🇺🇲Vietnam War Stories: Honoring the Heroes We Lost: Gerald William Alley of Idaho: A Hero Returns Home 17 Years Later

Today we honor Colonel Gerald William Alley, of Pocatello Iowa, who served with the 22nd Bomber Squadron, 307th Strategic Air Wing, Utapao Airfield, Thailand. On December 22, 1972, he was the pilot of a Boeing Stratofortress Bomber (B-52D) on a strike against storage facilities near Bac Mai Airfield, North Vietnam. As the aircraft flew near the target, it lost its radar then was hit by a surface to air missile. There were no survivors. Colonel Alley was recovered on December 15, 1988 and identified on June 27th, 1989. Gerald was 34 years old.

A recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Air Medal and the Purple Heart Medal, Colonel Alley is honored on the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington DC on Panel 01W Line 103. Gerald lies in rest at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Salina, Kansas. He was survived by his wife, Rosemary, son, Bob, and daughters, Lisa, Janine, Colleen and Tracy. Lest We Forget.

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Original description and photo sourced by The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Database

🇺🇲Vietnam War Stories: Honouring the Heroes We Lost: Ronald John Bell of Western Australia

Today we honour Private Ronald John Bell of Albany Western Australia. Ron, the eldest of six children, was a National Serviceman serving with 2RAR/NZ (ANZAC) (The ANZAC Battalion comprising 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment and a component from the 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Regiment).

“Between 23 November 1967 and 5 January 1968, under the code name Operation Forrest, 2RAR/NZ (ANZAC) was conducting operations in Phuc Tuy Province to deny the VC access to the rice harvest. The battalion was operating in a wide area east of Route 2. During the later part of November 1967 A and C Company were operating immediately north of Route 23 and were in action against the VC. On the 30 November 1967 a patrol from A Company suffered ten casualities from what was thought to be a command detonated mine. Private Bell perished instantly. He was 22 years old.”

Private Ronald John Bell lies in rest at Allambie Park Cemetery in Albany Western Australia. Lest We Forget.

#VietnamWarStories #honorourveterans #vietnamveteran #VietnamWar #vietnamvet #rememberthefallen #honorthefallen #lestweforget

Original description and photo sourced by Virtual War Memorial Australia and The Australian War Memorial/STE/67/0564/HQ

🇺🇲Vietnam War Stories: In Memoriam: Honoring Those That Served: Troy Leroy Varney of West Virginia

Today we honor Troy Leroy Varney, of Logan West Virginia, who passed away on November 3, 2020 at the age of 72 years old.

“Troy Leroy Varney (Rudy) was born on June 30, 1948 in the small town of Varney WV. He is the father of 2 children. He has 2 grandchildren and 1 great grandson. Rudy fought in Khe Sanh and was wounded. He loved being a Marine.

Rudy dedicated 40 plus years of his life to helping veterans all over. He was the president of VVA Chapter 308 in Henlawson, WV. They were the first to have telemedicine in the Logan area. They provided transportation to and from the VA Hospital for those who didn’t have a way. The Chapter also held Stand downs every year for homeless veterans. He worked with politicians on behalf of all veterans. He was a part of the Donel C Kennard Memorial Veterans Cemetery.” – Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Honor Roll Database

Rest in peace Rudy. You are not forgotten.

#VietnamWarStories #honorourveterans #vietnamveterans #VietnamWarVeteran #VietnamWar #vietnamvet #lestweforget

Original description and photos sourced by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Honor Roll Database