On my travels photographing local commonwealth war graves, I came across one or at least a memorial to an American soldier who apparently was killed in Vietnam in 1968. I will try to upload photo but haven't tried this before. Can anyone shed any light on what connection this man has with our area?
If his grave is in Bebington, then all I can imagine is that he must have emigrated to the USA and had to sign up for military duty. Then after his death his family brought him back for burial
Thanks for the info. Nice to see it is respected and left alone. Anyone wishing to see it, it is located in Bebington cemetery, Town Lane and just past the lodge on the right as you go in.
Found these on ancestry. Vietnam War: U.S. Military Casualties, 1956-1998 about Alan Peter Jones Name: Alan Peter Jones Birth Date: 30 Apr 1939 Death Date: 8 Apr 1968 Home City: San Antonio Home State: Texas SSN/Service #: 15955507
Death Date: 8 Apr 1968 Casualty Country: Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) Tour Start Date: 10 Dec 1967 Service Branch: Department of the Army Component: Regular (RA, USN, USAF, USMC, USCG) Rank: Sergeant Military Grade: Sergeant Pay Grade: Specialist Fifth Class (U.S. Army) or Sergeant (U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps) or Staff Sergeant (U.S. Air Force) or Grade/Rate Abbreviations With First Column: Any Entry; Second Column: Any Entry; Third Column: 2; Fourth Column: Blank (U.S. Navy, U.S. Coa Company: Trp B Regiment: 17th Cav Batallion: 2nd Sqd Province: 02 Decoration: Not Available CN: Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) Service Occupation: Light Weapons Infantry (ARMY) Data Source: Coffelt Database
and this one
Vietnam War: U.S. Military Casualties, 1956-1998 about Alan Peter Jones Name: Alan Peter Jones Birth Date: 30 Apr 1939 Death Date: 8 Apr 1968 Gender: Male Age: 28 Race: Caucasian (White) Home City: San Antonio Home State: Texas Religion: Roman Catholic Marital Status: Single (Spouse Not Listed) SSN/Service #: 15955507 Citizen Status: U.S.
Death Date: 8 Apr 1968 Processed Date: Apr 1968 Casualty Country: Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) Casualty Type: Hostile - Killed Casualty Reason: Gunshot or Small Arms Fire Casualty Air: Ground Casualty Body Status: Body Recovered Service Branch: Department of the Army Component: Regular (RA, USN, USAF, USMC, USCG) Military Grade: Sergeant Pay Grade: Specialist Fifth Class (U.S. Army) or Sergeant (U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps) or Staff Sergeant (U.S. Air Force) or Grade/Rate Abbreviations With First Column: Any Entry; Second Column: Any Entry; Third Column: 2; Fourth Column: Blank (U.S. Navy, U.S. Coa Province: Military Region 1 - Thua Thien Length of Service : 01 Service Occupation: Light Weapons Infantry (ARMY) Data Source: Combat Area Casualties Current File
I did some digging, and managed to contact one of Alan's best friends Joseph Taitano of the 101st Airborne Division.
I'm sure he does not mind me passing on his message to me:
"I was in Bebington Vet Day (11 Nov) last year and placed the black marker with his picture and awards. also the flags to include a Guam flag, and my Beret...He and I were very close friends and I invited him home to Guam just before we shipped to Viet Nam. I was to accompanied him to England but we were on orders soon after. He mentioned retiring in Guam, and that's the reason for the Guam flag...Alan was on vacation in America when he decided to join the American Army..He also served in the British Army..We met during training and became fast friends. I met with Mr Tom McCarthy a couple of years ago on the web and then in person to see Alan's burial Place. He had also tried to contact others who know him..I believed both his parents and a brother have passed on. Mr McCarthy wrote that he was sick and could not meet me on my next trip there...He was writing a book on Alan, but have not heard from him since."Joseph Taitano.
Just thought it would be nice to find out a bit more about him.