Stamford Connecticut

Bill, Brian R.
Navy Special Warefare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL)

Brian R. Bill, age 31, from Stamford, Connecticut, Fairfield county.

Service era: Afghanistan
Schools: Norwich University (2001), Trinity Catholic HIgh
Military history: East Cost-based Naval Special Warfare Unit

Date of death: Saturday, August 6, 2011
Death details: Was among 30 servicemembers who died in Wardak Province Afghanistan of wounds suffered when their CH-47 Chinoo helicpoter crashed after it came under enemy attack.

Source: Department of Defense, Military Times

Sundar, Devon L.
Marines Lance corporal

Devon L. Sundar, age 23, from Fairfield County Stamford, Connecticut .

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, Hartford Courant (1983)

Vagnone, Michael John
Army Staff sergeant

Michael John Vagnone, age 22, from Stamford, Connecticut, Fairfield county.

Spouse: Elizabeth A. Vagnone

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Saturday, April 18, 1970
Death details: Hostile, South Vietnam

Source: National Archives, Hartford Courant (1970)

Pastore, James Joseph Jr.
Army Specialist 4

James Joseph Jr. Pastore, age 23, from Stamford, Connecticut, Fairfield county.

Parents: James P. Pastor Sr.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Thursday, April 9, 1970
Death details: Died of wounds, South Vietnam

Source: National Archives, UPI (1970)

Rich, Richard
Navy Captain

Richard Rich from Stamford, Connecticut.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: May 17, 1967
Death details: On September 18, 2000, Joint Task Force-Full Accounting (JTF-FA, now DPAA) identified the remains of Captain Richard Rich, missing from the Vietnam War.

Captain Rich, who joined the U.S. Navy from Connecticut, served with Fighter Squadron 96, Carrier Air Wing 9, embarked aboard the USS Enterprise (CVN-65). On May 17, 1967, he piloted an F-4B Phantom (bureau number 152264) on a combat air patrol mission over North Vietnam. During the mission, the Phantom was shot down and CAPT Rich was killed. Hostile presence in the area inhibited search efforts during the war. In 2000, a joint U.S./Vietnamese investigative team located the crash site of the Phantom and recovered remains which were later identified as those of CAPT Rich.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Nickerson, William Brewster
Navy Lieutenant junior grade

William Brewster Nickerson, age 24, from Fairfield County Stamford, Connecticut .

Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Dartmouth (1964)

Date of death: Friday, April 22, 1966
Death details: On April 22, 1966, an A-6A Intruder (bureau number 151785, call sign “Buckeye 805”) carrying two crew members took off from the USS Kitty Hawk (CVA 63) as the lead aircraft in a two-plane armed reconnaissance mission over North Vietnam. After attacking their targets, the pilot of “Buckeye 805” directed the flight to rendezvous over the water southeast of Vinh. Witnesses from aboard the wingman aircraft reported that after arriving at the rendezvous point, they observed “Buckeye 805” crash into the water for unknown reasons. The two crew members aboard “Buckeye 805” were not located following the incident. Lieutenant Junior Grade William Brewster Nickerson, who joined the U.S. Navy from Connecticut, was a member of Attack Squadron 85. He was the bombardier/navigator aboard ?Buckeye 805? when it went down on April 22, 1966, and he was lost with the aircraft. His remains were not recovered. Today, Lieutenant Junior Grade Nickerson is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. His name is also inscribed along with all his fallen comrades on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC. Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual’s case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

Source: National Archives, Valley News (1966), Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Andrews, Stuart Merrill
Air Force Colonel

Stuart Merrill Andrews, age 37, from Fairfield County Stamford, Connecticut .

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Friday, March 4, 1966
Death details: On March 4, 1966, an O-1E Bird Dog (tail number 54-2499) carrying two crew members took off on a visual reconnaissance flight from Qui Nhon to Cheo Reo, South Vietnam. The crew’s last radio contact occurred 30 minutes into the flight when the Van Canh Special Forces Camp requested the aircraft make a visual reconnaissance because campfires from unknown sources were observed in the area. There was no indication from the crew that they were experiencing mechanical or other difficulties with the aircraft at that time, and no further radio contact was established. When the aircraft failed to arrive at Cheo Reo, a communication check was made with nearby airfields but there were no reports of the missing aircraft and it was declared missing that evening. Extensive air searches over the next six days failed to find any signs of the missing Bird Dog or its crew. Major Stuart Merrill Andrews, who joined the U.S. Air Force from Connecticut, served with the 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron. He was the pilot of the Bird Dog when it disappeared on March 4, 1966, and attempts to recover his remains have been unsuccessful. After the incident, the Air Force posthumously promoted Maj Andrews to the rank of Colonel (Col). Today, Colonel Andrews is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, dpaa

Broadhurst, Richard Edward
Marines Private 1st class

Richard Edward Broadhurst, age 19, from Fairfield County Stamford, Connecticut .

Parents: Woodrow Broadhurst

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Wednesday, August 4, 1965
Death details: Died of wounds, South Vietnam

Source: National Archives, Associated Press (1965)

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