County
County Gives $5,000 to Vietnam Memorial
By

KERIN MAGILL

A Georgetown memorial for Vietnam War veterans got a $5,000 boost from Sussex County Council on Tuesday, Oct. 21.

The council voted to make the contribution after a presentation by Robert Corso, president of the Delaware Chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America.

Corso said he didn’t personally know any of the 24 Sussex County residents who died in the Vietnam War, but added "honestly, I knew every one of them."

County Administrator Robert Stickels, on the other hand, said he went to high school with five of the men on the list.

"I can tell you what I was doing on every day these young men were killed," said Stickels, a Vietnam veteran himself.

The 4-foot-by-4-foot granite memorial, to be placed on The Circle, will include names of all Sussex Countians who died in the Vietnam War.

The following are the names of the men who have been identified by the memorial committee, along with the dates of their deaths:

• Bethel -- Richard S. Dennison, Sgt./Spec. 5th U.S Army, March 5, 1971;
• Bridgeville -- Gene T. Grant, L./cpl. U.S. Marine Corps, May 29, 1968; James Messick, Sgt., U.S. Army, Jan. 8, 1967;
• Ellendale -- Reginald W. Burris, Cpl., U.S. Army, Aug. 19, 1969; Donald P. Hamilton, P.F.C., U.S. Marine Corps, Dec. 19, 1967;
• Frankford -- William J. Bunting, P.F.C., U.S. Army, May 26, 1970;
• Georgetown -- Vaughn O. Hall, Cpl., U.S. Army, May 23, 1969; George E. Partin, L/cpl, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Marine Corps; Richard C. Stevenson, Cpl., U.S. Marine Corps, Feb. 23, 1969; Rodney W. Wilson, Cpl., U.S. Army, May 25, 1970; Frank W. Jones, W.O., U.S. Army, June 30, 1968;
• Greenwood -- Elmer L. Faulkner Jr., P.F.C., U.S. Marine Corps, June 18, 1968;
• Laurel -- David L. Hastings, Sgt., U.S. Air Force, July 18, 1969;
• Lewes -- Harry P. McFalls, 1st Lt., U.S. Army, Jan. 10, 1968;
• Milford -- Donald L. Gibson, Cpl., U.S. Army, July 19, 1968; Jester W. Clifford, Pvt., U.S. Army, April 10, 1968; James H. Johnson Jr., Capt., U.S. Army, Oct. 3, 1963;
• Millsboro -- James E. Holden, Pfc., U.S. Army, Nov. 17, 1965; William E. Jones, S.Sgt., U.S. Army, July 14, 1970;
• Milton -- Linden W. Brittingham, L./cpl., U.S. Marine Corps, March 1, 1968; Robert J. Mereider, Pfc., U.S. Marine Corps, Jan. 28, 1968;
• Rehoboth Beach -- Howard L. Webb, Sgt., U.S. Army, June 8, 1967;
• Seaford -- Richard K. Hill, Pfc., U.S. Marine Corps, March 26, 1966; James L. Miller, 1st Lt., U.S. Army, Dec. 14, 1967;
• Selbyville -- Thomas B. Adams, 1st. Lt., U.S. Army, March 4, 1968.

Anyone who has a name to add to the list should call Stickels at 855-7742.

Corso said the memorial will cost $24,000, and that he hopes to have it ready to dedicate on Return Day 2004. He said the message the memorial will send "will far outweigh the price."

He said it is being designed as a belated "welcome home" to those who died as well as those who served in the war. Choking back tears, Corso said the memorial will send a "clear and resounding" message to veterans and their families that their service and their sacrifice are appreciated.

"Democracy is a very fragile thing. We appreciate those that put their lives on the line," council president Lynn Rogers said.

Corso said veterans’ groups and individuals are helping to fund the memorial, which he said will be made of black granite and is intended to bring to mind the national Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C.