Lee Edward Reukauf

The database page for Lee Edward Reukauf

30 Oct 2003 This is the story of finding Lee Reukauf's picture. I was fortunate to work as a volunteer at "The Moving Wall" when it visited at Bridgeport, Washington, 25-31 Oct 2003. I was working the visitor tent (with three other ladies) when a long haired biker dude came back to see if there had been any luck finding his classmate's name in the their Wall database. After 35 years the guy had problems remembering the correct spelling and first name but was adamant that Lee was on the wall. I do a project to "place faces to the names of the Washington State Men whose names are on the Wall" and had brought my personal database with me (one of the ways I was helping out). At one point Glenn Maxwell said distinctly to the lady helping him "I know he's from Seattle so that Kansas City stuff isn't right". I was blown away... In finding pictures of the guys (I'm using lots of high school yearbook pictures) I look for obituaries which tell me the school the guys went to. Seattle's big newspapers didn't do obituaries for most people ... so finding schools for the 231 men who declared Seattle as their town of record has been difficult. One day earlier this year I was paging through a 1964 Lincoln High School yearbook looking for seniors with unusual names, hoping that I could do a Google search, contact them, and get a list of Lincoln High students who died in Vietnam (other means hadn't worked so well). I found Lee's name and did the Google search and found his name on the WALL ... It said he was from Kansas City, Kansas. Couldn't be him ... just couldn't ... Yet, I knew that the Wall Lee and the Lincoln High Lee were the same guy, but I had no proof - none at all. I copied Lee's picture and information, created a database for him, and placed him with the other guys - with no presentation on-line. I placed a note in my database saying "(found this guy... is he the right one???)" and I left Lee alone. On 27 Oct 2003 I was in Bridgeport, Washington, 175 miles away from my home, 200 miles away from Seattle and thousands away from Kansas City ... and Glenn Maxwell wants to see his classmate's name on the Wall. Lee Reukauf ... Why from Kansas City, we don't know... Please meet Lee Reukauf, Senior from Lincoln High School, Seattle, Washington. His activities were: One Act Play Tournement and his interests included Skiing, Football, and Waterskiing. He is remembered ... always... The Moving Wall Bridgeport, Washington 25-31 Oct 2003 Pfc. Lee E. Reukauf Killed in Vietnam - Pfc. Lee E. Reukauf of Seattle, who did not get to see his 2-month-old daughter, has been killed in action in Vietnam, the Defense Department reported yesterday. Reukauf, a 1964 Lincoln high School graduate, arrived in Vietnam 1 Feb (1967). He had entered the Army last May. He was with Company F of the 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade [sic]. His wife, Sandra, and the daughter, Tina Lee, reside with his mother, Mrs. Nina Parkin, 427 N. 64th St. Other survivors include his father, M. C. Reukauf, Long Beach CA and Gloria Reukauf, Seattle, and a step-brother, Timothy D. Parkin, Seattle. The Associated Press also reported yesterday that Sergt. Donald L. Pender, Tacoma, was killed in action in Vietnam. His survivors include his wife, Barbara, Tacoma. Seattle Times, Seattle WA, 7 Mar 1967 Faces from the Wall Courtesy of Darilee Bednar faces@facesfromthewall.com

30 Jul 2004 Yes, this Lee Reukauf is the same that graduated from Lincoln High School and entered the service in '67 to go through basic in Kansas. I know this because I grew up with that face etched indelibly in my memory. He is my uncle, my mother's beloved oldest brother. I have been to the wall in Washington DC and I was able to get a rubbing of his name for my cousin. I was surprised and happy to find that there was an online memorial to his name as well. Thank you! From his niece, Jeanie Reukauf jeans@yahoo.com

A Note from The Virtual Wall A military member's Home of Record is the place from which he enters military service, which may - or may not - be his physical residence. PFC Reukauf attended Lincoln High School as a member of the Class of 1964; he turned 18 and registered for Selective Service in March 1964. When he reported for active duty, though, he did so in Kansas City, Kansas - hence his Home of Record. Following Basic and Advance Training, PFC Reukauf was ordered to Vietnam. On arrival (30 Jan 1967) he was assigned to B Company, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry. On 28 February 1967, while operating near Prek Klok, about 14 kilometers south-southwest of the Katum airfield, B/1/16 Infantry was attacked by a much larger enemy force. Twenty-five U. S. troops died in heavy fighting before a combination of air and artillery support relieved the beleaguered command. Platoon Sergeant Matthew Leonard received a posthumous Medal of Honor for his actions in rallying his outnumbered men and preventing even greater loss of life. Private First Class Lee Reukauf was one of the 25 dead - less than a month after his arrival in-country and just a few days before his 21st birthday. "Not for fame or reward, not for place or for rank, but in simple obedience to duty, as they understood it." Confederate Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery

The point-of-contact for this memorial is his niece, Jeanie Reukauf E-Mail address not available

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 30 Oct 2003
Last updated 06/15/2008