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Above is one more way I can help others
You should be seeing the Amber Alert Banner
If the Back Ground is Yellow there is an active Amber Alert
which means there is a child missing or abducted
I want to extend my thanks for all the families who had members serve in
World Wat II, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, AND ALL wars we have ever been involved in
Our Vietnam Veterans came home to a less them warm reception
BUT There are huge Numbers who came home AND as a result of their service suffer painful debilitating and in some cases fatal illnesses
from exposure to various elements In Vietnam
Before getting to the tribute I would like you to help another Vietnam Veteran

PLease sign the online petition TO HELP THIS VETERAN
******
I received an email AUG 11, 2010 further pointing out the situation Many of our vets are now in
You can read what Anne Petitti wrote me about those who served
and continue to die
from service related causes AND FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH SOME OF THE illnesses such
cholangiocarcinoma or bile duct cancer
Your soldier may be have the symptoms seen
HERE
More links to help Vets are found at the bottom of this page
*********
Some people Don't appreciate what Our Boys and girls have done for US
in 2004 at the end of her show TV Host Nancy Grace
started showing a number which signified
soldiers who had been killed
She would also mention a soldier who had died along with that soldiers next of kin ( with feigned emotions )
I realized it was JUST the number of those who had died in IRAQ
I took it upon myself to contact her and tell about her slap in the face to
ALL the soldiers and their families who are/were serving and dying in Afghanistan too
She ignored me so I sent messages to EVERY ORG I could find
Associated with the Military, vets, and their families
and after 8 months IN Sept of 2010 -- AFTER 6 YEARS OF HER POSTING AND 9 years into the Afghan War
she finally started posting the total number of Our Boys and Girls
who have been killed in both of those theaters of battle
Of course there was no explanation from her as to why she changed her policy
She is too self absorbed to know what was going on - It was her staff that was at fault
Ms ( dis ) Grace is nothing more than a over inflated TV host
*************
Some of the names listed on the Vietnam Memorial Wall have been gone over 48 years
Remember they were someone's Sons, Daughters, Mothers, Fathers, Brothers, Sisters, Aunts, Uncles, Nieces, Nephews and Friends
Among those names are My fraternity brother Bill Papa, and friends Greg Fischer and Terry Kilbane
The 45TH anniversary of Bill Papa 's death was May 5th 2012
Bill was born Sept 1st 1945 - the day before Japan Signed the Surrender Documents for WWII
Greg Died over 45 Years ago - his was killed on Feb 22, 1968
TERRY will have DIED 46 YEARS Ago in a few months
he died on July 06, 1967 -
What surprised me is so many young people don't know
the difference between Memorial Day ( Last Monday In May )
and Veterans Day ( Nov 11th unless that is on Sat or Sun then it is the next Monday )
IT is a day for Remembering, and Honoring all of the Brave
men and women ( boys and girls really ) who paid Ultimate Price for our Freedom,
May the Sacrifice they and their families made for us never be forgotten
~~~~~
This page is dedicated to ALL those boys and girls who have served our country or been taken from us too early
BUT especially to: my boyhood friends who were Vietnam era Soldiers
Their Families and ALL families of those who served / serve deserve our thanks and gratitude too
Lets also not forget those who served and survived - Our Veterans -
When Ever I see or talk to one I Always say Thank you, especially those who served in WWII
I also remember Cleveland Patrolman Fred Vacha and My Father - Police Detective Dolph Tomsck
I had many other friends who served as U.S Marines in Vietnam and survived - Mike and Dave Murphy - Donald Avsec --- Tommy Hills -- Barry Sybil
My daughter Meliss served in the Marines from 1990 to 1994 and was trained as a meteorologist
All of these are responsible for our nation as it is today
Without their sacrifices
we would not enjoy the lifestyle we have become accustomed to
Another startling fact as of June 2012 - if you accept that 18 years old is the age of being able to join the armed services -
the Age of the youngest men to serve in Viet Nam is NO younger than 58 ( our involvement stopped in 1973 )
The youngest to legally serve in Korea is NOW 78 ( ended July 1953 )
and the youngest to legally serve in WW II ( 18 years old unless they had parental consent for 16 years old )
is NOW 86 if 18 or 84 if they were 16 years old - ( JAPAN Signed the documents for SURRENDER Sept 2nd 1945 )
We are losing those WW II Vets to age and natural causes at a daily rate
almost equal to what the daily casualty rate was during the war
***
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I live just 5 miles
from one of the only 4, full sized replicas, of the Iwo Jima Flag Raising Statue on Cape Coral FL
******

Visit Justice For All
and read about the restoration
of THE Cape Coral Statue commemorating the Iwo Jima Flag Raising
http://www.andjustice4all.org
Founder Marian B. Scirrotto
....There is More on the battle of Iwo Jima Below
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~

HERE
or send it to capecoralbill@yahoo.com
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Now to the main reason for this page
Remembering My Friends Bill Papa - Greg Fischer = Terry Kilbane
they all Died In Viet Nam in the late 1960's
as did 58,240 other men and 9 women from the mid 1960's to March 1973 -
a total of 58,249 ( still not exact )
AND there are over 2,530 STILL missing
I also remember Cleveland Patrolman Fred Vacha, My Father, and other High School classmates
and various others whom I was asked by family and friends to add
I have put THIS memorial to them on the net
so they will be remembered Always
In addition - From DEC 2001 to Feb 2011 ( Thats about approx 3400 days )
4,421 U.S. Men and Women ( just boys and girls in most cases )
have died In Iraq and 1,476 in Afghanistan
total of Total Fatalities, Operation Iraqi Freedom: 4,456, Operation Enduring Freedom ( Afghanistan ) : 1,476 updated Feb 2011)

This page is dedicated to the men and women who served in Viet Nam, Iraq, Afghanistan,
and ALL other Wars
but especially to my boyhood friends
Bill Papa - Terry Kilbane - Gregory Fischer -
They were Viet Nam Soldiers
I know they are in Heaven watching over and protecting us,
as they did while they were alive
I am sure they have an "In with the powers that be up There"
I have asked for their help many times
and it has never failed to come
I have included others here too
- not friends - but none the less heroes in my eyes
Alan Steffen died in Viet Nam - he was from my home town of Parma OH = U.S.A.F
Alan was the brother of Jim Steffen
with whom I worked at the Cleveland Plain Dealer for Many years
Lonnie Allen Floyd whom I never met, but was sent a message by his sister
In addition - Sgt. Steve Lintl whom I also never met but
There is a letter on this page to him from a
a comrade ( John Wolf ) in arms trying to locate him
Plus many others you will read about in few moments
~~~~~~~
There are boys who died from my alma mater ~
Valley Forge High School ~ Parma Heights Ohio
I graduated in 1965
I also attended St Ignatius High School from Sept 1961 to Feb 1964
When I transferred to Valley Forge
~~~~~~~
My schoolmates who were killed in Viet Nam are:
Carl Ange
Ronald Becksted
Terry Davis
Thomas Ewalt
Gregory Fischer
Edward Heifner
Ronald Kerner
Terence Kilbane
Daniel McGrath
Preston Mentall
Phillip Molina
William Rollason
Edward Scott Jr.
Jeffery Whitcomb
I did not know all of these brave boys BUT feel we must ALWAYS keep their memory alive
ANYONE wishing to add information or a name or story / tribute to a friend
or loved one lost in ANY conflict contact me
I have made a vow to visit the Viet Nam wall and make rubbings of my friends names
I am hoping to do this this summer (2012)
And then visit their graves of Terry in Arlington National Cemetary
and Bill and Greg's burial sites in the Cleveland Area in next year
I suffered a spinal cord injury which limits my ability to get around with ease
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~***~~~
Now to continue with the soldiers
ALL these were brave young men
who served their country and paid the ultimate price
~~~~~~~~~~~
Also to be found on this page are a compilation of the numbers of men and women who died
in Vietnam and the ALL other major wars
the United States of America has fought in the last 100 years
Bill Papa - Greg Fischer - - Terry Kilbane and Fred Vacha
I miss you and think of you often
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There are two Tribute Videos to these Brave men on this page too !
One was shown on CNN
+++++


In the circle is Bill Papa and His Date Mary Jo Larca
at the Sigma Phi Xi fraternity New Years Eve Party Dec 31st, 1965
In the foreground ( with the big smile ) is Dave Kramer
On the right of the picture is Lenny Kunka and his future wife Gloria Hrynak
just behind Bill and Mary Jo is me - Bill Tomsick and my future 1st wife - Jessica
Bill Papa and I attended Cuyahoga Community College
together in 1965, and 1966 .
Those were simple care-free days
Full of youthful fun
In some ways
BUT
over shadowed by the conflict over the war in Viet Nam
~~~~~~~~
Bobby Goldsboro's - "Honey" was the number one song the week he died


Bill on left in High School circa 1963 and on the right "In Country" 1967-1968
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Where no mothers cry and no children weep
We will stand and guard tho the angels sleep
All through the ages we safely keep the mansions of the Lord
Sergeant William James Papa
PERSONAL DATA
Home of Record: Garfield Heights, Ohio
Date of birth: Saturday, Sept/01/1945
He was born the day before Japan Signed the Surrender Documents for WWII
Religion: Roman Catholic
Which is the day before Japan Sign the surrender Papers to end World War II
MILITARY DATA
Service: Army (Regular)
Grade at loss: E5
Rank: Sergeant
ID No: 51829893
MOS: ----- Not Recorded
LenSvc: 10 months
Unit: A CO, 2ND BN, 8TH CAV RGT, 1 CAV DIV
CASUALTY DATA
Start Tour: Friday, AUG/11/1967
Cas Date: Sunday, May/05/1968
Age at Loss: 22
Remains: Body Recovered
Location: Thua Thien, South Vietnam
Type: Non-hostile, Died Of Other
Causes
Reason: Air Loss, Crash - Land - Helicopter - Noncrew
ON THE WALL @ Panel 55E Line 026
Bill is buried in Calvary Cemetery
Miles Ave
Cleveland Ohio
HERE is Bill's Viet Nam Wall Memorial Page = ADD your thoughts
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bill Papa volunteered to join the Army and was NOT drafted Bill grew up on the lower east side of Cleveland, OH
- near Woodland Ave - his family moved to Garfield Heights when he was 10 or so
Bill was a jovial, personable and fun loving person -
caring and active.
While attending Cuyahoga Community College he helped Sigma Phi Xi win the inter-fraternity tackle football championship in Oct 1965
with his athletic talents.
Bill was a good friend and He is missed daily.
He and Mary Jo Larca were engaged to be married
when he returned from his tour of duty.
ON May 5TH 1968 Bill Papa died -- 45 years ago in a land far away
It was a helicopter accident and Those with him said it was quick and painless
~~~~~~~~
Here is a remembrance of Bill which I received in an email On June 23rd 2005
~~~~~~~~
Is this the Bill Papa that ran the store with his father
on the corner of Turney Road and Rockside?
I went in that store every day on the way home from school,
and my father Sal and Mr. Papa were good friends.
Mr. Papa was the only Italian my father befriended
in Garfield Heights when we first moved there in 1959.
I was 12 and dad and I would frequently go to the store for bread and milk and of course,
those red, chewy dollar candies I liked.
I remember the day my father found out Bill was killed.
I was already out of the service for a month.
Dad sat at the table and cried a little for Mr. Papa and Bill,
reflecting that I could have been killed but was spared for some reason,
thank God.
I can still see Bill at the counter of the store,
wearing a butchers apron sometimes or a checkered shirt.
Man, I just got choked up, sometimes it hits close to home.
Take care.
Dave Lanara
Friend of Bill Papa
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here is another email I received about Bill:
Bill Papa and his family were neighbors of my family
We lived on 22nd and Creighton Ave.
It was a small street sandwiched between Woodland and Scovill Ave.
Near Downtown Cleveland
When he was in Vietnam I went to Gullucci's Butcher Shop
and I bought him a huge italian salami "Coppocola"
The owner Gus said it would survive the heat of Vietnam.
Bill wrote back that his whole outfit had it gone in an hour.
Our whole family was devastated when he passed away.
Mary Jo was my sister and I felt her grief.
Peace
Clyde & Betsy Bena Added - FEB 13th 2007
HERE
is the entry from the Greater Cleveland Veterans Memorial Page
Submitted by Mary Jo Larca
Dedicated to William James Papa
http://www.clevelandvetsmemorial.org/GCVM_Honor_Roll_Profile.asp?ID=4522
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Greg Fischer
GREGORY WILLIAM FISCHER
PFC - E2 - Marine Corps - Regular
19 year old Single, Caucasian, Male
Born on Feb 05, 1949
From PARMA, OHIO
His tour of duty began on Dec 04, 1967
Casualty was on Feb 22, 1968
in QUANG NAM, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE
Body was recovered
Religion: PROTESTANT
Panel 40E - - Line 62Greg is inturred at
Sunset Memorial Park
6265 Columbia Road
Greg Joined the Marines to fulfill a lifelong ( 18 years ? ) desire to be "The Best"
It is hard to believe that Greg has now been gone FOR over 45 years
Greg and I met playing football at Dennis Tepper's house
He was a year Behind me at Valley Forge High School ( 1966 )
We use to play pick-up football at Dennis' House on York Road with Paul and John Fitzgerald -
Carl Werner - Paul Lamiere - Terry Kilbane - Dave Sydel - Tom Spidel - Dave Prestel Roman Pawnyk
and the rest of the guys -
he was a quiet unassuming young man - with the heart of a giant -
I miss Greg's laugh and quick wit
Paul Mauriat's - "Love Is Blue" was the #1 song the week he died
Greg was memorialized
in a Cleveland Press Article On May 30th 1968 ( Memorial day )
and again more recently in USA Today on 3/11/2003 article --
I was informed of these articles by
Grant
Leiby from VFHS class of 1965.
HERE
is that article but you must have ADOBE 6.0 downloaded to view it
For Greg's Page on The Greater Cleveland Veterans Memorial PAGE
Click HERE
http://www.clevelandvetsmemorial.org/GCVM_Honor_Roll_Profile.asp?ID=4076~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On
Jan 21st 2008 Dennis Tepper Found this site when searching Google
He thanked me for my effort
to remember our friendsDennis said he had been working for the Veterans Administration in N.Y. until he retired recently