Compiled, designed and edited by Leslie Mount for the City of Del City 7th Edition, November 2016 View online or leave a comment at www.cityofdelcity.com Please contact Leslie Mount City of Del City 3701 S.E. 15th Street Del City, OK 73115 (405) 670-7302 [email protected] if you have any information about the heroes on these pages, Billy A. Krowse December 14, 1925 – March 13, 1945 PFC – US Army World War II illy attended the Oklahoma Military ably reorganized the remnants of the unit, and B Academy in Claremore, Oklahoma. He had issued orders for a continued assault. Observing completed a year of college before enlisting in a hostile machine gun position holding up further the Army on March 25, 1944, for a term of the advance, he proceeded alone under fire and duration of the war plus six months. Billy was succeeded in personally eliminating the enemy proud to serve his country, and his goal was to position. While clearing the area around the gun attend Officer Candidate School. position, he was killed by a hidden enemy rifleman, but his indomitable courage so inspired Billy was posthumously awarded his comrades that they surged forward and the Distinguished Service Cross secured the hill. The consummate determination, for “… extraordinary heroism in exemplary leadership, and heroic self-sacrifice, connection with military opera- clearly displayed by Private Krowse reflect the tions against an armed enemy highest credit upon himself, the 78th Infantry while serving with Company G, Division, and the United States Army.” 311th Infantry Regiment, 78th [Department of the Army, General Orders No. Distinguished Infantry Division, in action 89, October 3, 1952.] Service Cross against enemy forces on 13 March 1945, near Honnef, Germany. Billy was 19 years old when he was killed in action near Honnef, During a mission to secure terrain known as Germany, and he was temporarily “Cemetery Hill,” Billy’s platoon came under buried in Henri Chapelle Cemetery intense enemy fire that “… inflicted numerous in Belgium. Billy’s final resting casualties and pinned the unit down. In the initial place is at Oak Crest Abbey attack, when the platoon leader and the Mausoleum in Park Cemetery, noncommissioned officers were either killed or Carthage, Jasper County, Missouri. Purple Heart wounded, Private Krowse assumed command, Vietnam second page Thomas Lee "Tom" Burton February 27, 1944 – March 1, 1969 1stLt – US Marine Corps Vietnam War om graduated from Del City High School in 1962. T A fellow pilot who knew Tom well remembers that he had a great sense of humor and never took himself too seriously, although he took his responsibilities very seriously. Tom was a member of HMM-164, Marine Air Group 36, Air Medal National Defense 1st MAW, III MAF. He co-piloted a CH-46 “Sea Service Medal Knight” helicopter that crashed due to a mechanical failure seven miles southeast of Hue City, Thua Thien Province, South Vietnam, during a test flight. Of the three crew members aboard that fateful flight, two survived and Tom was killed. Tom’s length of service was four years, and he was 25 years old. Tom is buried Vietnam Republic of Vietnam at Sunny Lane Cemetery, Del City, Oklahoma. Service Medal Campaign Medal Crash of 1stLt Burton’s Helicopter 1stLt Tom Burton In Memory of Tom Burton We sat quietly there In that red dirt-gutted ready room. I wasn’t sure whether the old Bullet-town “Huey” blade could hold The weight of eight laden pilots Whose hearts today would Outweigh their total human bulk. It’s still quiet, though not serene. No, I didn’t say a word But we each dared the other To speak the first regretful Or even scornful apology. The unannounced news we had Already known came fast and still Lingers late between red eyes And cans of Red Label. You know, the unexpected is always expected. Yet the surprise of death Wants the attention it Doesn’t deserve. That last conquest. Lost? Fate just hasn’t the strength. Tom doesn’t fear anymore, and Has he given up? I dare say no! That quiet voice and smoother Manner mirrored more than we Will ever know. At least now. Tomorrow I’ll rise and remember His smile, enough to encompass all That our minds can comprehend. March 1st is nearly time’s possession. And another day is added to my Budding memory list that I Would give to you for one Piastre. –Allen G. Orcutt, excerpt from No Rest Elsewhere, Vietnam Notes, 1968-2008 Galvin Lee Duncan December 18, 1947 – September 4, 1967 LCpl – US Marine Corps Vietnam War alvin was in the 11th grade at Capitol Hill Galvin’s death devastated his entire family, G High School when he and his family moved especially his mother, who became an active to Del City in 1964. He elected to finish high member of Gold Star Mothers. Many of Galvin's school at Capitol Hill so that he could graduate teachers, classmates and friends attended his with his friends. While in high school, Galvin funeral. Galvin touched many people who enjoyed his employment as a newspaper carrier were saddened by his death. for The Daily Oklahoman, and he won several awards for doing the job well. Galvin enlisted in Galvin was a member of D Company, 1st the Marines shortly after graduating from high Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. His school in 1966, and he went through basic length of service was between one and two years. training at Camp Pendleton. Galvin was in Vietnam for less than three months and was 19 years old when he was killed in action Galvin was the beloved son of Leroy and Wanda by a gunshot wound sustained from hostile rifle Duncan, and the oldest of seven children, three fire on the first day of Operation Swift in Que boys and four girls. His family feels the pain of Son Valley, in the vicinity of Dong Son (1), losing him almost 50 years ago as though it were Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam. Galvin is yesterday. They miss him and keep his memory buried at Sunny Lane Cemetery, Del City, alive by talking about him often, especially to Oklahoma. their children. He has a young nephew named Galvin in his honor. Purple Heart National Defense Vietnam Republic of Vietnam Service Medal Service Medal Campaign Medal Ronald Clyde “Ron” High December 16, 1949 – August 31, 1968 PFC – US Marine Corps Vietnam War Purple Heart National Defense Vietnam Republic of Vietnam Service Medal Service Medal Campaign Medal on graduated from Midwest City High several shell casings from the 21 gun salute at R School mid-term in 1967. He was an Ron’s funeral. He remembers that Ron was gung outstanding wrestler in high school. He also rode ho and very proud to be a Marine. bareback broncos in rodeo competition. He could have avoided military service due to a torn Ron was a member of the 3rd Platoon, H knee and a thyroid condition, but instead, Ron Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd enlisted in the Marines at the age of 17. He Marine Division. He served for less than one completed basic training the summer of 1967. year and was 18 years old when he was killed in action by machinegun fire during a night ground Ron’s family was crushed by his death. For assault three miles west of the Rockpile in Quang years, his mother left his room just as it was Tri Province during Operation Scotland II before he went to Vietnam. Ron’s nephew kept (Truesdale). He had a premonition that he would die young. Ron is buried at Arlington Memory Gardens, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Michael Clint “Oklahoma Indian” Hope October 10, 1940 – June 7, 1970 CPT – US Army Vietnam War Silver Star Distinguished Flying Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart Air Medal Army Commendation with Oak Leaf Cross with three Oak with Oak Leaf Cluster with Numerical Medal with “V” Cluster Leaf Clusters Device 44 Device and Oak Leaf Cluster National Defense Vietnam Service Four Republic of Vietnam Republic of Vietnam Service Medal Medal with Star Crosses of Gallantry Campaign Medal ike graduated from Del City High School After high school, Mike attended the University M in 1958. While in high school, he was a of Oklahoma and later took a civilian job at member of the National Honor Society, the State Tinker Air Force Base. He enlisted in the Army Honor Society, and the “D” Club. He was also in 1965 and graduated from Officer Candidate on the basketball “A” team and the football team. School in 1967. In April 1967, Mike went to A high school classmate described Mike as a Fixed Wing Flight School in Ft. Stewart, person of quiet authority, making him a natural Georgia. A friend who knew Mike before OCS leader. and later went through Flight School with him remembers that Mike was a very outgoing guy that everyone liked. Mike deployed to Vietnam on April 30, 1968, Flying Cross with three clusters, the Bronze Star from Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. He was assigned Medal with cluster, the Purple Heart, Air Medal a very desirable position of flying a twin engine with numerical device 44, and the Army turboprop airplane in Vietnam, but he quickly Commendation Medal with “V” device and transferred to a combat unit, flying an unarmed cluster. O-1 Bird Dog in visual reconnaissance missions in support of the Republic of Vietnam 18th Mike was a member of 74th AVN Company, ARVN Infantry Division. Mike’s O-1 Bird Dog 210th AVN Battalion, 12th AVN Group, 1st was named “The Buzzard.” AVN Brigade.