24 Aug 2003 Al, it has been 30+ years, and you are still in my heart today. I feel like I have failed you, I really did try to keep you breathing, it was the Navy Corpsmen who took you to the hospital. By the time I got there, the Doctor came out and asked if I was the one who was with you. Yes. I had only been in-country for 80 days, not the required 90 days to "escort" the body home. I was devastated. I felt so responsible, and still do. I remember having written your sister a couple of times before then, I was hoping I could connect with her or your mother here. I volunteered for a lot of flight missions after you left me ... you trained me well. Every Christmas, I remember you. Every New Year, I toast a drink to you, and at the reunions, you are thought of and talked about. It is now August 2003 ... we never thought this far in the future. You haven't missed anything. It is actually very confusing. If there were any way to change places, I would, but I think you just got lucky with God. I miss you, friend. Semper Fi, Thom Thomas G. Leonard Sundown262@msn.com We have a website now, for the guys in the chopper units: USMC VIETNAM HELICOPTER ASSOCIATION

 

Helen S (AKA Wanda) and Alvin M. Slaton were married on December 3, 1944 in Omaha and from that union, they had two children, Alvin and a sister. His mother served in the Women's Army Corps from 1944 to 1945 and the lived in Joliet and Chicago during that period. In 1945 his parents were residing in Joliet but during 1946 they were listed as living in Omaha Nebraska where his father operated Slaton Radio Service and Supply. His father has also served in World War II in both the Army and Air Force at later an Air Force Civilian Electronics Technician. It is unclear whether Alvin and his mother were also living at the residences for his father. His father's recoed shows living in Agana, Guam in 1957, Charleston South Carolina by 1959, back to Guam by 1961, and in 1954 back in Japan. By 1967 his parents were divorced as his father remarried in April of that year in Tokyo Japan. His father returned to the U.S. in 1957 and lived in Colorago and Montana prior to his death in a Veteran's Hospital in Montana. Cpl Slaton's Home of Record for his enlistment was Warner Robbins where WR Air Force Base is located. He entered the Marine Corps from that station and he began his tour in Vietnam on 4 August 1967 and was on his second year of service when he passed away from an undocumented illness. While he was in Vietnam, he obtained a Zippo lighter and marked the locations where he had served in country. It was sold on Ebay to an unknown party.       Alvin was survived by his mother Helen Sofia "Wanda" (Rauman) Slaton (1918-1982) and a sister. He was also survived by maternal relatives: Juho Kustaa "John" Rauman (1896-1971) Lockport, Will, Illinois and Maria Alexandria "Mary" Silfvast Sylvestri (1897-1970); Uncles John Veikko Rauman (1921-2005), Toivo Isaac Rauman (1924-1998), Richard N. "Dick" Rauman (1933-2005), and Robert Michael Rauman (1937-2013); and aunts Laina Elisabet "Betty" Johnson (1915-2012) and Martha Marie Holland (1926–2003). He was predeceased by his father Alvin Maynard Slaton (1921-1968). Final disposition of Cpl Alvin Maynard Slaton's remains are unknown at this time. His mother, a World War II veteran is buried in Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, Colorado and his father is buried in Custer National Cemetery and Monument, Big Horn County, Montana.       - - The Virtual Wall, July 7, 2018

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