New names added to Vietnam Memorial

[babylonsister]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070503/ap_on_re_us/vietnam_memorial;_ylt=A0SOwkWjQjpGTq4Abwas0NUE

New names added to Vietnam Memorial

By JENNIFER C. KERR, Associated Press Writer 22 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - The name of Army Sgt. Richard M. Pruett is now etched into the glossy black granite of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial — nearly four decades after he was wounded during a combat mission in South Vietnam.

His wife, Ann, wiped away tears as Pruett's name was added to the memorial Thursday. "He would be so honored. It is the ultimate honor, I think, to be on the wall," she said.

Richard Pruett, who was from Sherman, Texas, died in 2005 from complications related to wounds received during the war, making him eligible for inclusion on the memorial on the National Mall.

Also joining those honored on the wall are Navy Fireman Apprentice Joseph Gerald Krywicki of Holton, Mich., and Army Spc. Wesley Alvin Stiverson of Monticello, Ill.

Krywicki was killed in 1966 in Vietnam when a member of his unit accidentally discharged his rifle. The Navy initially declined to add Krywicki's name to the memorial because he died not in combat but in a "friendly fire" incident. The Navy reversed course following inquiries from his family.

Stiverson sustained fragmentation wounds in 1971 when his base camp came under fire in Vietnam. The
Pentagon determined that his death in 2005 was directly related to those wounds.

more...

[newscott]

1. What's up with this?

Krywicki was killed in 1966 in Vietnam when a member of his unit accidentally discharged his rifle. The Navy initially declined to add Krywicki's name to the memorial because he died not in combat but in a "friendly fire" incident. The Navy reversed course following inquiries from his family.
==

????

My cousin drowned in a well while serving Vietnam. Non-combat related. His name is on there.

[lpbk2713]

4. I was in the Navy 65 - 69.

I knew several sailors who died in the 'Combat Zone' but their deaths were not as a result of enemy hostilities. Most of the sailors who died that I knew personally were killed during aircraft launch and recover activities on carriers. You'd have to be there on a carrier deck to know the meaning of the phrase 'controlled chaos', but I digress.

There were others though.





Ed to add: My respects to the fallen. Past, present and future.

[TahitiNut]

2. Hopefully, I can be there on Memorial Day to hear their names read.

:cry:

I'm not yet at all sure I can be there ... or even keep it together if I am. :(

[babylonsister]

3. ...

:hug:

[BOSSHOG]

5. I made one visit to the wall several years ago

I don't think I'll ever be able to do it again.

[lpbk2713]

6. You're a better man than I am.

The travelling scale model has been to my town a time or two. I couldn't bring myself to go see it no matter how much I told myself it was the respectful thing to do.

[TahitiNut]

7. I've been there twice ... and it wasn't easy. Nope. Not easy at all.

I think it'll be even more difficult a third time ... but, in a way, I feel I must if I can.

A distant cousin's name is on the wall - same last name and two initials as me - same year (1969) I was there ... and same grade (E-5). That ... along with the names from February 23 ... it's difficult.