Those gone but not forgotten

This page is dedicated to the memory of our deceased MRFA members

Our prayers and best wishes go out to those left behind. The Brothers and Sisters of the Mobile Riverine Force Association wish the departed fair winds and following seas and our thoughts will always be with you….

TAPS Tribute to a Fallen One

Arthur Lockhart

Member Arthur “Art” Lockhart passed away on January 6, 2018.  While in Vietnam he served in Naval Support Activity, Detachment Dong Tam from January 1968 to January 1969).  You may contact the Family C/O: Earlene Lockhart, 3050 US Highway 311, Madison, NC 27025-8445 – (336) 427-0049 bigukblue@triad.rr.com

Thomas C. Oneyear

Member Master Chief (BMCM) Thomas C. Oneyear (USN Ret.) passed away on April 7, 2018.  While in Vietnam he served with Task Force 116 (Gamewardens).  You may contact the Family C/O: Cheryl K. Oneyear, 113 Quaker Dr., Elizabeth City, NC 27909-9105 bmcmtoneyear@centurylink.net

David Donovan

Member David Donovan passed away on June 27, 2018.  While in Vietnam he served with Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 47th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division from January to December 1967.

James Paul Coulson

Member James Paul Coulson passed away on March 16, 2018.  While in Vietnam he served onboard the USS Coconino County (LST-603) and the USS Outagamie County (LST-1073) from February 1968 to March 1970.  James was a resident of Columbia Falls, Montana, at the time of his passing.

Larry R. Good

Past Member LT Larry R. Good passed away on June 23, 2018.  While in Vietnam he served as the Dental Officer at An Thoi from June 1968 to June 1969.  LT Good was living in Hays, KS. At the time of his passing.

Hugh Nathan McNeal

Member Hugh Nathan McNeal passed away on July 22, 2018.  While in Vietnam he served in River Assault Squadron 15 – Division 151 as Boat Captain of T-151-4 from May 1968 to June 1969.  At the time of his passing he resided in Bennington, Oklahoma. You may contact the Family C/O his wife:  Pamela McNeal, 486 Old Church Road, Bennington, OK 74723 and his daughter, Natalie Carlgren, at ncarlgren@hotmail.com

Martin Joseph Watson, Jr.

Member Martin “Marty” Joseph Watson, Jr. passed away on August 6, 2018.  While in Vietnam he served onboard the USS Colleton (APB-36) in 1967-1968.  Martin was living in Coldwater, MI at the time of his passing.

Ross Francis O’Dowd
    

Member Ross Francis O’Dowd passed away on August 2, 2018 following a courageous battle against a rare soft tissue sarcoma related to Agent Orange exposure. While in Vietnam he served with River Assault Squadrons 9 & 13 – Divisions 92 & 131 onboard T-92-7 and T-131-4 from August 1968 to August 1969. Ross was a resident of Apache Junction, AZ at the time of his passing.  You may contact the Family C/O his oldest son: Rossie O’Dowd, 1883 Teakwood Dr., White Lake, MI 48383 – 248-766-0877 – grumpy454@gmail.com

Dale Allen Walker
   

Dale Allen Walker passed away on April 4, 2018.  While in Vietnam he served with River Assault Squadron 11 from February to June 1969 when the Division was turned over to the South Vietnamese Navy.  Then Dale transferred to River Assault Squadron 15/Division 152 where he served as Boat Captain on A-152-21 until he was wounded on October 23, 1969.  We are not sure if he stayed in-country or was medevaced back to the United States.  Dale lived in the Jacksonville/Tyler, Texas area at the time of his passing.

Paul H. Jefferson

Member Michael D. Bancroft passed away on September 22, 2018 from lung cancer.  While in Vietnam he served with Bravo Company, 1st Platoon, 4th Battalion, 39th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division from October 1967 to October 1968.  At the time of his passing he was residing in Tarpon Springs, Florida.

Thomas Mason Nielsen

Member Thomas Mason Nielsen passed away on December 10, 2018 from Merkel Cell Cancer.  While in Vietnam he served with River Assault Squadron 13 – River Assault Division 132 onboard T-132-6 from June 1968 to June 1969.  Tom was a master of fine art.  He designed and painted our Mobile Riverine Force Association poster and also designed our Vietnam Combatant-Craft Crewman (VCCC) insignia.  Tom is survived by his wife Jan, who is also an accomplished artist.

Rex Allen Young

David R. Nehrlich

Member David R. Nehrlich passed away in 2018.  While in Vietnam he served with Bravo Company, 5th Battalion, 60th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division from January to September 1970.  David was living in Santee, CA at the time of his passing.  He is survived by his spouse Sandra.

John Dale Chasse

John Dale Chasse passed away in 2018.  While in Vietnam he served with A Company, 3rd Battalion, 47th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division

Randy Neil Erickson

Randy N. Erickson passed away on March 12, 2018 from heart related problems.  While in Vietnam he served with River Assault Squadron 15 – River Assault Division 151 as the lead Engineman on T-151-13 during 1968-69.  Randy was living in Huron, SD at the time of his passing.  He is survived by his wife Janet and children

Charles E. Sykes

Member Charles “Charlie” E. Sykes passed on August 15, 2018.  While in Vietnam he served with River Assault Squadron 15 onboard T-46.  Then he was transferred to Coastal Division 13 to finish his tour of duty.  Charlie’s in-country dates were May 1969 to May 1970.  He is survived by his long time wife Lisa.

James J. McMahon Jr.

Member Senior Chief James J. McMahon Jr. (USN Ret.) passed away on November 27, 2018.  Chief McMahon served in World War II, Korea and did 3 tours of duty in Vietnam.  From June 1968 to July 1970 he served with Mine Division 112 on MSBs.

A Soldier Died Today

Written by A. Lawrence Vaincourt
www.vaincourt.homestead.com

He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion,
Telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, every one.

And ‘tho sometimes, to his neighbors
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened,
For they knew whereof he spoke.

But we’ll hear his tales no longer
For old Bill has passed away,
And the world’s a little poorer,
For a soldier died today.

He will not be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary
And quite uneventful life.

He held a job and raised a family,
Quietly going his own way,
And the world won’t note his passing,
Though a soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing
And proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell of their life stories,
From the time that they were young,
But the passing of a soldier
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
A guy who breaks his promises
And cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow who,
In times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his Country
And offers up his life?

The politician’s stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are sometimes disproportionate
To the service that he gives.

While the ordinary soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps, a pension small.

It’s so easy to forget them
For it was so long ago,
That the old Bills of our Country
Went to battle, but we know,

It is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our Country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you want a politician
With his ever-shifting stand?

Or would you prefer a soldier,
Who has sworn to defend
His home, his kin and Country
And would fight until the end?

He was just a common soldier
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his like again.

For when countries are in conflict,
Then we find the soldier’s part
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor
While he’s here to hear the praise,
Then at least let’s give him homage
At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline
In a paper that would say:
Our Country is in, mourning,
For a soldier died today.