JOURNAL STAR - JAN 16, 1969 DIED IN I-74 CAR CRASH. 21 YEARS OLD. HAD BEEN RELEASED FROM SERVICE AFTER HIS RETURN FROM VIETNAM IN AUGUST. HAD BEEN WORKING AT PABST BREWING CO, BUT TEMPORARILY LAID OFF. HIS FRIEND, GARY RUHAAK, ALSO FROM VIETNAM SERVICE DIED ALSO. GERALD JOINED THE ARMY OF 1965 AND SERVED WITH THE 9TH INFANTRY. AT FORT RILEY, KANSAS. TRANSFERRED TO THE 196TH LIGHT INFANTRY BRIGADE SERVING IN CHU LAI UNTIL DEC OF 1967. EXTENDED SERVICE WAS A HELICOPTER GUNNER DURING THE TET OFFENSIVE AND SERVED IN THAT CAPACITY WITH THE 9TH INFANTRY AVIATION SUPPORT DETACHMENT UNTIL 1968 WHEN HE WAS DISCHARGED. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART FOR WOUNDS IN ACTION AND RECEIVED THESE ADDITIONAL AWARDS-NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL, VIETNAM CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AIRCRAFT CREWMAN BADGE, VIETNAM COUNTER OFFENSIVE PHASE TWO MEDAL, ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL, AND THE AIR MEDAL WITH NINE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS.
De getoonde gegevens hebben geen bronnen.