Hicksville Vietnam War Era Memorial

One new name was added to the Confirmed List of Names in September for a new total of 1,890.  Progress on filling in missing data for the Confirmed List of Names was very weak this past month, plus no progress was made on the Unconfirmed List of Names.  We continue to truly need the help of all our readers here!! 

As a HixNews reader, please help us by reviewing both lists when you select the "click here" options near the bottom of this update with your computer mouse.  To speed the process, just look for names from your class year and other years you may be familiar with, as a reference and see if you have a new name or some missing data on existing names to email to us.  Class years, where known, are specifically shown to make this effort easier for everyone.  Missing data for names is shown in red, to make it easier for readers to see what's needed.

The Unconfirmed List was created to specifically insure we don't leave anyone behind from earlier class years (the 1940's and 50's) who served during the Vietnam War Era and deserve recognition.  Please see if you can help us establish if these folks served during the Vietnam Era (Vietnam Era dates are shown in the "Memorial Qualifications" section below).

Fund Raising:  The IRS agent who told Ken Strafer in June that our not-for-profit (NFP) request had been approved was in error. With no confirmation letter still by mid-September, Ken spent quite some time on the phone with the IRS and finally learned that our approval is considered to be "pending" with further review required.  With our original application for NFP status dating back to last December, this is very frustrating to all of us, but we have no alternative other than to wait and continue to follow up with them by phone.  Once we have official written approval of NFP status from the IRS, we will open our bank account which will enable us to start collecting donations to construct the Memorial.

Memorial Qualifications:  A person must have been on active duty in one of our Armed Forces, served in the Active Reserves or served in the National Guard during the Vietnam War Era.  Armed Forces personnel 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) or on Active Reserve or National Guard Duty in the USA during the same period.
  • Both men and women qualify (We're stating this since, while a number of women have been added, we still have relatively few on the current list overall)

Our Project Team consists of the following HHS Alumni and Vietnam War Era Veterans and is pleased to add its newest member in Terry Wallace:

·        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 '64)

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

·        Terry Wallace, Input Data, Class of '66 & Others, has fundraising experience (HHS '66)                                                    

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:  Confirmed list.

Please click on the following link to review the UNCONFIRMED List of Names:  Unconfirmed list.

If you know of someone who is not listed, or if you have information we are still missing, please email what you have to Joe Carfora at jcar4a@aol.com.    Please use the information contained on the current list as a guide for the data needed to complete a name's listing.

Thank you!

The Vietnam War Era Memorial Project Team

Footnote extracted from www.vietnamwar.com:  During nearly 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