On this, Memorial Day, please remember the three members of our class who died in service to our country, in the Vietnam War.
James Bogacz, of Springfield, died August 27, 1969, at age 23. An Army corporal, he was killed in Thua Thien Province. More info from the Virtual Vietnam Veterans Wall of Faces
Charles Parsons, of Springfield, was killed February 28, 1968, when the helicopter in which he was riding on a recovery mission to Khe Sanh was shot down. He was a Marine sergeant and 21 years old. More info from the Virtual Vietnam Veterans Wall of Faces
Mark Rivest, of Chicopee Falls, was killed on June 4, 1970. A first lieutenant in the Army, he was 24 years old at his death. More info from the Virtual Vietnam Veterans Wall of Faces
An article in the May 28, 2007 Republican about Springfield men on the Vietnam Memorial Wall featured Mark’s service as a member of Army Special Forces. Great photo and information. Tom Robinson made a pdf of the article — Mark Rivest-The Republican
Day is done,
Gone the sun,
From the lakes,
From the hills,
From the sky,
All is well,
Safely rest,
God is nigh.
Verse from the unofficial lyrics to “Taps”
Hard to believe that it has been so long. I think of all the others who have served, given their lives, hard hardships to themselves and their families and survivors. They have all given a lot to their country and to each of us and our families. It is good to take a minute and thank them and God…..