Middlesex County Massachusetts

Hansen, William Ralph
Navy fire control technician

William Ralph Hansen, age 22, from Reading, Massachusetts, Middlesex county.

Spouse: Married
Children: Brendan, 9 months

Service era: Cold War

Date of death: Sunday, May 17, 1987
Death details: Died aboard the USS Stark. While in the Persian Gulf on May 17, 1987, she was struck by two Iraqi Exocet missiles, killing 37 sailors and wounding 21. Brought under control, the frigate sailed to Bahrain and was successfully repaired at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi. Following repairs and subsequent tours in the Atlantic and Middle East, Stark was decommissioned on May 7, 1999, and was scrapped in 2006.

Source: Associated Press, National Museum of the U.S. Navy

Newman, Paul Francis Jr.
Army Specialist 4

Paul Francis Jr. Newman, age 39, from Pinehurst, Massachusetts, Middlesex county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Wednesday, March 5, 1986
Death details: Died from injuries received in Vietnam
Cemetery: Fox Hill in Billerica, Massachusetts

Source: National Archives, findagrave.com

Gordon, Richard J.
Marines Lance corporal

Richard J. Gordon, age 22, from Middlesex County Somerville, Massachusetts .

Service era: Beirut bombings

Date of death: Sunday, October 23, 1983
Death details: Among more than 200 military personnel killed in the terroist bombing of Marine headquarters in Beirut.

Source: White House Commission on Remembrance

Leaver, John Murray Jr. Navy commander

John Murray Leaver Jr. from Arlington, Massachusetts, Middlesex county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Monday, May 8, 1972
Death details:  On May 8, 1972, an SH-3G Sea King (bureau number 149699, call sign “Mustang Angel 5”) carrying eight total for crew and passengers, was attempting a night landing when it hit the fantail of the cruiser USS Providence (CLG 6). The Sea King crashed in to the Gulf of Tonkin, and an immediate search and rescue effort was launched. Five personnel were recovered, and the body of one of the passengers, the commander of Cruiser/Destroyer Flotilla 11, was also recovered. The bodies of two other passengers were not located.

Commander John Murray Leaver Jr., who joined the U.S. Navy from Massachusetts, served aboard the Providence as the operations officer for the Rear Admiral commanding Cruiser/Destroyer Flotilla 11. He was a passenger aboard the helicopter when it crashed and he did not survive, but his remains were not recovered. Today, Commander Leaver is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Greenleaf, Joseph Gales
Navy Lieutenant

Joseph Gales Greenleaf, age 27, from West Newton, Massachusetts, Middlesex county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Friday, April 14, 1972
Death details: Hostile, South Vietnam; body not recovered; During a bombing run aboard an F4 fighter jet, the jet was hit by anti-aircraft fire. Clemie McKinney was also killed. His remains were returned in 1985.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Gallagher, Philip S. III
Army 1st lieutenant

Philip S. III Gallagher, age 24, from Middlesex County Lexington, Massachusetts .

Parents: Philip S. Gallagher Jr.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Saturday, December 11, 1971
Death details: Non-hostile, South Vietnam

Source: National Archives, Boston Globe (1971)

Ellis, Kenneth Warren
Army Staff sergeant

Kenneth Warren Ellis, age 23, from Melrose, Massachusetts, Middlesex county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, September 26, 1971
Death details: Died of wounds received while clearing a minefield.
Cemetery: Eastern

Source: National Archives, Portland Evening Express (1971)

Collins, Thomas Timothy
Army Specialist 4

Thomas Timothy Collins, age 21, from Framingham, Massachusetts, Middlesex county.

Parents: Francis X and Phyllis G. (Jacobs) Collins

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, July 11, 1971
Death details: Killed in action in South Vietnam
Cemetery: Puritan Lawn in Peabody

Source: National Archives, Boston Globe (1971)

Buzzell, Richard Howard
Navy Lieutenant junior grade

Richard Howard Buzzell, age 28, from Arlington, Massachusetts, Middlesex county.

Parents: Bernadine Buzzell and the late E. Howard Buzzell

Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Arlington High, and graduate of Naval Academy at Annapolis
Military history: Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron 3

Date of death: Saturday, December 19, 1970
Death details: Killed in South Vietnam when his helicopter was hit by enemy fire.
Cemetery: Mount Plesant in Arlington

Source: National Archives, Boston Globe, Associated Press (1970)

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