Promote & Preserve stories of U.S. fallen soldiers/sailors
Douglas John Bull, age 29, from Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania.
Service era: Iraq – Operation Enduring Freedom
Military history: Company A, Special Troops Battalion, 3 Bct, Fort Hood, Texas
Date of death: Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Death details: Hostile, died in Baf Macp, Afghanistan
Source: Department of Defense, Military Times
Gary Thomas Rovinski, age 44, from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Luzerne county.
Service era: Iraq – Operation Iraqi Freedom
Military history: Nmcb Two Five, Fort Mccoy, Wisconsin
Date of death: Monday, June 5, 2006
Death details: Hostile, died in Sw Of Anah, Iraq
Source: Department of Defense, Military Times
Walter E. Jr. Wint, age 28, from Luzerne County Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania .
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, Associated Press (1983)
Harry Kendall Jr. Harris, age 39, from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Luzerne county.
Parents: Felix Woronowicz
Spouse: Theresa (Gilroy)
Children: Geraldine, 16; Harry, 13; Doug, 2
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Monday, July 26, 1971
Death details: Died in South Vietnam from a heart attack.
Cemetery: Hanover Green
Source: National Archives, Wilkes Barre Times Leader (1971)
John Edwin Straub, age 19, from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Luzerne county.
Parents: Mary Boyle Straub
Service era: Vietnam
Military history: Company E, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Division
Date of death: Wednesday, October 28, 1970
Death details: Died in South Vietnam after he slipped off a water-covered road and fell into a river while en route to a platoon defensive position.
Cemetery: Saint Mary’s
Source: National Archives, Wilkes Barre Times Leader (1970)
Daniel Steven Walko, age 21, from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Luzerne county.
Parents: Stephen V. Walko and Helen (Rudawsky)
Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Coughlin High (1967), Penn State University (1969)
Date of death: Saturday, August 8, 1970
Death details: Hostile, killed in South Vietnam.
Source: National Archives, Wilkes Barre Times Leader (9170)
Thomas Albert Williams, age 19, from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Luzerne county.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Wednesday, February 18, 1970
Death details: Hostile, died in South Vietnam.
Source: National Archives
Wayne Benjamin Wolfkeil, age 36, from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Luzerne county.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Friday, August 9, 1968
Death details: Major Wayne Benjamin Wolfkeil, who joined the U.S. Air Force from Pennsylvania, was a member of the 6th Special Operations Squadron, 633rd Special Operations Wing. On August 9, 1968, he piloted an A-1H Skyraider (tail number 52-135326, call sign Spad 36) as part of a four-plane combat mission over western Laos. Witnesses in other aircraft reported that while making his pass over the target, Maj Wolfkeil’s Skyraider made a sharp turn and then crashed, and he was not seen to bail out before it went down. The other aircraft on the mission flew over the crash site but saw no evidence that Maj Wolfkeil survived the incident. Enemy presence in the area prevented ground teams from inspecting the crash site until a few weeks later, but no remains were found. While carried in the status of missing in action (MIA), the Air Force promoted Maj Wolfkeil to the rank of Colonel (Col). Today, Col Wolfkeil is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives.
Theodore Stanks, age 18, from Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, Luzerne county.
Parents: Agnes Stanks
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Thursday, November 2, 1950
Death details: During the last week of October 1950, Republic of Korea (ROK) Army forces under the control of the U.S. Eighth Army were advancing deep in North Korean territory, approaching the Yalu River on the Chinese-Korean border. Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) struck back in a surprise attack, engaging the ROK 1st and 6th Divisions near Unsan, some sixty miles north of Pyongyang. The U.S. 1st Cavalry Division, with the 8th Cavalry Regiment in the lead, was rushed forward to reinforce the ROK units in the Unsan area. On November 1, the regiment’s 1st Battalion took up positions north of Unsan, while the 2nd Battalion moved to guard the Nammyon River valley west of town, and the 3rd Battalion was placed in reserve at the valley’s southern end. Private First Class Theodore Stanks joined the U.S. Army from Pennsylvania and was a member of Battery C of the 99th Field Artillery Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. On November 2, 1950, Battery C was supporting the 8th Cavalry Regiment near Unsan, when it received orders to join with elements of the 3rd Battalion. While traveling down the Unsan-Ipsok road, Battery C met enemy-established roadblocks and was soon surrounded. It was at some point during this movement that PFC Stanks went missing, though specific details surrounding his loss are unknown. He was not reported as a prisoner of war and his remains have not been identified among any returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. Today, Private First Class Stanks is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Wilkes Barre Times Leader
William F. Tierney, age 19, from Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, Luzerne county.
Service era: Korea
Military history: Battery B, 109th Field Artillery Battalion, Pennsylvania National Guard
Date of death: Monday, September 11, 1950
Source: Scranton Times Tribune (1950), Wilkes Barre Times Leader (1950)