Sgt. John Gaylord Kopriva.

Editor’s Note: This is the seventh story in a series of nine first published by the Times-Republican newspaper honoring the 32 men from Grundy, Hardin, Marshall and Tama counties who perished during the Vietnam War including one man considered as missing-in-action. From Nov. 1, 1955 to April 30, 1975, the conflict raged in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Nearly 3 million servicemen and women served in the Southeast Asia theater – of which 115,000 Iowans served in Vietnam. The war claimed the lives of 58,220 Americans including 868 Iowans. There were an estimated 250,000 South Vietnamese troops killed, according to military sources. As a tribute, the newspaper is listing at a minimum the rank, full name, branch of service, hometown and, if available, date of birth, death, age and burial location of those who perished. The information was obtained courtesy of the Central Iowa Vietnam Veterans Involvement Committee archives, findagrave.com and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s “Wall of Faces.” Dan Gannon, a Vietnam combat veteran, provided the Iowa Vietnam War Memorial Directory of Names. Kennan Seda, historian of the Sons of the American Legion Post 73 in Tama, provided biographical details. Additional information was submitted by family and friends. This installment is the second to feature fallen veterans from Tama County; pt. 1 published in last week’s News Chronicle.

Sgt. John Gaylord Kopriva

Nov. 27, 1948-June 22, 1969; age 20 – Army – Traer

Burial: St. Paul’s Cemetery, Traer

Kopriva was on a search-and-destroy mission deep in enemy territory. He and other members of his unit were mistaken as enemy combatants and fired upon by friendly forces from a helicopter. He was wounded and evacuated to a hospital where he died from his wounds, according to information on the VVMFs “Wall of Faces.”

Cpt. Norbert Albert Podhajsky.

Cpt. Norbert Albert Podhajsky

Aug. 16, 1943-Nov. 29, 1970; age 27 – USAF – Toledo

Burial: Holy Trinity Cemetery, Vining

Podhajsky was a crew member of an aircraft which crashed into a mountainside in South Vietnam. Visibility was poor. Thirty U.S. military plus 10 South Vietnamese troops were killed.

“The American Legion Post No.73 in Tama inserted a tribute video for him. A Roman Catholic Mass was held to mark the 50th anniversary of the crash that ended his life at St. Patrick’s Church in Tama,” wrote Seda. “I have had some contact with his widow who has since remarried. He was departing Vietnam when it occurred. His wife was in Hawaii awaiting his arrival so they could have a vacation. So sad.”

Pfc. Terry Roberts.

Pfc. Terry Roberts

Jan. 2, 1949-Dec. 20, 1967; age 18 – USMC – Tama

Burial: Meskwaki Cemetery, Tama

“Terry was in my squad and a good Marine,” wrote Cpl. Robert Meadows in the VVMF ‘Wall of Faces’ website. “We had just taken a village. Terry was standing near me when he was hit by a sniper and died instantly. We hit the deck. The sniper also killed another Marine. We never saw the sniper.”

Pfc. Gary Ladd Squiers

Pfc. Gary Ladd Squiers.

July 26, 1949-Jan. 28, 1969; age 20 – USMC – Toledo

Burial: Haven Cemetery, Richland Township, Tama County

“A few years ago, we were contacted by Manuel (no last name provided), Gary’s fire team leader, on specific details about Gary’s death,” wrote Squiers’ sister Lorell Squiers of Des Moines. “Manuel had led his team on a scouting mission. As they came to a small clearing, they were attacked by the Viet Cong with little cover. One of the men was wounded, and Manuel was able to get him to a helicopter. When Manuel got back to the clearing, he saw one of his men was pinned down and could not retreat without being killed, so Manuel tried to reach him, but was then wounded himself. He did not want anyone to come after him, because he was afraid they would be killed. He tried to tell the men to stay where they were. Then Manuel heard Gary say, ‘I can get him.’ He heard Gary moving in the brush and then a shot and assumed Gary had been hit. Eventually, the men were able to retreat and get to the helicopter for evacuation. Manuel was right next to Gary. I asked if Gary was still alive at that point, and Manuel said ‘no, he died from that one shot… Manuel was near tears when he told me Gary was his hero for trying to save him.”

Sgt. Richard Clive Youngbear

Aug. 10, 1939-Feb. 3, 1966; age 26 – Army – Tama

Sgt. Richard Clive Youngbear.

Burial: Meskwaki Cemetery, Tama

Youngbear was awarded the prestigious Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry. He was Tama County’s first casualty in the Vietnam War.

Pfc. Gerald Carl Kinny

April 30, 1949-Jan. 31, 1968; age 19 – USMC – Toledo

Burial: Mount Calvary Cemetery, Dubuque

“Gerald was my big brother,” wrote his sister Cindy Humphrey on the VVMFs “Wall of Faces” website. He was killed-in-action on the first day of the Tet Offensive in an ambush in Hue City. His unit entered Hue not knowing the night before several regiments of the North Vietnamese Army had captured the city. He was a machine gunner and was last seen setting up his machine gun to ‘take out’ the enemy shooter positioned on a gate tower. The squad leader and corpsman were killed and several laid in the street wounded. Gerald was found on the sidewalk. He had run back down the one-half block to meet up with the others being retrieved by members of his unit. He made it within a few yards of safety before he was fatally shot.”

*No profile photo available.