superintendant of Schools, I wrote a follow up letter in early March to the Superintendant and sent it via certified mail with return receipt required.  The letter was signed for on March 8th, but neither Bill nor I have yet to receive a reply.  This absurd situation will be addressed more severely in the months ahead. This effort was initiated to start the approval process to erect the Memorial at a specific location within the Jerusalem Avenue Middle School Memorial Gardens or at HHS.

Ken Strafer reports that two relatives of soldiers he works within the "Wounded Warriors Project" began their research on our List of UNCONFIRMED Names at the Federal Archives in Washington during the past month.  Bill Walden has also circulated this list to members of the Hicksville VFW Post, hoping they will also be able to confirm some of these names for the Memorial.  Based on this, work will continue at the Hicksville Public Library to research additional microfilm to hopefully identify other names that can be added to this list and researched for confirmation accordingly.

Memorial Qualifications:  A person must have been on active duty in one of our Armed Forces during the Vietnam Era.  The person did not necessarily have to serve in Vietnam, because by being in service at that time he or she faced the possibility of being sent to Vietnam and was an integral part of strengthening our Armed Forces during a time of war.

Overall qualifications include:

  • must have been a resident of Hicksville at some time before entering our Armed Forces
  • must have attended a public, private or parochial high school while living in Hicksville (attendance at HHS not required)
  • must have served on active duty anywhere in the world during America's Vietnam Era (February,1961 through April,1975)
  • Both men and women qualify (We're stating this since, while continuing to add a number of women, we still have relatively few on the current list overall)

Our Project Team consists of the following HHS Alumni and Vietnam War Era Veterans:

·        Ken Strafer, Founder (HHS '62)

·        Joe Carfora, Project Coordinator & Master List (HHS '62)

·        Carl Probst, Input Data, Class of '59 & Others (HHS '59)

·        Tony Plonski, Input Data, Class of '64 & Others (HHS '64)

·        Tommy Sullivan, Press Release Editing (HHS '63)

·        Walter Schmidt, Town of Oyster Bay Veterans Services Officer (HHS '65)

·        Joe Ingino, Veterans Advocate, Hicksville & Long Island (HHS '67)

·        Jay Tranchina, Input Data, Class of '64 & Others, plus local press contact (HHS 1964)

·        Bill Walden, Cmdr of Hicksville VFW Post, Site Selection/Approval & Fundraising Leader (HHS '65)                                                   

Here's what we continue to need from each person reading this to do:

Please click on the following link to review the Confirmed List of Names: Click here.

Please click on the following link to review the UNCONFIRMED List of Names: Click here.

If you know of someone who is not listed, or if you have information we are still missing, please send what you have to Joe Carfora at jcarfora1@nc.rr.com.  Please use the information contained on the current list as a guide for the data we need.

Thank you!

The Vietnam War Era Memorial Project Team

Footnote extracted from www.vietnamwar.com:  During 15 years of military involvement, over 2 million Americans served in Vietnam with 500,000 seeing actual combat. 47,244 were killed in action, including 8000 airmen. There were 10,446 non-combat deaths. 153,329 were seriously wounded, including 10,000 amputees. Over 2400 American POWs/MIAs were unaccounted for as of 1973.

To access a huge list of veteran related websites that offer assistance, visit http://buffalobobcasale.com