The United States became involved in the Vietnam War (sometimes called the Second Indochina War)
in 1957 but we did not begin sending combat troops until 1965. 
The United States withdrew its troops after the signing of the Paris Accords in 1975.
 Between 1965 and 1975 over 3,000,000 men and women were on duty in Southeast Asia.
 58,226 men and women died, another 153,303 were injured,
and over 2,000 were listed as missing in action.

Peekskill’s Vietnam War Honor Roll

Michael John Amato Henry Bethea Oliver C Chase, Jr. Barton Sheldon Creed William Timothy Dorsey Frank John Guichard John Barden Hudson Robert Irwin William Martin Kelly John Thomas Lockhart Chester John Moshier Douglas Ronald Mowbray Lawrence Elston Osborne Michael Louis Poggi Bruce Edward Reed

The simulated rubbings that accompany the memorials on this page were taken from "www.thewall-usa.com"
an impressive website
 dedicated to Vietnam servicemen and women. 
Another Wall website to visit is www.vietnamwall.org. 
Both sites are well worth a visit and contain additional information and reminiscences about these men.

Classmates and/or friends are encouraged to send to the webmaster any memories or pictures of these
 young men who gave their young lives so that all us can live on in freedom.

LCPL. Michael John Amato, U.S. Marines Born January 30, 1947. Probably in the Class of 1965. Lance Corporal Amato was killed on May 13, 1967 at Quana Tri, South Vietnam. He was killed by small arms fire. He served for 2 years and was 20 years old.            His body  was recovered His name is listed on Panel 19E, Line 102 of the Veterans Memorial Wall A tribute to Lcpl. Amato can be viewed at:  http://thewall-usa.com/guest.asp?recid=844

Henry Bethea Henry Bethea was a casualty of the Vietnam war. He was a Pfc in the Army. Henry was born on March 22, 1948. Henry graduated from HenHud High School in 1967.  He was a casualty in Phuoc Long, South Vietnam on Feb 9, 1969 by a hostile explosive device. His body was recovered. His name is listed on Panel 30W, Line 35 of the Veterans Memorial Wall. A tribute to Henry Bethea can be viewed at:  http://thewall-usa.com/guest.asp?recid=3830                                                                                      photo courtesy of Ron Langer

Captain Oliver C. Chase, Jr., U.S. Air Force Born June 23, 1932. Class of 1950. Captain Chase was killed on July 22, 1965. He was a pilot who crashed on land at Binh Dinh, South Viet Nam. He was 33 years old and married. His body was recovered. His name is listed on Panel 02E, Line 042 of the Veterans Memorial Wall A tribute to Captain Chase can be viewed at:  http://thewall-usa.com/guest.asp?recid=8780 Classmate George Bishop sent the picture in from Surrey, United Kingdom. The Yearbook describes Oliver as a "Quiet fellow . . . manages to make his presence known . . . easy to get along with". Activities included J.V. Football, Track Team, Rifle Team, Intra-murals.

Lt. Commander Barton Sheldon Creed, U.S. Navy Born April 3, 1945. Probably the Class of 1963 or perhaps from PMA. Commander Creed was killed on October 2, 1978. He was a pilot. He was reported missing in Laos. His body was not recovered. Bart was the son of George and Verna Creed of Peekskill His name is listed on Panel 04W, Line 043 of the Veterans Memorial Wall In memory of Barton Sheldon Creed, please visit Janet (Finch) Grzegorek’s web page: A Tribute to Barton Sheldon Creed A memorial page can also be viewed at http://thewall-usa.com/guest.asp?recid=1146 and another at: http://www.virtualwall.org/dc/CreedBS01a.htm ~~~~~~~~~~~  Barton Creed was a great guy. I went to school with him at PMA. He graduated in 1963 with the rank of Captain. His nickname was "Bart". He was a very admirable and popular young man. We were in the marching band together .  He graduated with high honors and played many sports including football, basketball, baseball, and lacrosse while at PMA.. He inspired me to take up lacrosse as a freshman in 1963 and I played first string from JV through my senior year ,Varsity, in 1968. I was in the last graduating class at PMA. I went on to college and coached High School LaCrosse in Maryland.  Michael  Walsh - PMA Class of '68     duxmn@austin.rr.com

PFC. William Timothy Dorsey, U.S. Army, 9th Infantry Division Born February 28, 1944. Probably the Class of 1962. At age 26, Private First Class Dorsey was killed on July 3, 1970, at Long An, South Vietnam by an explosive device. He was married. His body was recovered. His name in listed on Panel 09W, Line115 of the Veterans Memorial Wall A tribute to Pfc. Dorsey can be viewed at: http://thewall-usa.com/guest.asp?recid=13736 and another at: http://virtualwall.org/dd/DorseyWT01a.htm

PFC Frank John Guichaud Private First Class Frank John Guichaud was a casualty of the Vietnam War. Frank was born on December 16, 1947 in Peekskill, N.Y.  As a member of the Marine Corps, PFC Guichaud served our country until May 24, 1967 in Quang Nam, South Vietnam. Frank died from an undetermined explosion. His body was recovered. He served his country for one year. He was 19 years old and was not married. PFC Guichaud name is on Panel 20E, Line 095 of the Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. A tribute to Pfc. Guichaud can be viewed at:  http://thewall-usa.com/guest.asp?recid=20378

PFC John Barden Hudson. PFC Hudson was killed in the Vietnam War. He was a member of the Marine Corps. He served our country until April 20th, 1968 in Thua Thien, South Vietnam. He was 19 years old and a member of the Class of 1967. John died from an undetermined explosion. His body was recovered. He was born on April 13, 1949 in Peekskill. John was born in Peekskill. He attended the Assumption, and graduated from Archbishop Stephinak High School John's name is inscribed on panel 51E, line 008 of the Veterans Memorial Wall. He served our country for less than a year. A tribute to Pfc. Hudson can be viewed at: http://thewall-usa.com/guest.asp?recid=24544 ~~~~~~~~~~~~  LASTING IMPRESSION Composed by Betsy (Finch) Rodino, Class of 1969 Joyous was his life, so full of promise and hope. Always aware of his faith in God and patriotism for his country, his Concern for all he knew showed in his morality. Kindness for his fellow Americans was the motivator of his young life. Imagination for what the future may have held for him shall Evermore stay in the minds and hearts of those who knew and loved him. Heaven called him home early, and we had no choice but to let him go Until the time comes again when we will all be reunited. Death ends human life, but those with faith know there is an eternal life. Surely we believe wholeheartedly that he is in that Divine place. Over the years his memory has not diminished nor his spirit lessened. Now all the world will know him through the imprint of his name.

LTC Robert Irwin Robert Irwin graduated with the class of 1956. He became a pilot with the Air Force and served in Vietnam as the pilot of a Phantom fighter jet. His plane was shot down on February 17, 1972. Capt. Edwin A Hawley, Jr., the weapons officer on the Phantom, was captured by the North Vietnamese and later repatriated. Although Capt. Hawley believed that LTC Irwin had died in the crash, he was listed as Missing in Action. In November of 1989, LTC Irwin’s remains were located and repatriated. LTC Irwin is buried in Arlington Cemetery. He was 39 and married when he died. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. His name is on the Wall, Panel 02W - Line 107 A tribute to Ltc. Irwin can be viewed at: http://thewall-usa.com/guest.asp?recid=25164

PFC. William Martin Kelly, U.S. Army, 101st Airborne Division PFC Kelly was born Jan 10, 1947. He would have graduated with the class of 1965 although it is possible that he graduated from the Peekskill Military Academy. Private First Class Kelly was killed on July, 1966, in South Vietnam by small arms fire. His body was recovered. His name is listed on Panel 08E, Line 076 of the Veterans Memorial Wall A tribute to Pfc. Kelly can be viewed at: http://thewall-usa.com/guest.asp?recid=27608

SP 5. John Thomas Lockhart, U.S. Army Born March 27, 1950, Specialist Lockhart was killed on March 11, 1971. He was a helicopter crew member and was killed over Laos. His body was recovered. His name is listed on Panel 04W, Line 038 of the Veterans Memorial Wall A tribute to SP 5 Lockhart can be viewed at: http://thewall-usa.com/info.asp?recid=30927 Marty Bischoff - PHS class of 70 writes: I have some further information on John Lockhart. John was a 1969 graduate of Lakeland High School. He lived on Ridge Road off Lafayette Ave. in Peekskill. His next door neighbor was a good friend of mine, Gary Novak who formally lived on Broad Street. John was a great guy and fun loving. As aninsight, on my 16th birthday, Gary, John, and I all skipped school so John could drive me to Beacon to get my learners permit. After all, that's more important than school.

SSG. Chester John Moshier, Jr., U.S. Marines Born Jan 16, 1934, Staff Sgt. Moshier was killed on July 24, 1968, at Quang Nam, South Viet Nam by an explosive device. His body was recovered. He was a member of the Class of 1953 and served with the U.S. Marines for 14 years. His name is listed on Panel 50W, Line 001 of the Veterans Memorial Wall A tribute to SSgt Moshier, Jr. can be viewed at: http://thewall-usa.com/guest.asp?recid=36725 Ralph “Buddy” Treadwell writes: I was about 5 years older than Chester, so I was a Korean Vet the last time I saw him. He visited my dad’s grocery store on So. Division St. and I recall how proud he was to wear the uniform of the U.S. Marine Force. He was a great guy and I was proud to call him a friend.

PFC. Douglas Ronald Mowbray, U.S. Marines PFC Mowbray was born October 18, 1945.  Private First Class Mowbray was killed on September 15, 1966 at Quang Tri, South Vietnam by small arms fire. His body was recovered. His name is listed on Panel 10E, Line 001 of the Veterans Memorial Wall He was a graduate of Hendrick Hudson High School, Class of 1964 A tribute to Pfc. Mowbray can be viewed at: http://thewall-usa.com/guest.asp?recid=36806 and also at: http://www.virtualwall.org/dm/MowbrayDR01a.htm                                                              photo courtesy of Ron Langer

SGT. Lawrence Elston Osborne, U.S. Army, 25th Infantry Division Born November 25, 1947 and a member of the class of 1965, Sergeant Osborne was killed on April 4, 1968 at Tay Ninh, South Viet Nam by small arms fire. His body was recovered. His name is listed on Panel 48E, Line 073 of the Veterans Memorial Wall "Ozzie" was described in his Yearbook as the Mel Allen of the 70's. He hoped to become a teacher. In addition to playing JV Basketball and Baseball - he was the Sports Editor of the Yearbook, Mercury, Basketball and Volleyball Intramurals. A tribute to Sgt Osborne can be found at: http://thewall-usa.com/guest.asp?recid=38874

SGT. Michael Louis Poggi, U.S. Army, 25th Infantry Division Sargeant Poggi was born on August 30, 1948. He would have graduated with the class of 1966. Sergeant Poggi was killed on March 28, 1969 at Tay Ninh by small arms fire. His body was recovered His name is listed on Panel 28W, Line 073 of the Veterans Memorial Wall A tribute to Sgt. Poggi can be viewed at: http://thewall-usa.com/guest.asp?recid=41112 and also at: http://www.virtualwall.org/dp/PoggiML01a.htm

CPL. Bruce Edward Reed, U.S.Army, 25th Infantry Division "A Good Friend, and a Good Soldier" contributed by R. Glenn Stubbs, Jr., Class of 1967 Born April 23, 1948, Corporal Reed was killed on February 28, 1969, at Hua Nahia, South Viet Nam by small arms fire. His body was recovered. His name is listed on Panel 31W, Line 096 of the Veterans Memorial Wall A memorial tribute to Cpl. Reed can be viewed at: http://thewall-usa.com/guest.asp?recid=42648

We have received the text and map (shown below) of Viet Nam, from Doug MacDuff.  Doug was in the Class of 1966.  He has painstakingly located the places on the map where the Peekskill men  in harms way made the ultimate sacrifice.  We would welcome your feedback about your memories of your classmates or,  on any part of the Fallen Heroes pages. ISouth Vietnam consists of # 31 - 64. The lower #s are North Vietnam. #31 is Quang Tri (combat base) the northernmost unit. (I was there with the U.S. Army, 1/77 Armor, 1/5 Infantry Division 1970-71.) Bill Kelly was a friend of mine. I was a senior in high school when he died. Bill was a year ahead of me in school. We attended PMA together and as far as I know he graduated from there and joined the Army soon after. From my sources, and maybe you'd like to add this, Bill Kelly was wounded 2 times and after each time he volunteered to return to combat. So he was a recipient of the purple heart. Bill was a very good friend of mine and I remember  I was burning leaves the day I heard of Bills death. It really hit me hard to realize he was gone. . .         Doug MacDuff

For more information about the Vietnam War, the webmasters recommend
 the Wikipedia - www.vietnamwar.com
www.virtualwall.org/iAlpha.htm