17 Feb 2004 Carl attended South Eugene High School in Eugene, Oregon, but graduated in 1965 from Pleasant Hill High School in Pleasant Hill, Oregon. South Eugene High School will have a Vietnam Memorial dedication Saturday, May 28, 2005 at 2 PM in remembrance of our classmates * LtCol William R. Andrews, 433rd TFS (09/06/1974) * LCpl William A. Beckwith, 3rd Bn, 4th Marines (07/04/1968) * SGT James W. Cartwright, C Co, 3rd Bn, 12th Infantry (05/23/1967) * Cpl Robert K. Collins, C Btry, 1st Bn, 12th Marines (12/08/1965) * SP4 Arthur A. Erwin, A Co, 4th Bn, 503rd Infantry (07/10/1967) * SGT Carlton C. Gray, C Co, 158th AHB (05/18/1970) * PFC Carl F. Louvring, E Trp, 17th Cavalry (05/13/1967) * LCpl Dennis E. Mickelson, A Co, 3rd Recon Bn (12/28/1968) (Silver Star) * PFC William G. Muir, B Co, 3rd Bn, 8th Infantry (11/11/1967) * PFC Kreg A. Viestenz, C Co, 1st Bn, 5th Cavalry (09/18/1968) Additional information on these men is available in the Eugene, Oregon, Register-Guard article republished here. For information pertaining to this event contact sehsnammemorial@aol.com Bruce D. Dyer, SEHS Class of "66" Vietnam 69-70 brucedyer@windjammercable.net

 

11 Apr 2004 HIGH FLIGHT Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there, I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air. Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace Where never lark or even eagle flew. And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod The high untresspassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand, and touched the face of God. John Gillespie Magee, Jr Pilot Officer, Royal Air Force Killed in flight 11 Dec 1941, aged 19 From his brother (and eldest of 7 children), Capt. Frederick S. Louvring (semi-retired; Commercial Airlines; ATP B-737 Pilot) louvring@acsalaska.net

 

12 May 2004 NW Woman Mourns Son Lost To Friendly Fire The telegram was brief, but explicit: "We regret to inform you that your son, Army Pfc. Carl F. Louvring, died while on duty in Vietnam,13 May 1967 -stop. "He was on an ambush patrol, walking through dense brush, and was fired on by other members of the patrol who mistakenly took him for the enemy-stop." The contents of the message were explained to Louvring's mother, Mrs. Elva G. McCain of Lowell, by an Army major from Eugene. She was told again that her son, a twice decorated soldier for heroic action in Vietnam, was killed by "friendly fire". "That's a helluva way to die" she said, holding back her deeper emotions. Young Louvring would have been 20 years old in October. He was born and reared in Eugene, attended Roosevelt Junior High School and Pleasant Hill High School at Pleasant Hill. Youth liked outdoors He loved the outdoors, liked to fish and hunt, and showed an interest in ranching. He worked on a ranch in Klamath Falls before enlisting in the Army, 7 Feb 1966. He tried to enlist in the Army's Special Forces, the Green Berets, but was too young, so he chose the paratroopers instead, training at Ft. Ord CA, Ft. Rucker AL, and Ft. Benning GA. He was sent to Vietnam in October, 1966, attached to the 173rd Airborne Brigrade. Mrs. McCain was informed later that her son had won two air medals for heroism in action as a gunner aboard a helicopter over hostile territory. He won the Oak Leaf Cluster for one memorable aerial flight 15 Jan 1967, when he killed at least one Viet Cong and held down enemy fire when the helicopter was on a low and vulnerable mission, carrying the deputy brigade commander. He received another citation for valor for making 25 hazardous aerial missions in the helicopter between Dec 1966 and Feb 1966 and Feb 1967. Enemy Held Off The citation indicated his helicopter engaged the enemy on several occassions, once taking a direct hit. But Army Pfc. Louvring, the dispatch said, successfully held the enemy at bay, pinning them with fire of his own until they were out of range. Mrs. McCall received a letter from her son dated two days before the fateful ambush mission. His spirits were high and he made no complaints about his duty. "That's a terrible way to die, she repeated. "After all those risks against enemy fire, to get shot down by your own." (Oregonian, Portland OR, Wednesday, 17 May 1967) From a researcher, Darilee Bednar bookstorelady@facesfromthewall.com Faces from the Wall

 

12 May 2005 I knew Carl from the 7th grade on and he was a good hand. I was in Vietnam from Feb 1967 until May 1969. Several of his classmates and I talk about Carl when we get together on a fishing or hunting trip. I was in an engineer company and we worked with the 173rd a lot and when we were in the Tuy Hoa area I must have been real close to Carl and did not know it. Dave Hufford, another classmate of Carl's, still has a pocket knife that he bought from Carl in junior high. Carl, you are still in our thoughts after all these years. Semper Fi ! From a friend, Alex Hanson monoski@teleport.com

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall Although PFC Louvring was killed by small arms fire during a ground action, he had flown in the Troop's UH-1 Hueys as a door gunner and was awarded two Air Medals (07 Jan 1967 and 24 Feb 1967) for heroism while participating in aerial flight.

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