Theodore D Van StaverenLance CorporalRADIO RELAY & CONST CO, 7TH COMM BN, 1ST MARDIV United States Marine Corps 30 November 1948 - 10 April 1968 Salt Lake City, Utah Panel 49E Line 012 |
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The database page for Theodore D Van Staveren
My brother died in Vietnam as a man without a country. A native of The Netherlands, he enlisted in the Marine Corps in February 1967. In Vietnam he served as a radio relay operator assigned to the South Korean Marines. He became a citizen of the United States of America by an Act of Congress, a special Bill passed by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States:
A memorial from his sister, 30 Apr 2005 My Brother's Friends
Were you his friend?
Love from your sister. From his sister, Bea Hardison beth6535@aol.com |
Before Theo went to Vietnam, he was stationed at the Marine Base in San Diego and we lived in La Mirada, California. We used to visit him there and we also brought him to our home. Our small children enjoyed his visits with us.
From his then-sister-in-law, |
I graduated basic training with Ted in 1967. This same photo is also in my graduation book. He was a great guy with a friendly smile and like all of us was young and eager to serve our country. Though we were in Viet Nam at different times his picture on this site and memories of boot camp bring sadness and reality to me in my current day struggles to make sense of it all. Perhaps Ted's lesson and message to me is that there was a cause and we both wanted to serve regardless of the final outcome or the criticism for what we took on as young patriots.
From a Marine brother, 09 Jul 2007 I knew Ted in Salt Lake City, Utah and we both were in Platoon #165 C in San Diego basic training after enlisting on a delayed entry program in Utah. Theo was more than likeable and had a calmness about him even during the physically and mentally gruesome basic training. I was stationed at MCAS El Toro when I received the news of his fatal wounds. I was taken back like never before as I knew him as a civilian, a Marine Recruit and a Graduated Marine. I really liked him. Me heart and prayers go out daily to him and his as I view The Virtual Wall often. God speed, Ted. You are still missed. I wrote this poem in 1970 while assigned TAD in Dak To, Vietnam. I pray these words are accepted with the spirit they were written.
From a friend and Marine brother, |
A Note from The Virtual WallExerpt from the 7th Comm Bn Ops Log, 10 Apr 1968 The two Marines from the RR&C Company killed in action by gunshot wounds on 10 April 1968 were
"Walensky and Van Staveren as radio relay operators in April 1968 were attached to and supporting the Korean Marines (Chung Young Brigade) south of Da Nang. On the day they were killed they were traveling up the beach toward Da Nang in a 3/4 ton utility vehicle and were killed in a VC ambush. The truck was hit by an RPG and disabled, Walensky and Van Staveren took up a defensive position and were killed by small arms fire as a result of enemy action. |
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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 12 Nov 2001
Last updated 08/10/2009