"U.S. Army Sgt. Frederick J. Magsamen, 21, of Westminster, MD, died May 9, 1969 in an aircraft accident in Vietnam. After the military aircraft he was riding in as a passenger crashed, Sergeant Magsamen was being airlifted via extraction line from a helicopter when the line snapped and he fell to the ground. He was born in Baltimore, MD, January 26, 1948, but lived most of his life in Westminster, Maryland, where he graduated from Westminster High School in 1966. He played on the varsity football team and belonged to the school's music organizations. His high school yearbook description includes his nickname "Toole", california dreamer.. No 11.. Fords forever.. Champ's.. co-captain.. organized riots.. "whip it on me".. broad-jumper.. snowman. After high school, Fred worked for Random House Publishing Co. before enlisting in the Army in July 1967. He took basic training at Fort Bragg, NC, jump school training at Fort Benning, GA, and military police school at Fort Gordon, GA. Sergeant Magsamen joined the Green Berets after taking additional special training at Fort Bragg. In December 1968, he went to Vietnam, where he earned two Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick J. Magsamen of Westminster, MD, and the maternal grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Wilmer T. Butler of Baltimore, MD." Taken from the Carroll County (MD) Times Memorial Day edition of 1989.

Fred, you were the only member of the class of 1966 from Westminster to die in Vietnam, and our class will always remember you. This year our class will be celebrating its 35th class reunion. Rest in peace, fellow class member.

 

A memorial from a classmate, WHS 1966, lemmer2@msn.com  26 Jan 2001

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