Okaloosa County Florida

Buege, Paul G.
Air Force Senior master sergeant

Paul G. Buege, age 43, from Mary Esther, Florida, Okaloosa county.

Spouse: Terry Buege

Service era: Gulf War

Date of death: Thursday, January 31, 1991
Death details: During the Battle of Khafji, the AC-130 he was aboard was hit by a shoulder-fired missile as the plane attacked rocket launchers threatening U.S. Marines. Air Force officials said no one could have survived the crash. Only five of the 14 men lost were positively identified after remains were recovered from the plane, which was missing for more than a month before discovered on the bottom of the Persian Gulf off Saudi Arabia.
Cemetery: Arlington National

Source: White House Commission on Remembrance, Gulf War Chronicles, grave marker, Associated Press (2001)

Blessinger, John P.
Air Force Staff sergeant

John P. Blessinger, age 33, from Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Okaloosa county.

Parents: Vilette Blessinger
Spouse: Married
Children: Daughters, ages 6 and 8

Service era: Gulf War

Date of death: Thursday, January 31, 1991
Death details: During the Battle of Khafji, the AC-130 he was aboard was hit by a shoulder-fired missile as the plane attacked rocket launchers threatening U.S. Marines. Air Force officials said no one could have survived the crash. Only five of the 14 men lost were positively identified after remains were recovered from the plane, which was missing for more than a month before discovered on the bottom of the Persian Gulf off Saudi Arabia.

Source: White House Commission on Remembrance, Gulf War Chronicles, Military Times, Newsday (1991)

Fields, Frederick Lee
Army Specialist 4

Frederick Lee Fields, age 20, from Crestview, Florida, Okaloosa county.

Parents: Mrs. Charlie L. Rodgers

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Monday, November 30, 1970
Death details: Non-hostile death

Source: National Archives, Fort Worth Star Telegram (1970)

York, Joel Craig
Army Specialist 4

Joel Craig York, age 19, from Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Okaloosa county.

Parents: Joel C. York

Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Choctawhatchee High (1969)

Date of death: Wednesday, August 26, 1970
Cemetery: Barrancas National

Source: National Archives, Pensacola News Journal (1970)

Ripley, William L.
Air Force Sergeant

William L. Ripley, age 24, from Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Okaloosa county.

Parents: Leon Ripley (killed three months earlier in Vietnam when the jeep he was driving was hit by enemy fire).

Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Chicopee , Massachusetts High graduate

Date of death: Thursday, August 13, 1970
Death details: Killed in a helicopter crash in Thailand

Source: National Archives, Pensacola New Journal (1970)

Whiddon, Tommy Leon
Army Warrant officer 1st class

Tommy Leon Whiddon, age 21, from Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, Okaloosa county.

Parents: Roy C. Whiddon

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Wednesday, May 6, 1970
Death details: Killed during a flight over Cambodia.

Source: National Archives, Playground Daily News (1970)

Rabren, Larry Wayne
Army Chief warrant officer 2

Larry Wayne Rabren, age 21, from Valparaiso, Florida, Okaloosa county.

Parents: G.A. Rabren
Spouse: None
Children: None

Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Niceville High, graduated from high school in Theodore, Alabama

Date of death: Thursday, April 30, 1970
Death details: Killed in Vietnam when his helicopter was shot down. His father said Larry was shot down near the Cambodian border the previous November. He survived and escaped through enemy territory. He was given a month leave for recovery and then volunteered to rejoin his organization.

Source: National Archives, Pensacola News (1970)

Tuggle, Jack Dewayne Jr.
Army Sergeant

Jack Dewayne Jr. Tuggle, age 20, from Valparaiso, Florida, Okaloosa county.

Parents: Jack D. Tuggle Sr.
Spouse: Married

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Friday, April 17, 1970
Death details: Killed in Vietnam

Source: National Archives, Playground Daily News (1970)

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