HONORED ON PANEL 3E, LINE 48 OF THE WALL
HAROLD EUGENE WILKINS
WALL NAME
HAROLD E WILKINS
PANEL / LINE
3E/48
DATE OF BIRTH
CASUALTY PROVINCE
DATE OF CASUALTY
HOME OF RECORD
COUNTY OF RECORD
STATE
BRANCH OF SERVICE
RANK
REMEMBRANCES
LEFT FOR HAROLD EUGENE WILKINS
POSTED ON 1.4.2009
POSTED BY: Arnold M. Huskins
Initial newspaper report
Victim of Mortar Fire
Lincoln County Man is Killed in Viet Nam Attack
Lincoln Times-News
15 November 1965
"Mom, I'm not in California. I'm in Viet Nam and I'm tired of living in this graveyard. I don't like it all."
Army SP/4 Harold Wilkens, (sic), a native of Lincoln County, wrote those words to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C.B. Wilens of Route 2, Vale, in one his last letters home.
His parents received word late Saturday that their son had died of mortar wounds Friday in South Viet Nam where was serving with the First Cavalry Division.
The telegram from the Department of the Army said that the 23-year-old Wilkens was killed when his defensive position came under mortar attack from the Communists.
Wilkens is the first man from Lincoln County to be killed in the fighting in South Viet Nam.
Young Wilkens had been in the Army almost two years, his parents said. He was their only son. There are four girls in the family.
The telegram read in part, "Your son died in Viet Nam on 12 November as a result of mutiple fragments causing wounds of the body while his outfit was in a defensive position and came under mortar attack from the Communists."
Wilkens' outfit had been the backbone of the Army's offensive action in Viet Nam. New sources said today (Monday) that the First Cav was now doing battle with the Communists in the Central Highlands of Viet Nam near the Cambodian border.
Wilkens' mother said her son told her he was working in a supply capacity.
Harold had attended Newbold High School in Lincolnton before going into the Army. His father, who works for a Hickory trucking firm, said his son drove a truck for a short time before entering the service. He had been in Viet Nam for several months, according to his mother. She said her son was 23 years old on Sept. 23.
The family lives near North Brook III school.
Mrs. Macie Beaman, Lincoln Veterans Service officer, said the body will be flown back to Lincoln County with a full military escort in the next several days.
E.F. Drum and Sons Funeral Home will be in charge of arrangements.
Lincoln County Man is Killed in Viet Nam Attack
Lincoln Times-News
15 November 1965
"Mom, I'm not in California. I'm in Viet Nam and I'm tired of living in this graveyard. I don't like it all."
Army SP/4 Harold Wilkens, (sic), a native of Lincoln County, wrote those words to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C.B. Wilens of Route 2, Vale, in one his last letters home.
His parents received word late Saturday that their son had died of mortar wounds Friday in South Viet Nam where was serving with the First Cavalry Division.
The telegram from the Department of the Army said that the 23-year-old Wilkens was killed when his defensive position came under mortar attack from the Communists.
Wilkens is the first man from Lincoln County to be killed in the fighting in South Viet Nam.
Young Wilkens had been in the Army almost two years, his parents said. He was their only son. There are four girls in the family.
The telegram read in part, "Your son died in Viet Nam on 12 November as a result of mutiple fragments causing wounds of the body while his outfit was in a defensive position and came under mortar attack from the Communists."
Wilkens' outfit had been the backbone of the Army's offensive action in Viet Nam. New sources said today (Monday) that the First Cav was now doing battle with the Communists in the Central Highlands of Viet Nam near the Cambodian border.
Wilkens' mother said her son told her he was working in a supply capacity.
Harold had attended Newbold High School in Lincolnton before going into the Army. His father, who works for a Hickory trucking firm, said his son drove a truck for a short time before entering the service. He had been in Viet Nam for several months, according to his mother. She said her son was 23 years old on Sept. 23.
The family lives near North Brook III school.
Mrs. Macie Beaman, Lincoln Veterans Service officer, said the body will be flown back to Lincoln County with a full military escort in the next several days.
E.F. Drum and Sons Funeral Home will be in charge of arrangements.
read more
read less
POSTED ON 11.21.2006
POSTED BY: Bill Nelson Nam Vet 101st Airborne
NEVER FORGOTTEN
FOREVER REMEMBERED
"If you are able, save for them a place inside of you....and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go.....Be not ashamed to say you loved them....
Take what they have left and what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own....And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind...."
Quote from a letter home by Maj. Michael Davis O'Donnell
KIA 24 March 1970. Distinguished Flying Cross: Shot down and Killed while attempting to rescue 8 fellow soldiers surrounded by attacking enemy forces.
We Nam Brothers pause to give a backward glance, and post this remembrance to you , one of the gentle heroes lost to the War in Vietnam:
Slip off that pack. Set it down by the crooked trail. Drop your steel pot alongside. Shed those magazine-ladened bandoliers away from your sweat-soaked shirt. Lay that silent weapon down and step out of the heat. Feel the soothing cool breeze right down to your soul....and rest forever in the shade of our love, brother.
From all your "Band of Nam Brothers"
read more
read less
POSTED ON 11.20.2006
POSTED BY: Bill Nelson Nam Vet 101st Airborne
NEVER FORGOTTEN
FOREVER REMEMBERED
"If you are able, save for them a place inside of you....and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go.....Be not ashamed to say you loved them....
Take what they have left and what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own....And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind...."
Quote from a letter home by Maj. Michael Davis O'Donnell
KIA 24 March 1970. Distinguished Flying Cross: Shot down and Killed while attempting to rescue 8 fellow soldiers surrounded by attacking enemy forces.
We Nam Brothers pause to give a backward glance, and post this remembrance to you , one of the gentle heroes lost to the War in Vietnam:
Slip off that pack. Set it down by the crooked trail. Drop your steel pot alongside. Shed those magazine-ladened bandoliers away from your sweat-soaked shirt. Lay that silent weapon down and step out of the heat. Feel the soothing cool breeze right down to your soul....and rest forever in the shade of our love, brother.
From all your "Band of Nam Brothers"
read more
read less
POSTED ON 11.12.2003
POSTED BY: Bethany Witzig
Dear Soldier
Dear Soldier,
I am a student at Gridley High School. As a history project we are writing remembrances for every Vietnam soldier that does not have one.
God bless you and your family for your sacrifice.
Bethany Witzig
I am a student at Gridley High School. As a history project we are writing remembrances for every Vietnam soldier that does not have one.
God bless you and your family for your sacrifice.
Bethany Witzig
read more
read less
POSTED ON 11.12.2003
POSTED BY: Dylan Punke
Thank You
Dear Harold,
I am a student from Gridley High School located in Gridley, IL. We are posting remembrances for a class project and to honor those that paid the ultimate sacrifice.
I would like to thank you for the sacrifice that you made. You defended your nation’s beliefs and were willing to die for these beliefs. You sacrificed your life because you believed in the inalienable rights for all of human kind. Thank you for your protection and extension of liberties for all men, women, and children. Thank you for your fine service.
I am a student from Gridley High School located in Gridley, IL. We are posting remembrances for a class project and to honor those that paid the ultimate sacrifice.
I would like to thank you for the sacrifice that you made. You defended your nation’s beliefs and were willing to die for these beliefs. You sacrificed your life because you believed in the inalienable rights for all of human kind. Thank you for your protection and extension of liberties for all men, women, and children. Thank you for your fine service.
read more
read less