Ripcord Memorial Page

Ripcord Memorial Page

Ripcord Casualty update
139 Americans KIA

       There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the accurate number of casualties that occurred during March 12, 1970 and July 23, 1970 defending Firebase Ripcord, I have done a lot of research and spoke with a lot of members from different units. There were a total of 564 Americans died in I Corp between Mar 12 and July 23, 1970 from all branches of service. I researched each name one by one and locating their branch, their unit and if they were involved in Operation Texas Star. Then narrowed the search to those directly involved with Ripcord which tends to be 138 Americans killed.
        My search of Operation Texas Star KIA (excluding the Ripcord KIA on my list) has another 252 Americans KIA which still has to be verified. Ripcord was part of the Texas Star operation and other battles that took place on other firebases should have and deserve to have their own recognition as part of Operation Texas Star.
       The bulk of the Ripcord casualties incurred were under the operational control of Lt. Col. Lucas, the 2/506th battalion commander, when they were killed. The remaining casualties incurred were aviators supporting the Ripcord battle and those men from Otis Livingston’s battalion who died in the battle while under the operational control of Ben Harrison during the month of July 1970.
       PLEASE understand that if anyone has a specific soldier who they think belongs on the list, they need to contact me by ASAP to further discuss the issue about that particular soldier. I will do my best to correct any issues you may have. My e-mail is: mail@ripcordassociation.com or call Frank Marshall or Lee Widjeskog.

139   American Soldiers were killed in The Battle for Ripcord
   5    American Soldiers are Missing in Action
   3    American Soldiers were awarded The Medal of Honor
   6    American Soldiers were awarded The Distinguished Service Cross 

Medal of Honor

  • Private First Class Kenneth Michael Kays, D Co, 1/506th Inf  7 May 1970

  • Lt Col Andre Cavaro Lucas, Hq,2/506th Inf (Posthumous Award) 23 Jul 1970

  • Cpl Frank Rocco Fratellenico, B Co, 2/502nd Inf (Posthumous Award) 20 Aug 1970

Distinguished Service Cross

  • Platoon Sergeant William Lawrence, Jr., C Co, 2/501st    9 Apr 1970

  • Sergeant First Class Jesse A. Isaac, B Co, 1/506th Inf    25 Apr 1970

  • Private First Class Kenneth J. David, D co, 1/506th Inf     7 May 1970

  • Captain David F. Rich, B Btry, 2/319th Arty    5-17 Jul 1970

  • Sergeant John W. Kreckel, A Co, 2/506th (Posthumous Award)    22 Jul 1970

  • Captain Frederick L. Spaulding 3rd BDE S3 Air     23 Jul 1970

Ripcord  Casualty  List

DATE OF DEATH

NAME

COMPANY                

BATTALION

REGIMENT

    grid

MEMO NOTES

3/12/1970

HEATER DANIEL NEIL

A

2

506

343194

Ripcord 1st Assault

3/12/1970

DAVIS DUDLEY

A

2

506

343194

Ripcord 1st Assault

3/12/1970

SHANOR GERALD DELMAR

C

2

506

419247

Ripcord YD-419247 4th Plt

3/16/1970

STANLEY JAMES STEVEN

C

2

506

394244

YD 394244 4th plt

3/26/1970

SHELL MARVIN

B

2

506

367178

Ripcord YD367178 on patrol

3/31/1970

TAPP NEWTON LEE

B

2

506

368162

Ripcord YD368162

3/31/1970

HAYES HARRY ELLIS

B

2

506

368162

Ripcord YD368162

3/31/1970

SHRINER THOMAS JOHN

B

2

506

368162

Ripcord YD368162

4/1/1970

SWAIN MILTON TRUMAN

B

 

326 ENG

343194

Ripcord assault

4/1/1970

UNDERDOWN GEORGE MICHAEL

B

1

501

343194

Ripcord assault

4/1/1970

WALL WILLIAM PENN III

B

2

319 ARTY

343194

Ripcord FO with B 2nd Bn, 506th Infantry

4/1/1970

BARNETT CARL EUGENE

B

2

506

343194

Ripcord assault

4/1/1970

RATCLIFF TERRY WARD

B

2

506

343194

Ripcord assault

4/1/1970

RAGSDALE DONALD RAY O

B

2

506

343194

Ripcord assault Pathfinder

4/1/1970

HEIMARK DON RAY

B

2

506

343194

Ripcord assault

4/1/1970

MILLER JAMES CALVIN

C

2

319 ARTY

343194

Ripcord assault

4/3/1970

WILSON JOHN WILLIAM

B

2

506

344194

Ripcord YD344194

4/6/1970

STEWARD STEVE LEE

C

2

506

339191

Ripcord YD339191

4/6/1970

GOODSON CARL BRADFORD

C

2

506

339191

Ripcord YD339191

4/6/1970

CHRISTMAN LAWRENCE PAUL

C

2

506

339191

Ripcord YD339191

4/8/1970

OSBORN LYNN ARTHUR

D

2

506

350187

Ripcord YD350187 friendly fire pink team

4/9/1970

GATES THOMAS LAWRENCE

B

2

501

 

YD368163 4,225 meters from FSB Ripcord Re-up Hill

4/9/1970

NELSON LEROY

B

2

501

368163

YD368163 4,225 meters from FSB Ripcord Re-up Hill

4/9/1970

MACE JAMES DOYLE

B

2

501

368163

YD368163 4,225 meters from FSB Ripcord Re-up Hill

4/9/1970

SELMAN CHARLES GEORGE

B

2

501

368163

YD368163 4,225 meters from FSB Ripcord Re-up Hill

4/9/1970

CLAY HERMAN ALLEN JR

B

2

501

368163

YD368163 4,225 meters from FSB Ripcord Re-up Hill

4/10/1970

SISTRUNK DONALD WAYNE

B

2

501

368163

YD368163 3,940 meters from FSB Ripcord Re-up Hill

4/15/1970

STEFFLER CHARLES ERVIN

A

2

506

480145

Ripcord YD-480145

4/15/1970

YOUNG BOBBY ARTHUR

A

2

506

480145

Ripcord YD-480145

4/15/1970

DAFLER DEAN BLAIN

A

2

506

480145

Ripcord YD-480145

4/16/1970

HEINZ DENNIS RALPH

C

2

506

343194

Ripcord

4/17/1970

PEERY NORMAN DOUGLAS

B

2

501

368163

YD362166 Re-Up Hill 23 Miles W-SW of Hue

4/18/1970

DANGBERG ROBERT LEE

A

2

501

362164

YD362164 3,500 meters from FSB Ripcord supporting 2/506

4/18/1970

VAGNONE MICHAEL JOHN

A

2

501

362164

YD362164 3,500 meters from FSB Ripcord supporting 2/506

4/19/1970

FREY DEAN LEE

A

2

501

363164

YD363164 3,550 meters from FSB Ripcord

4/19/1970

JOSEPH JEFFREY JOEL

B

2

501

368163

YD373162 4,315 meters from FSB Ripcord Re up Hill

4/19/1970

JARRETT JAMES DALE

B

2

501

368163

YD373162 4,315 meters from FSB Ripcord Re up Hill

4/23/1970

WORLEY GARRY LEE

A

2

501

362165

YD362165 3,400 meters from FSB Ripcord

4/23/1970

NICKS BENJAMIN ARNOLD III

E

2

501

382157

YD382157 5,325 meters from FSB Ripcord

4/28/1970

SUSI RAYMOND PETER

E

2

506

343194

Ripcord Helo crash

4/29/1970

BERNER EDGAR DAVIDSON

HHC

101st AHB

101st AVN

367162

Ripcord YD367162

4/29/1970

KLAVES JEFFREY JOHN

HHC

101st AHB

101st AVN

367162

Ripcord YD367162

4/30/1970

MASSETH ROBERT EUGENE

B TRP

2

17th CAV

474144

Ripcord Hit by RPG in vicinity of FB YD474144

4/30/1970

STATON DAVID WALDEN

B TRP

2

17th CAV

474144

Ripcord Hit by RPG in vicinity of FB YD474144

4/30/1970

SENSING JOHN LESLIE

B TRP

2

17th CAV

474144

Ripcord Hit by RPG in vicinity of FB YD474144

5/8/1970

HUBERTY DAVID JEROME

HHC

 

3rd BDE

362148

YD362148 4,925 meters from FSB Ripcord

5/11/1970

MILBURN ALBERT

D

2

506

351148

Ripcord YD351148 4,640 meters from FSB Ripcord

5/14/1970

LOWE ROBERT ERNEST

A

2

506

362147

Ripcord YD362147 5,000 meters from FSB Ripcord

5/16/1970

MAUNEY GERALD CLINTON

C

1

506

362147

Ripcord YD362147 WIA 5/14 5,000 meters from FSB Ripcord

5/18/1970

COLE ROBERT KENNETH

C

158th AHB

101st AVN

296161

Ripcord YD296161 Helo disappeared 18May70 after resupplying infantry near FSB Ripcord

5/18/1970

SAUNDERS NICHOLAS GABRIEL

C

158th AHB

101st AVN

296161

Ripcord YD296161 Helo disappeared 18May70 after resupplying infantry near FSB Ripcord

5/18/1970

GRAY CARLTON COE

C

158th AHB

101st AVN

296161

Ripcord YD296161 Helo disappeared 18May70 after resupplying infantry near FSB Ripcord

5/18/1970

STONE HARRY JAMES

HHC

2

506

296161

Ripcord YD296161 Helo disappeared 18May70 after resupplying infantry near FSB Ripcord

5/18/1970

DARLING JOHN EDWARD JR

HHC

2

506

296161

Ripcord YD296161 Helo disappeared 18May70 after resupplying infantry near FSB Ripcord

5/26/1970

JOHNSON DAVID KEITH

 

326 MEDICAL

Eagle Dust Off

331217

YD331217 medivac for YD338170

5/26/1970

O BRIEN EDWARD TERRY

HHC

326 MEDICAL

Eagle Dust Off

331217

YD331217 medivac for YD338170

5/26/1970

HAWKINS WILLIAM EDWARD

HHC

326 MEDICAL

Eagle Dust Off

331217

YD331217 medivac for YD338170

5/26/1970

GRAHAM BRUCE ELLIOT

HQ

326 MEDICAL

Eagle Dust Off

331217

YD331217 medivac for YD338170

6/3/1970

NORRIS WIELAND CLYDE

A

2

506

340192

Ripcord YD340192, 380 meters from FSB Ripcord

6/5/1970

RICHARDSON CHARLES A

B

2

17th CAV

343194

Ripcord hit in transmission by B-40 rocket while supporting an infantry unit in the Ashau valley.

6/5/1970

HOVEY VERNON FLETCHER III

B TRP

2

17th CAV

343194

Ripcord hit in transmission by B-40 rocket while supporting an infantry unit in the Ashau valley.

6/8/1970

SMITH WINFRED LEE

A

2

506

347177

Ripcord YD347177 WIA June 7 1,700 meters from FSB Ripcord

7/2/1970

ZOLLER ROBERT WILLIAM II

C

2

506

337172

Ripcord Hill 902

7/2/1970

RADCLIFF ROBERT PAUL JR

C

2

506

337172

Ripcord Hill 902

7/2/1970

SUMRALL ROGER DALE

C

2

506

337172

Ripcord Hill 902

7/2/1970

HARBER STEPHEN JAMES

C

2

506

337172

Ripcord Hill 902

7/2/1970

HERNDON THOMAS HAYDEN

C

2

506

337172

Ripcord Hill 902

7/2/1970

LENZ LEE NEWLUN

C

2

506

337172

Ripcord Hill 902

7/2/1970

HEWITT THOMAS THEODORE

C

2

506

337172

Ripcord Hill 902

7/2/1970

CONRARDY RICHARD JOHN

HHC

2

506

337172

Ripcord Hill 902

7/3/1970

UTECHT ROBERT STEPHEN

B

2

506

360180

Ripcord YD360180 2,140 meters from FSB Ripcord

7/4/1970

RAY WILLIAM CLAYTON

  

58TH INF

 

SCOUT DOG Handler with 2/501 Hill 902

7/4/1970

ROBINSON JIMMIE LEE

C

2

501

337172

Ripcord on a Ridge SE from Hill 902, vic. FSB Ripcord

7/4/1970

MICKENS CARL LAWRENCE

C

2

501

337172

Ripcord on a Ridge SE from Hill 902, vic. FSB Ripcord

7/4/1970

THADEN GARY DENNIS

C

2

501

337172

Ripcord on a Ridge SE from Hill 902, vic. FSB Ripcord

7/4/1970

SULLIVAN WILLIAM LEE

C

2

501

337172

Ripcord on a Ridge SE from Hill 902, vic. FSB Ripcord

7/5/1970

WAYMIRE MICHAEL KARL

HHC

2

501

343194

Ripcord

7/6/1970

PORTER SANDY HILLY

B

1

506

 

teamed up with D/2-506

7/7/1970

RISINGER GERALD LEE

C

2

506

334221

Ripcord YD334221 2,895 meters from FSB Ripcord

7/7/1970

GRIMM MICHAEL JOSEPH

D

2

506

334194

Ripcord Hill 1000 YD334194 approximately 950 meters from FSB Ripcord

7/7/1970

HOWARD LEWIS JR

D

2

506

334194

Ripcord Hill 1000 YD334194 approximately 950 meters from FSB Ripcord

7/7/1970

BEALS CHARLES ELBERT

D

2

506

334194

Ripcord Hill 1000 YD334194 approximately 950 meters from FSB Ripcord

7/8/1970

SCOTT RICKEY LEROY

C

2

506

334194

Ripcord Hill 1000 YD334194 approximately 950 meters from FSB Ripcord

7/8/1970

HUPP JAMES EARL

C

2

506

334194

Ripcord Hill 1000 YD334194 approximately 950 meters from FSB Ripcord

7/9/1970

WILLIAMS TERRY EUGENE

E

2

501

343194

Ripcord Non-hostile causes, at FSB Ripcord

7/10/1970

RAYMOND FREDRICK CAROL JR

A

2

11th ARTY

343194

Ripcord

7/10/1970

DE FOOR VICTOR LEE

B

2

506

343194

Ripcord

7/10/1970

JOHNSON ROY ALBERT

E

2

506

343194

result of an accident booby trap accidently discharged

7/10/1970

BOHAN PATRICK JOHN

HHC

 

PATHFINDER

343194

Ripcord

7/14/1970

HUFFINE DENNIS WILLARD

B

2

501

326192

Ripcord YD326192 1,750 meters from FSB Ripcord Bob Worrall

7/14/1970

GUIMOND PAUL GERALD

D

2

501

362187

Ripcord YD362187 Hill 805 1,925 meters from FSB Ripcord

7/14/1970

JONES WILLIAM EDWARD

D

2

501

362187

Ripcord YD362187 Hill 805 1,925 meters from FSB Ripcord

7/14/1970

PALM TERRY ALAN

D

2

501

362187

Ripcord YD362187 Hill 805 1,925 meters from FSB Ripcord

7/14/1970

UTTER KEITH EDWARD

D

2

501

362187

Ripcord YD362187 Hill 805 1,925 meters from FSB Ripcord

7/14/1970

KEISTER JOHN LOY

D

2

501

362187

Ripcord YD362187 Hill 805 1,925 meters from FSB Ripcord

7/14/1970

HEMBREE JAMES THOMAS JR

D

2

501

362187

Ripcord YD362187 Hill 805 1,925 meters from FSB Ripcord

7/14/1970

SCHNEIDER GARY LEE

D

2

501

362187

Ripcord YD362187 Hill 805 1,925 meters from FSB Ripcord

7/16/1970

TIMMONS RICHARD RUSSELL

A

2

501

 

died from Non-hostile causes “falling from tree” West of Triple Hill vic. Ripcord,

7/17/1970

WARNER WILFRED WESLEY JR

D

2

501

362187

Ripcord Hill 805 wounded 17 July and died 23 July

7/18/1970

WALKER MICHAEL ALLEN

A

159th AHB

101st AVN

343194

Ripcord Shinook shot down

7/18/1970

MILLER BURKE HOLBROOK

A

2

11th ARTY

343194

Ripcord

7/18/1970

BEYL DAVID ROBERT

D

2

501

334194

Ripcord Hill 1000 YD334194 approximately 950 meters from FSB Ripcord

7/18/1970

ROLLASON WILLIAM DAVID

D

2

501

343194

Ripcord an 120mm fire at FSB Ripcord

7/20/1970

PLETT LARRY JOE

B

2

319 ARTY

343194

Ripcord

7/20/1970

CALHOUN DURL GENE

B

326TH ENG

101st Abn

343194

Ripcord Dave Kenyon verified

7/20/1970

FISHER DENNIS FAY

B

326TH ENG

101st Abn

343194

Ripcord

7/20/1970

BROWNING BILL GWINN

D

1

506

376189

Ripcord YD376189 3,285 meters from FSB Ripcord Patrol

7/20/1970

DE WULF PATRICK THOMAS

D

1

506

376189

Ripcord YD376189 3,285 meters from FSB Ripcord & 1,450 meters from Hill 805

7/20/1970

KNOTT JOHN CHARLES

D

1

506

376189

Ripcord YD376189 3,285 meters from FSB Ripcord & 1,450 meters from Hill 805

7/20/1970

VALLE ELOY RUBEN

D

1

506

376189

Ripcord YD376189 3,285 meters from FSB Ripcord & 1,450 meters from Hill 805

7/21/1970

LAW BRENT ROBIN

 

326 MEDICAL

Eagle Dust Off

353177

Ripcord YD331217 3,250 meters from FSB Ripcord

7/21/1970

JOHNSON DAVID EARL

A

2

11th ARTY

343194

Ripcord Mortar attack

7/21/1970

KALSU JAMES ROBERT

A

2

11th ARTY

343194

Ripcord Mortar attack

7/21/1970

MCDOWELL LARRY J

B

2

506

 

Ripcord died 7/27/70

7/21/1970

FLORES ROBERTO C

B

2

506

343194

Ripcord

7/21/1970

MAUNE FRANCIS EDWARD

B

2

506

343194

Ripcord

7/21/1970

SCHULTZ RONALD JAMES

D

1

506

 

fell 400 ft from Helo skids

7/21/1970

WORKMAN DONALD RENAY

D

1

506

376192

Ripcord YD376192 3,250 meters from FSB Ripcord & 1,510 meters from Hill 805 YD-36161874

7/21/1970

HAYS ROBERT BRADFORD

D

1

506

376192

Ripcord YD376192 3,250 meters from FSB Ripcord & 1,510 meters from Hill 805 YD-36161874

7/21/1970

ASHER FRANK LOUIS

D

1

506

376192

Ripcord YD376192 3,250 meters from FSB Ripcord & 1,510 meters from Hill 805 YD-36161874

7/21/1970

HUK PETER PAUL

D

1

506

376192

Ripcord YD376192 3,250 meters from FSB Ripcord & 1,510 meters from Hill 805 YD-36161874

7/22/1970

NEAL HARVEY RAY

A

2

506

 

Ripcord YD353177 1,920 meters from FSB Ripcord

7/22/1970

DRAPER MARK GREGORY

A

2

506

353177

Ripcord YD353177 1,920 meters from FSB Ripcord

7/22/1970

SEVERSON DONALD JON

A

2

506

353177

Ripcord YD353177 1,920 meters from FSB Ripcord

7/22/1970

BIXBY VIRGIL MARTIN

A

2

506

353177

Ripcord YD353177 1,920 meters from FSB Ripcord

7/22/1970

FRIES DANNY JOE

A

2

506

353177

Ripcord YD353177 1,920 meters from FSB Ripcord

7/22/1970

SCHULTZ THOMAS RUSSELL

A

2

506

353177

Ripcord YD353177 1,920 meters from FSB Ripcord

7/22/1970

SINGLETON GERALD BLAINE

A

2

506

353177

Ripcord YD353177 1,920 meters from FSB Ripcord

7/22/1970

JOURNELL ROBERT MASON III

A

2

506

353177

Ripcord YD353177 1,920 meters from FSB Ripcord

7/22/1970

KRECKEL JOHN WILLIAM

A

2

506

353177

Ripcord YD353177 1,920 meters from FSB Ripcord

7/22/1970

BROWN ROBERT JOSEPH JR

A

2

506

353177

Ripcord YD353177 1,920 meters from FSB Ripcord

7/22/1970

BABICH JOHN MICHAEL

A

2

506

353177

Ripcord YD353177 1,920 meters from FSB Ripcord

7/22/1970

PAHISSA WILLIAM ANTHONY

A

2

506

353177

Ripcord YD353177 1,920 meters from FSB Ripcord

7/22/1970

OLSON STEVEN ALLAN

B

2

319 ARTY

353177

Ripcord YD353177 1,920 meters from FSB Ripcord A co / FO

7/22/1970

DIEHL STANLEY GENE

D

2

506

343194

Ripcord remains removed Aug 5th

7/22/1970

SPRUILL OVELL

E

2

506

353177

Ripcord WIA 22nd Died 8/4 Sniper Attached to A

7/23/1970

ALLEN GUS

A

2

506

343194

Ripcord Mortar attack

7/23/1970

TANNER KENNETH PAUL

HHC

2

506

343194

Ripcord Mortar attack

7/23/1970

LUCAS ANDRE CAVARO

HHC

2

506

343194

Ripcord Mortar attack