[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 60 (Thursday, April 23, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2389-S2391]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING VIETNAM VETERANS AND NORTH DAKOTA'S SOLDIERS WHO LOST THEIR
LIVES IN VIETNAM
Ms. HEITKAMP. Mr. President, I rise today to continue our efforts to
honor the Nation's and North Dakota's Vietnam veterans and specifically
those brave servicemembers who were killed in action during the Vietnam
war.
Mr. President, 198 soldiers from North Dakota died while serving in
Vietnam. Today, I am honored to speak about some of these brave men and
the stories their families have shared with us.
I need to credit David Erbstoesser of Bismarck, a Vietnam veteran,
for his service and for his years of reaching out to the family members
of these fallen North Dakota patriots. Over the past 20 years, David
contacted each family to obtain a photo of every servicemember and a
photo of their gravestone. I am grateful to David for meeting with my
staff to share his collection of obituaries, news articles, and photos
he has collected.
The Bismarck High students and their teachers are also researching
North Dakota's servicemembers who didn't come home from Vietnam. Today,
I am happy to include research from BHS's 11th grade students about two
such men: Gary Myers and David Bujalski.
Raphael ``John'' Frost
The first of our soldiers is John Frost. John was from Hunter. He was
born on March 16, 1948. He served in the Army's 196th Infantry Brigade.
John was 20 years old when he was killed on December 20, 1968.
John was the oldest of three children and helped his dad on the
family farm. During high school, John participated in the school
newspaper, choir, the Letterman's Club, a school play, and was a class
officer. He was also an all-around athlete who earned letters in track,
baseball, football, and basketball. His mother Lois still remembers how
proud she was the day he scored 33 points in one basketball game in a
winning effort.
After high school, John enrolled at Valley City State College. He was
a quiet, fun-loving boy who dreamed of returning to his hometown to
work as a teacher and basketball coach.
John's mother and brother Kevin remember John's kindness, especially
toward his Grandma Alice while she was staying with the family
recuperating from breaking her hip. While his parents were out of town,
John stayed home caring for his grandmother, even making potato
pancakes for her.
Jon Greenley
Jon Greenley was from Fargo. He was born on January 30, 1942. He
served in the Air Force's 774th Tactical Aerial Flight Squadron. Jon
died on January 7, 1966. He was 23 years old.
Jon was one of three sons. His brother Doug remembers that Jon
respected authority. Jon sent Doug a letter stating that the only time
he questioned their parents' judgment was when he was buying a
lawnmower and they suggested he buy a type he didn't like.
From a young age, Jon had an interest in planes and in the military.
He joined the North Dakota Air National Guard. When his parents
wouldn't take him to see the Air Museum in Ohio, he hitchhiked there.
Jon attended North Dakota State University and became president of
the international relations group there. He was named Outstanding ROTC
of the Air Force and was the first alternate to the Air Force Academy.
The Fargo AMVETS post, founded in 1980, was named after Jon.
His body has never been recovered.
Dan Herdebu
Dan Herdebu was from Baldwin. He was born on July 21, 1948. He served
in the Army's 1st Aviation Brigade. He was 19 years old when he died on
March 10, 1968.
Dan and his two brothers attended their two-room school through the
eighth grade and attended Bismarck High School.
Dan planned to put his aviation experience to good use by flying
helicopters for law enforcement or medical facilities someday.
Dan's older brother Eugene was in basic training when Dan was killed
in a helicopter crash in Vietnam. After Dan's death, Eugene also served
in Vietnam in the Army.
Alan Hinzpeter
Alan Hinzpeter was from Minot. He was born on May 12, 1949. He served
in the Army's 101st Airborne Division. Alan died on September 6, 1971.
He was 22 years old. Alan was one of four children. His brother Gordie
also served in Vietnam, and their father served in World War II in the
Navy.
Alan's friends and family called him Pete and remember him as a hard
worker who was smart and generous with his money. He was a jokester who
liked everyone and whom everyone liked. His oldest sister Jean tells
about the time he wanted to watch the World Series, so he smoked a
cigarette at school so he would be suspended. Jean says that Alan was 5
feet 4 inches but had a big personality. Many people attended his
funeral and still to this day remember him fondly.
Gerald Allen ``Al'' Iverson
Al Iverson was from Oakes. He was born on May 26, 1947. He served in
the Army's 9th Infantry Division. He was 20 years old when he died on
November 1, 1967.
Al was the second youngest of 14 kids--7 boys and 7 girls. Al's
siblings say he was a fun-loving brother with red hair and freckles. He
loved baseball and fishing. He also enjoyed spending time with his
older siblings' kids, the oldest in his family, and he wanted to get
married someday and have six kids of his own.
Al had 3 months left before he was scheduled to return home. He was
the first Dickey County soldier to die in Vietnam.
Norbert Froehlich
Norbert Froehlich was from Belfield. He was born on March 4, 1947. He
served in the Army's 503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment. Norbert died on
January 30, 1968. He was 19 years old.
He was the ninth of 10 kids and grew up on his family farm. Three of
his brothers also served our country in the military.
His friends, both in the Army and from high school, remembered
Norbert as a friend who stuck by them through thick and thin. His
brother Don says that Norbert was wounded in Vietnam and was supposed
to be on R&R in Australia but chose to stay in Vietnam to
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help his fellow soldiers. His church in Belfield recognizes him every
year on the anniversary of his death. After his death, the Army
promoted Norbert to corporal.
Gerhardt Just
Gerhardt Just was from Wishek and was born October 31, 1925. He
served in the Army's 1st Aviation Brigade. Gerhardt died on August 27,
1965. He was 39 years old. He was survived by his wife Lillian,
daughters Oteeka and Cora, and his son Butch.
Gerhardt joined the Army, served in Korea, and then reenlisted in the
Army to provide for his family.
Gerhardt's oldest child, Oteeka, remembers that it was so important
for her dad to support his family financially that after his pickup
caught fire and burned the driver's seat, he put a kitchen chair in the
cab so he could drive to his second job.
His kids have memories of spending their last time together working
on the house he bought them, installing grass in the yard and painting
the house days before his deployment.
Gerhardt was killed just a month after arriving in Vietnam.
Gerhardt's children appreciate how after his death, Gerhardt's
parents and siblings always welcomed his widow and children into their
family with open arms.
Gary Myers
Gary Myers was from Fort Yates and was born on November 4, 1947. He
served in the Marine Corps's 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion. Gary was 20
years old when he died on May 13, 1968.
Gary's father served in the Army during the Korean war and was
stationed in Germany, where Gary was born. Gary spent 1 year at
Dickinson State University before enlisting.
Gary's sister Linda remembers him as an outgoing person who loved to
help people when he had a chance. He was an honor student and enjoyed
playing sports, including wrestling, football, and rodeo. When we
wasn't busy with sports, Gary was helping his father work on their
cattle ranch.
Gary's hometown friends and fellow soldiers reported that Gary was
killed in Vietnam while leading a mission to retrieve his lieutenant's
body 1 month before Gary was scheduled to return home to his family in
the United States.
Larry Olson
Larry Olson was from McHenry. He was born on June 26, 1945. He served
in the Army's 25th Infantry Division. Larry died on June 19, 1968. He
was 22 years old.
Larry's grandfather served in World War I, his father in World War
II, and his brother and nephews also served our country.
Larry was the oldest of six children. His sister Rita remembers him
as the big brother who always watched out for her and kept bullies
away.
Larry was a hard worker and a good friend. Fellow soldiers from his
regiment loved Larry so much that they asked Rita to show them his
grave.
Richard ``Rick'' Borgman
Rick Borgman was from Minot and was born on January 23, 1947. He
served in the Army's 101st Airborne Division. He was 21 years old when
he died on March 3, 1968.
Rick's mother Anita and sister Pat remember him as a loving, gentle
person. He participated in Boy Scouts, worked at the Red Owl grocery
store, and enjoyed fast cars and life in general.
Rick left behind his widow Linda, his son Shannon, and daughter
Laura. Linda learned that she was pregnant with Laura shortly after
Rick's funeral. Linda remembers Rick's big heart, great sense of humor,
and that he was loved by many. She says she can see Rick whenever she
looks at Shannon and Laura and that Shannon's laugh is contagious, just
as his dad's was.
Linda is grateful that her second husband, Bruce Sullivan, a Vietnam
veteran, adopted Shannon and Laura and lovingly helped her raise them.
David Bujalski
David Bujalski was from Carrington. He was born on August 18, 1940.
He served in the Army Corps of Engineers' 65th Energy Battalion. On
August 15, 1967, David died. He was 27 years old.
David was the youngest of six children, lovingly called ``Little
David.'' But after reaching the height of 6 foot 2 inches, his family
more often referred to cheerful and friendly David as a gentle giant.
He graduated in the top third of his class from West Point and
married Barbara. They had a daughter Elizabeth while David was
stationed in Germany. They moved to Arizona, and David became a
commander. His first sergeant there was quoted saying, ``He was revered
by his cadre, loved by his students, and respected by his superiors.''
David felt a duty to serve in Vietnam, and 8 days after arriving
there, he was killed by a sniper. His second daughter Kathleen was born
6 weeks later.
David's brother Jack, also a West Point graduate, wrote the following
about his brother:
David's life was too short for him to have reached his full
potential. We can only conjecture as to what he would have
achieved, but we do know that he influenced the lives of all
who knew him.
Leslie Carter
Leslie Carter was from Jamestown. He was born on November 3, 1943. He
served in the Navy as a medic. He was 24 years old when he died on July
1, 1968.
Leslie left behind his widow Marlys and his daughter Heidi. Leslie
met Marlys through his brother Douglas. While home on leave, Leslie won
Marlys over, and the couple later married. A year after their wedding,
their daughter Heidi was born. Heidi was 5 months old when her father
died and never had an opportunity to meet him.
One of Leslie's high school friends, who also served in the Navy,
James Bitz, called Leslie ``Butch'' and remembers him as one of the
nicest, most generous people he had ever had the pleasure of knowing.
David Corcoran
David Corcoran was from Grand Forks. He was born on May 5, 1951. He
served in the Army's 101st Airborne Division. David died on June 26,
1969. He was 18 years old.
David was one of five children and the only son. He loved hunting
with his father, grandfather, and uncles. He also loved cars and
playing basketball. David helped construct a figure 8 racetrack in
Grand Forks and was happy to be able to race his own cars on the track
a few times before being deployed.
Wanting to serve his country like his World War II veteran father,
David joined the Army at age 17. His family hoped he would not be
assigned to a combat unit because he was only 17, but a day after his
18th birthday, he received his orders to Vietnam.
Wilbert Fleck
Wilbert Fleck was from Breien and was born November 22, 1949. He
served in the Army's 1st Infantry Division. He was 19 years old when he
died on July 27, 1969.
Wilbert was one of 13 children--7 boys and 6 girls. Six of the seven
boys served in the military.
Wilbert's brothers and sisters remember him as a selfless and caring
person. He was always willing to help out a neighbor. He was dedicated
to caring for his aging parents and was extremely protective of those
he loved.
Wilbert died taking charge of his platoon after his platoon leader
was killed. His sister Pauline says that this was just the kind of
person he was--always willing to put the needs of others before his
own. Wilbert was Pauline's best friend.
Lowell Hardmeyer
Lowell Hardmeyer was from Mott. He was born on February 16, 1949. He
served in the Army's 198th Light Infantry Brigade. He died on June 10,
1970. He was 21 years old.
Lowell was the younger of two sons. He was a blue-eyed boy who loved
horses and grew up on his family farm and ranch in the Prairie Hills.
In 1967, Lowell graduated from high school and enrolled in the
National Electronics Institute in Denver before serving in the Army.
In Vietnam, Lowell had various duties, including rear security guard,
walking on point patrol, and radio operator. He was killed when his
company came under mortar attack.
Lowell's cousin, Lauren, remembers Lowell was a shy, sweet young man.
Lauren says that Lowell's parents, George and Clara Hardmeyer, grieved
Lowell's death until their own in the 1990s.
Merlyn Paulson
Merlyn Pauslon was from Fargo and he was born on June 19, 1936. He
served
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in the Air Force's 8th Tactical Fighter Wing. He was 35 years old when
he went missing on March 29, 1972.
Merlyn was one of nine children, six boys and three girls. Five of
the boys served their country, three in World War II and two in
Vietnam.
Merlyn's brother Bob remembers him as a wonderful boy who people
couldn't help but love. Bob jokes that Merlyn had personality to burn.
Merlyn went missing when his plane was shot down by a surface-to-air
missile. Fourteen years later, in 1986, his body was finally recovered.
Years later, his family was finally able to lay him to rest in
Arlington National Cemetery.
These are just a few stories that, by sharing today with the Senate
and sharing today on the floor of the Senate, I hope will remind us all
of the tremendous sacrifice that not only these young men have provided
for their country but the sacrifice also of their families, their
children, and the wives they leave behind, the parents they leave
behind, and that it is a constant reminder that we must never forget
the duty to our country and we must never forget those among us who
have paid the ultimate price.
I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
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