Kankakee County Illinois

Buell, Kenneth Richard
Navy Lieutenant commander

Kenneth Richard Buell from Kankakee, Illinois, Kankakee county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: September 17, 1972
Death details: On September 17, 1972, an A-6 Intruder (bureau number: 157028; call sign: Ray Gun 504) with a crew of two embarked on a solo nighttime armed reconnaissance mission over northern Vietnam. Final radio contact with the pilot occured as he approached North Vietnamese air space. Seven minutes later another aircraft in the area reported seeing an orange explosion (vicinity of48Q XJ 387 158) on the route the A-6 should have been following. A search and rescue effort was launched but had no success.

Lieutenant Commander Kenneth Richard Buell, who joined the U.S. Navy from Illinois, served with Attack Squadron 35. He was the naval flight officer aboard the Intruder when it disappeared, his remains were not recovered. Today, Lieutenant Commander Buell is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Goselin, Robert Martin
Army Sergeant

Robert Martin Goselin, age 21, from Bourbonnais, Illinois, Kankakee county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Friday, June 5, 1970
Death details: Hostile, killed in South Vietnam

Source: National Archives

Randall, Eddie Sam Jr.
Army Specialist 4

Eddie Sam Jr. Randall, age 26, from Kankakee, Illinois, Kankakee county.

Spouse: Louise A. Randall

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, March 15, 1970
Death details: Non-hostile, illness in South Vietnam

Source: National Archives, Effingham Daily News (1970)

St. Pierre, Dean Paul
Air Force Captain

Dean Paul St. Pierre from Kankakee, Illinois, Kankakee county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: May 22, 1968
Death details: On May 22, 1968, an F-4D Phantom II (tail number 66-0246, call sign Dipper 02) with two crew members took off as one of two aircraft on a nighttime armed reconnaissance mission over enemy targets in North Vietnam. Immediately after the other aircraft on the mission passed over the target area, its crew heard this F-4D’s crew radio to say they were taking heavy enemy anti-aircraft fire. The other aircraft then saw a large fireball on the ground near the target and circled the area for several minutes, but could not locate this F-4D or any sign of its crew. Another flight relieved the lead aircraft and began a search but was similarly unsuccessful due to the darkness. Attempts to locate and investigate the crash site were precluded by enemy presence in the area, and further attempts to locate the F-4D’s crew members were unsuccessful.

Captain Dean Paul St. Pierre entered the U.S. Air Force from Illinois and served in the 433rd Tactical Fighter Squadron. He was the pilot systems officer aboard this F-4D when it was lost and his remains could not be recovered following the incident. Today, Captain St. Pierre is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Clark, Richard Crosby
Army Specialist 4

Richard Crosby Clark, age 19, from Kankakee County Kankakee, Illinois .

Parents: David J. Clark

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Thursday, November 18, 1965
Death details: Hostile, killed in South Vietnam

Source: National Archives, Associated Press (1965)

Beck, Patrick Francis
Army Private 1st class

Patrick Francis Beck, age 21, from Kankakee County Kankakee, Illinois .

Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Kankakee High graduate
Military history: 58th Transport Battalion

Date of death: Tuesday, August 31, 1965
Death details: Killed in South Vietnam in an accident when the gasoline truck he was driving overturned.

Source: National Archives, Chicago Tribune (1965)

Sederstrand, Clifford Edward
Navy Chief electrician’s mate

Clifford Edward Sederstrand, age 24, from Kankakee County Bradley, Illinois .

Spouse: Elaine Pauline Sederstrand

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Wednesday, June 14, 1944
Death details: Killed aboard the USS Golet when it was destroyed by Japanese forces.

Source: National Archives, oneternalpatrol.com

Spotz, Maurice Edwin
Navy Fireman 1st class

Maurice Edwin Spotz, age 25, from Kankakee, Illinois, Kankakee county.

Parents: Ida Mae Spotz

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Sunday, December 7, 1941
Death details: Killed aboard the USS Arizona. Remains not recovered.

Source: National Archives

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