Richard A Hawley, Jr

The database page for Richard A Hawley, Jr

28 Aug 2005 Capt. Hawley, I have thought about you often in the last 35 years. How, when we were in the bush talking about country music, plans after Viet Nam, etc., I was always looking forward to getting out of the Army while you looked forward to your career IN the Army. You always pointed out to me all the benefits of remaining in the Army. I served under your leadership in September 1969 when you were a 1st Lt. You were a super nice guy and I saw you more as a friend than an Officer. We got along very well even though I was only a Corporal and two years older than you were. Your integrity and bravery will always be remembered and your memory continues to live on. From a friend, Wesley Wieghmink 6245 Wilburn Rd., Wilburn, AR 72179 fiddler04@alltel.net

06 Sep 2006 The following appeared in the West Chester (PA) Daily Local News on May 13, 1970: Devon officerkilled in Vietnam 1st Lt. Richard A. Hawley Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. Hawley Sr., 215 S. Fairfield Rd., Devon, was killed in action in Vietnam on May 6. Lt. Hawley was a member of the 101st Airborne Division and served in the vicinity of the DMZ. He had been in Vietnam since last July and received the Air Medal. He would have attained the rank of captain in one month. He was graduated from West Point in 1968 and had attended Birmingham Southern University in Alabama before entering West Point. Lt. Hawley is survived by his parents; a brother, Ralph P. at home; two sisters, Mrs. Charles Hannum of Chester and Margaret D. Hawley, at home. Lt. Hawley was a nephew of the late Gen. Smedley D. Butler. The photo is from the 1968 West Point annual, the "Howitzer". Jim McIlhenney christianamacks@comcast.net

A Note from The Virtual Wall On 06 May 1970 Fire Support Base Henderson, about 9 nautical miles south-southwest of Camp Carroll, was occupied by elements of the 2nd Battalion, 501st Infantry, as well as artillerymen. FSB Henderson came under attack, first by heavy mortar fire, then assault by a North Vietnamese Army battalion. When Henderson was relieved 30 American servicemen were dead and two were missing. Captain Hawley's Echo Company had nine dead and one MIA: CPT Richard A. Hawley, Devon, PA SFC Gary F. Snyder, Toledo, OH SSG David E. Ogden, Paramount, CA SGT Jay T. Diller, Chambersburg, PA SGT Dickie W. Reagan, Lumberton, NC SGT Edward Veser, Milwaukee, WI SGT John G. Widen, Owatonna, MN CPL Douglas W. Day, Hacienda Heights, CA SP4 Refugio T. Teran, Westland, MI (MIA) SP4 Ronald D. Van Beukering, Kalamazoo, MI In addition to SP4 Teran, PFC Larry G. Kier of A Company could not be located. Both men were carried as Missing in Action, and promoted while in that status, until the Secretary of the Army approved presumptive Findings of Death for them. FORMER MIAS LAID TO REST - Spc. Refugio Teran and Pfc. Larry Kier, both listed as missing in action from the Vietnam War 32 years ago, were laid to rest in Arlington Cemetery on April 19. Both soldiers were members of the 101st Airborne Division stationed at Fire Support Base Henderson in Quang Tri province in South Vietnam. When their base was overrun on May 6, 1970, only Teran and Kier were unaccounted for of the 32 Americans killed. Their bodies were discovered in 1993 and sent to the U.S. Army's Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii where they were identified. The families were informed on January 15, 2002. From ARMY Magazine for June 2002

Top of Page www.VirtualWall.org Back to To alpha index H PA State Index . Panel 11W 501ST INF RGT Index Contact Us

With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 28 Aug 2005
Last updated 08/10/2009