That Asian War”Letters to Editor … Dear Sir: I am a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps, at the present time I am in Viet Nam with the 3rd Reconnaissance Bn 3rd Marine Division. I have spent 12 months in Viet Nam and will soon return to the United States to my wife and daughter who live in California. The reason I am writing this letter is because I am from Long Beach, Washington. My parents are Mr. and Mrs. Robert Caldwell of Long Beach. I went to Ilwaco grade school and high school.

“I would like to thank the people of Washington and Long Beach. I would like to thank them for the job they are doing back home for us. All the time I have been in Viet Nam I have never read in the paper, or heard over the radio, of any protest against the war, in our fine state. I am not alone, there are several men in my battalion from Washington and we are proud to know our people are for us and not against us.

“Thank you, Sgt. Ronald S. Newman.”

-Mar. 25, 1966

“Word was received here Wednesday that Corp. Ronald Crawn of the United States Marines was killed in action in Viet Nam. Corporal Crawn is survived by his wife Eileen (Zitsch) Crawn of Ocean Park and a month old daughter.”

-Sept. 30, 1966

“Commander John G. Williams was recently selected as captain of the U. S. S. Daniel Webster, one of the navy’s nuclear-powered Polaris type submarines.”

-May 13, 1966

“Navy Seaman Frederick L. Johnson, Long Beach, was awarded the Purple Heart medal for wounds received in a battle between the U. S. Mobile Riverine Force and Viet Cong guerrillas in the Mekong Delta. Johnson [is the] son of Sam Johnson of Long Beach.”

-Feb. 16, 1968

“Letter to Editor … May 13, 1968, At Sea, Dear Wayne, Enclosed please find $5 to cover my subscription for another year. Receiving my copy of the Observer each week means a great deal to me, especially while here in the war zone. At present we are patrolling in 32 fathoms just off the DMZ. Action is all around us at all times. We are hoping and praying the peace talks in Paris will bring a speedy end to this ‘Peace Action’ we are involved in. I think of the beach quite often and am counting the days until I may once again return home. God willing, it will be within the next six months sometimes. I best close and assume the watch. God bless and keep you all safe. Your local boy, Erling Bigness.”

-June 7, 1968

“Raymond W. Yovino, private first class, U. S. army, HHT, 1st Sqdn., 10th Cav., 4th Infantry Division, has received the Army Commendation Medal for war action on Dec. 17-19, 1967 in the Viet Nam theatre. Yovino received distinction for heroism in connection with military operations against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Viet Nam. He distinguished himself while in service as assistant team leader with Headquarters Troop while conducting a reconnaissance mission.”

-June 14, 1968

“Donald Smith, private first class E-3, United States Army, Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, now a sergeant, was recently awarded the Bronze Star medal with ‘V’ Device on February 26, 1968, in the Republic of Viet Nam … Sgt. Smith distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous action while in service as a rifleman with Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, during a search and destroy mission near the city of Hue. When his unit was pinned down by intense enemy fire, Smith volunteered to go forward in an attempt to eliminate a key bunker position and pull back several casualties. … Smith’s display of personal bravery and devotion to duty is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army … Sgt. Smith is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Max Smith of Seaview and has been in Viet Nam for ten and one-half months.”

-Aug. 9, 1968

“A young infantryman from Longview has been badly wounded in Viet Nam – for a second time. He is 20-year-old William M. McGee, the son of Mr. and Mrs. James McGee of Longview, who suffered loss of his right foot and multiple fractures in a land mine blast last Friday. Young McGee is the grandson of Mrs. Mary McGee of Long Beach. … McGee was wounded last May, about a month after arriving in Viet Nam, and returned to duty after spending about two months in a hospital in Japan.”

-Jan. 24, 1969

“There is one Army award that front-line soldiers wear proudly, the ‘Combat Infantryman Badge.’ It was awarded to Private First Class Jack A. Carnahan, 23, in Pleiku, Viet Nam, Dec. 17th. Pfc Carnahan, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack C. Carnahan, Nahcotta, is assigned as a rifleman in Company A, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. The CIB has been awarded since late in World War II for sustained ground contact against an enemy. In honor of its singular meaning, the badge is worn above all other awards and decorations, over the left breast.”

-Jan. 24, 1969

“Lt.-Col. Paul A. Kauttu, son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel C. Kauttu of Seaside, [and a graduate of Ilwaco High School] has become assistant deputy commander for operations for the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing at Phan Rang AB, Viet Nam. Col. Kautta served at Cam Rahn Bay AB, Viet Nam, as commander of the 559th Tactical Fighter Squadron prior to his appointment at Phan Rang.”

-Feb. 7, 1969

“Army Specialist 4 Jack A. Carnahan, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack C. Carnahan, Nahcotta, received the Air Medal near Pleiku, Viet Nam. Specialist 4 Carnahan earned the award for meritorious service while participating in aerial flight in support of ground operations in Viet Nam. … The specialist also holds the Combat Infantryman Badge. … The 23-year-old soldier is a 1963 graduate of Ilwaco high school.”

-Dec. 5, 1969

“Lt. Col. Carl W. Stucki, son of Mrs. Martha Stucki of Chinook, has been recognized for helping the 14th Special Operation Wing earn the U. S. Air Force Outstanding Unit award with “V” device for valor. Col. Stucki is a squadron commander at Da Nang AB, Viet Nam. The organization was cited for exceptionally meritorious service against enemy forces in Southeast Asia from June 1967 to June 1968. Outstanding achievements included destruction or damage of 344 enemy trucks and 156 sampans and inflicting heavy enemy casualties. The wing also conducted rescue operations that resulted in the recovery of 250 downed allied airmen. … His wife, Manerva, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. A. McMillen of Chinook.”

-Jan. 9, 1970

“Award of the Bronze Star medal with ‘V’ device was made to Sgt. James B. Suomela of Co. L (Rangers) 75th Infantry of the U. S. Army, on August 19th, 1970, for his outstanding service in Viet Nam. … ‘Sergeant Suomela distinguished himself, while serving as an assistant team leader in Company L (Ranger), 75th Infantry, during combat action in Thua Thien Province, Republic of Viet Nam. When an aircraft arrived to extract Sgt. Suomela’s beleaguered team, it was down by hostile fire. Sgt. Suomela, despite the enemy barrage, left his cover and maneuvered to aid the crew of the downed craft. … His actions enabled [a rescue helicopter] to successfully depart the area and saved the lives of his wounded comrades. Sgt. Suomela’s personal bravery and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.’ Sgt. Suomela entered military service in June 1969 and has spent five and one-half months in Viet Nam. He was born and raised in Ilwaco where his parents [Mr. and Mrs. Jim Suomela] still reside. Sgt. Suomela’s wife, Betty, is employed at Telephone Utilities, Inc.”

-Nov. 27, 1970

“Obie Ostrem, a local man who has spent around ten years down in the Cam Ranh Bay area in Viet Nam, returned to his Long Beach home last Thursday to remain, and stated the experience over there was all right but he is glad to be home to stay.”

-May 19, 1972

“United States Air Force pilot Thomas B. Brattebo III, an Ilwaco High School graduate who recently completed two tours of duty in Southeast Asia, has been awarded two Distinguished Flying Cross medals, one with a second oak leaf cluster, and the Air Medal.

“Brattebo’s first citation reads: ‘ … Lt. Brattebo flew his unarmed observation aircraft into an extremely hostile aerial environment to interdict resupply movements along a heavily defended route structure. Despite intense anti-aircraft fire and complete darkness, Lt. Brattebo destroyed trucks … The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Lt. Brattebo reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.’

“His second citation [six months later] was as follows: ‘ … [Lt. Brattebo] flew in support of a United States Army long-range reconnaissance team under attack deep in hostile territory. Despite intense ground fire and marginal weather throughout the area, Lt. Brattebo made repeated passes firing his marking rockets into the opposing positions to suppress fire directed at the team and the extraction helicopter. Because of his actions the team was successfully recovered. … He is the son of Dr. Ben Brattebo and Mrs. Edith Shire, both of Long Beach.”

-Mar. 23, 1973