11/10/2024
Of the 307 members of our 1964 graduating class, 45 are veterans and of those, 27 served in Vietnam. Fortunately, all of our classmates who served in the war returned home safely. But 7 other former PNG students lost their lives in the conflict. Never to be forgotten, may they rest in peace.
Semper fi! SGT Don Dorsey
USMC Scout Sniper
Vietnam 69-70
PNG CASUALTIES OF THE VIETNAM WAR
US Army Private First Class James John Hessler. From Groves, PNG Class of 1960, James was the first and oldest PNG graduate to lose his life in Vietnam. Primarily a radio operator with Headquarters Company, 20th Engineer Brigade, he also served as a jeep driver for officers. On 2 May 1966, he was killed outright in a vehicle accident at the age of 23.
US Navy Seaman Ray Augustine Chatelain. Originally from Tenaha, TX, Ray completed only his senior year at PNG, Class of 1965. He served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal in the Gulf of Tonkin, North Vietnam. While on Yankee Station on 29 July 1967, the ship suffered the most tragic loss of life at sea since WWII. As a flight of several aircraft was preparing to launch, an unstable rocket attached to one of the planes accidentally discharged and struck another aircraft, causing a chain reaction of explosions and a fire that killed 134 sailors and aviators and injured 161 others. Having survived the initial explosions, Ray heroically fought the ensuing flames in an attempt to rescue trapped men below deck. Overcome by smoke inhalation, he passed out and died the following day, 30 July 1967. He was 21 yrs old.
US Marine Private First Class Thomas James Sparks. From Groves, PNG Class of 1967, Tommy was a machine gunner with G 2/9, 3d Marine Division. The life expectancy of a machine gunner in a fire fight is measured in seconds. But he managed to survive 2 months in Vietnam before he was killed on patrol 9 Feb 1968 by a b***y trap. The youngest PNG graduate to die in Vietnam, he was only 18.
US Army Sergeant William Wayne Mouton. From Groves, PNG Class of 1966, Bill was a combat infantryman with D 2/12 of the 25th Infantry Division. He played both football and basketball here at PNG in 1963-64, where he was a promising sophomore athlete. An upstanding young man, Bill was killed in action in a fire fight on 17 Apr 1968 by small arms fire, dead at the age of 20.
US Army Sergeant Elmer Lynn Spivey. From Port Neches, PNG Class of 1967, Elmer was a turret artillery repairman with the 11th Armored Cavalry. Returning to a night defensive position on an APC (armored personnel carrier) on 29 Apr 1969, he was one of 2 men killed when the APC hit a land mine. He was 20 years old.
US Army Sergeant Jerry Michael Dailey. From Groves, PNG Class of 1965, Mike was an infantry mortar man with D 2/12, 25th Infantry Division. A likable guy with a winning smile, he played organ in a local garage band. An only child and a draftee, he had misgivings, according to his friends, about going to Vietnam. On 5 Jun 1969, when his unit came under attack, he was killed by incoming rockets and mortars, dead of multiple fragmentation wounds at the age of 22.
US Army First Lieutenant Ronald Bruce Churan. From Port Neches, PNG Class of 1966, Bruce was a pilot flying the 2-man OH-6 Loach, a light attack and scout helicopter with B 1/9, 1st Cavalry Division. A small guy at 5’4”, 135 lbs, he was known to be as fearless as he was friendly. A loach flys at treetop level at the maximum speed of 175 miles per hour, serving as bait. When it draws enemy fire, the pilot marks the target for waiting helicopter gunships who fly in and eliminate the threat. Decorated for acts of valor, he served as the Armored Reconnaissance Unit Commander. During the night of 30 Aug 1969, at base camp LZ Andy, Bruce was killed in an enemy mortar attack. He was the last PNG graduate to die in the Vietnam War. He had just turned 21.
These are our PNG heroes. Remember them well.
