Friendly fire

Cronquist, Mark R.
Army Specialist

Mark R. Cronquist, age 20, from Columbia Falls, Montana, Flathead county.

Parents: Mike Cronquist
Spouse: None
Children: None

Service era: Gulf War
Schools: Columbia Falls High (1988)

Date of death: Monday, March 11, 1991
Death details: Killed in Saudi Arabia when a weapon accidentally discharged while another soldiers cleaned it.

Source: White House Commission on Remembrance, Department of Defense, The Missoulian (1991), Great Falls Tribune (1991)

Byszek, James Jacob
Army Private 1st class

James Jacob Byszek, age 42, from North Brookfield, Massachusetts, Worcester county.

Parents: Margaret Byszek

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Thursday, October 18, 1990
Death details: The “date of casualty” stated by the military is July 1, 1970. That’s when James was hit by friendly fire. However, he survived and returned to Massachusets as a paraplegic. He lived with family for decades.

Source: National Archives, Boston Globe (1993)

Sterling, Robert Allen
Navy Boatswain’s mate 3rd class

Robert Allen Sterling, age 23, from Creston, Iowa, Union county.

Parents: Ivan Sterling

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, April 16, 1972
Death details: Killed when the U.S. missile ship Worden was hit by missiles accidentally fired from American planes in the Gulf of Tonkin.
Cemetery: Graceland in Creston

Source: National Archives, Des Moines Tribune (1972), findagrave.com

Rizor, David Lee
Army Private

David Lee Rizor, age 21, from Washington County Washington, Pennsylvania .

Service era: Vietnam
Military history: 173rd Airborne Brigade

Date of death: Saturday, October 9, 1965
Death details: He was fatally wounded by a security guard while returning to his company area in Vietnam, non-hostile

Source: National Archives, Pittsburgh Press (1965)

Schell, Duane Charles
Army Staff sergeant

Duane Charles Schell, age 26, from Spokane County Spokane, Washington .

Parents: Mrs. Carl J. Moke
Spouse: Charlene Schell
Children: Three

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Saturday, September 18, 1965
Death details: Killed by friendly fire in Vietnam.

Source: National Archives, Kellogg Evening News (1965)

Meek, Donald Howard
Army Specialist 5

Donald Howard Meek, age 36, from Montgomery County Clarksville, Tennessee .

Spouse: Wanda Bowers Meek

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Thursday, September 16, 1965
Death details: Killed in Vietnam by friendly fire.
Cemetery: Greenwood

Source: National Archives, Leaf Chronicle (1965)

Marquez, Paul Joseph
Army Specialist 4

Paul Joseph Marquez, age 22, from Los Angeles County San Pedro, California .

Parents: Mrs. Ernest Telles
Spouse: Linda Josephine

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Thursday, September 9, 1965
Death details: Killed in Vietnam by friendly fire.

Source: National Archives

Love, Harry William Jr.
Marines Private 1st class

Harry William Jr. Love, age 20, from Mecklenburg County Charlotte, North Carolina .

Parents: Harry William Love and Mrs. Willie Crump

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Wednesday, June 30, 1965
Death details: Killed in Vietnam from gunshot wounds accidentally inflicted by another enlisted man.
Cemetery: Evergreen Burial Park in Mint Hill

Source: National Archives, Charlotte News (1965)

Bustos, Mike Garcia
Army Specialist 4

Mike Garcia Bustos, age 23, from Huntington County Warren, Indiana .

Parents: Pete C. Bustos

Service era: Vietnam
Military history: 137th Airborne Brigade

Date of death: Monday, June 28, 1965
Death details: Killed in South Vietnam by an accidental shot from the gun of another American soldier.
Cemetery: Woodlawn

Source: National Archives

Campbell, Jerry Ray
Army Private

Jerry Ray Campbell, age 20, from Alamance County Graham, North Carolina .

Parents: William T. Campbell and Mildred Johnson Campbell (preceded in death)
Spouse: Marie Caulder Campbell
Children: None

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Monday, June 28, 1965
Death details: Shot and killed while on a combat mission in Vietnam when a companion’s gun discharged, firing 2 shots.
Cemetery: Pine Hill

Source: National Archives, Times-News, The Herald Sun (1965)

Load More
Back To Top