In
Memory Of
Pfc. James Martin Klopmeyer
Pfc. Murray Dean Vidler
Pfc. John Franklin Riegel
Killed
In Action
19 DECEMBER 1967
Pfc.
James Martin Klopmeyer, Pfc. Murray Dean Vidler and Pfc.
John Franklin Riegel served with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines,
Mike Company. They were Killed In Action on 19 December 1967 when
out on a patrol. Their names stand proudly on the Mike
3/5 Wall of Honor. Semper Fi, Brother Marines. We will never forget.
**************************
I WAS ONE OF FIVE ON PATROL THAT DAY
I STILL REMEMBER WHEN WE FIVE SET OUT ON THAT PATROL.
I TOOK THE POINT FOLLOWED BY THE SQUAD LEADER. VIDLER FOLLOWED CARRYING
THE RADIO AND BEHIND HIM WERE FRANKIE AND JIM. MANY PATROLS BOTH DAY
AND NIGHT HAD WE EXCELLED AT. LITTLE DID WE KNOW THAT THIS WOULD BE
OUR LAST TOGETHER. EVIL OF IMMEASURABLE AND INSATIABLE HUNGER AWAITED
OUR ARRIVAL~WILLIAM DURAN, M CO. 3/5
19
DECEMBER 1967
On
Dec.19, 1967 Cpl. Vernon Randolph and I were to go on an afternoon
patrol. We had gone to the mess hall, I had our sq. radio
with me. We had just sat down when I heard over the radio
that 1st sq. was under attack. We ran out to the mess towards
the direction we knew that Cpl. Thormeyer's patrol was to
end. We had gone about 1/2 click when we met Thorny and his
grenadier. They told us they had come under attack and we
moved to help them after sending Thorny to the Bn. CP. Randy
and I moved to the open rice paddies to the east. We called
and looked for a while, not seeing or hearing them.
I can't remember what unit it was, it may have been a plt.
I believed to be Lt. Blackledge swept thru the area. Found
"Spanky" (I didn't know his name was John Riegel
till 36 years later), Vidler (whose name I thought was John,
but also found out his name is Murray), and Jim Klopmeyer.
They had been attacked and all were dead. I had helped them
be transported back to the Bn. CP.
Later that night, I went to the Bn. aide station to say goodbye.
The chaplain saw me coming out of the tent where the 3 were
and told me I shouldn't go into the tent. I told him I had,
and I had to come to say good-bye to them. To this day I still
think of them, remembering the night before and how Spanky
always complained about being point. It was Jim's 6th day
incountry, and Vidler was an old salt.
Remembering
the last day
I
had walked into Spankie (I called him that thru the years,
no one else has so I may have meant "Frankie").
He was sitting with Jim, John, Thorny and others in the squad
for the patrol the next day. I may have spoke as I looked
at him. If I didn't, I wish that I had. Randy and Iooked for
the 3 of them most of that day, finding them and staying with
them till they were taken back to the CP. Later that night
I went to BN aide station and said my good-byes. I am glad
I did. They are in my thoughts every day. There are no farewells
my friends. For you never leave my mind. I honor you "Spanky,"
as well as all the other fallen Marines, Soldiers, Sailors,
Airmen That gave the ultimate sacrifice So that I and other
Citizens can pay tribute to you and the Others Still on Patrol.
May your god Bless you. Semper FI.~Michael
Wears, Fellow Marine of Unit Mike CO 3/5
MY
DREAM
There
is a dream I have from time to time. I am walking over a small
hill and there are shadows all around me. I see The Wall where
all my friends are. There are lots of tears on this day. I
turn and walk away. Then another day I walk over the small
hill, and I can see all my friends in The Wall: Randy, Spanky,
Dean, Jim, Willie, Jeff, Thorny, Doc, Gunny Acton, And Ski.
They all say "C'mon Turk, the plt. is waiting, Saddle
up and move out!" As I move into The Wall to join them,
there are no tears on this Day.
Wears.
M.S.
Sgt. USMC
"Turk" |
(click
images to enlarge)
PFC.
JAMES MARTIN KLOPMEYER
Born
on June 19, 1947
From MILLSTADT, ILLINOIS
Casualty was on Dec. 19, 1967
in QUANG NAM, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE
Panel 32E - - Line 24
James Klopmeyer
(picture courtesy of his brother,Tom Klopmeyer)
My
brother, Jim
He
was a kind and gentle kid always ready to help. Jimmy, at six years
old, had brain fever and polo and was not supposed to live through
the night. He was forced a year more behind me, he was always the
slowest, weakest and the last one to be picked to a team, but never
complained and no one tried harder.
When everyone
else was trying to get out of the service, myself included, he was
trying to get in. You see Jimmy was actually 4-F physically unfit.
He was turned down by the Army, Navy and Marines. With help from one
of his friends, a Drill Sergeant, they made a deal with the Marines
if he could pass their Boot Camp and gain so much weight they would
let him be a Marine. Again the last to be picked, but he met their
demands and became what he wanted so much. He gained almost forty
pounds. I didn't recognize him when he came home. Jim wore different
size shoes, his leg was three quarters of an inch smaller in diameter
and his leg was also half inch shorter.
He would be very
proud of this Memorial page, just like I am. Thank you so much for
your kindness and thoughtfulness, even after all these years, but
it never ages in my mind. Can't wait to show my grandchildren and
even my brothers and sisters. Some of them because of the age difference
didn't know Jim that well.~Tom Klopmeyer
*****************************
ALWAYS
IN MY THOUGHTS
I
WAS WITH JIM WHEN HE WAS KILLED. JIM WAS NEW TO OUR OUTFIT. I MADE
EVERY EFFORT TO GREET JIM AND MAKE HIM FEEL COMFORTABLE WHEN I SAW
HIM. I KNEW HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS TO BE NEW INCOUNTRY. JIM SEEMED SO
YOUNG, SO FRESH, SO INNOCENT AND HE ALWAYS HAD THAT GLOW TO HIM. HE
ALWAYS GREETED ME WITH A SMILE. JIM WAS NOT IN VIETNAM LONG ENOUGH
TO GROW OLD LIKE WE DID. YEARS LATER I REALIZED THAT I WAS YOUNGER
THAN JIM BY ABOUT 6 MONTHS.
JIM,
YOU WERE NEW TO OUR UNIT BUT I CAN NEVER FORGET YOUR SMILE. YOU SEEMED
SO YOUNG AND INNOCENT. I HAVE A SON THAT IS YOUR AGE. MY SON IS YOUNG
AND INNOCENT LIKE YOU. EVERY TIME I SEE MY SON, I THINK OF YOU AND
I AM OVERWHELMED WITH EMOTIONS. EMOTIONS FOR YOU AND THE WIFE AND
CHILDREN YOU DID NOT KNOW, AND EMOTIONS FOR YOUR PARENTS AND THE WONDERFUL
SON THAT WAS TAKEN TOO QUICKLY. GOD BLESS JAMES MARTIN KLOPMEYER.~WILLIAM
DURAN
****************************
PFC.
JOHN FRANKLIN RIEGEL
Born on Jan. 23, 1949
From GETTYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
Casualty was on Dec. 19, 1967
in QUANG NAM, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE
Panel 32E - - Line 27
M Co. 3/5, 3rd
plt. Sept. 1967
John Franklin Riegel is on the far left
(picture
courtesy of Fred Permenter)
John
Reigle was in my Platoon in P.I. Platoon 208, then came to M Co. 3/5
sometime while we were on Bridge Duty. He was wounded during Operation
SWIFT in the leg the night we were trying to get to Lima or Kilo,
can't remember which. It was pitch black, we had on gas masks and
he was on Point when a gook stepped out in front of him and snatched
his rifle, then shot him in his leg. The M16 misfired, as usual! I
liked John, he will be missed, as my other Brothers will be also.~Fred
Permenter
Gettysburgh
news article in memory of Pfc. John "Frankie" Riegel
(courtesy of Wayne Motts)
SORROW BEYOND MEASURE
LOOKING
PAST THE CLOUD OF ADRENALINE AND UNCEASING STORM OF INCOMING, I SEE
A YOUNG MAN, ONE YEAR YOUNGER THAN MY OWN SON, AND I REMEMBER HIS
LOVE FOR HIS FAMILY AND HIS GENTLE SOUL. GOD
BLESS JOHN FRANKLIN RIEGEL~WILLIAM DURAN
******************************
PFC.
MURRAY DEAN VIDLER
Born on May 6, 1946
From KERROBERT, SASK (CANADA)
Casualty was on Dec. 19, 1967
in QUANG NAM, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE
Panel 32E - - Line 28
Murray
Dean Vidler
Greatly
Loved, Dearly Missed, Always Remembered~Scott
Vidler, Nephew
****************************************************************
IMMENSE
SORROW
I WAS ON PATROL WITH VIDLER WHEN HE WAS KILLED. THERE WERE FIVE OF
US. VIDLER WAS CARRYING THE RADIO. I THINK OF THAT DAY ALL THE TIME.
TWO OF US LIVED THROUGH THAT DAY.
VIDLER'S
LAST WORDS ARE ETCHED IN MY MIND FOREVER. MAY GOD EMBRACE HIM FOREVER
AND SHOWER HIM WITH LOVE, LAUGHTER AND KINDNESS. ON THAT DAY WE ENCOUNTERED
THE DEVIL IN FULL FURY AND SAMPLED A TASTE OF MAN'S INHUMANITY. GOD
BLESS MURRAY DEAN VIDLER.~WILLIAM DURAN
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