Clyde Wesley Van Valkenburg, Jr. (Br 5)

June Van Wingerden writes:

"I finally had time to read my Winter 1999 issue of NAVVF News Notes and on page 15 I read the Editor's note about my first cousin Clyde Wesley Van Valkenburg. Yes, he is the Clyde Van Valkenburg on the [Vietnam Memorial] "Wall" and not the "Van" in the photo.

"Clyde was known as "Pete" to his family. He was a small man with a sweet personality. He joined the Army in those days when many were going to Canada. His father Clyde VV, Sr. had been a decorated tank man during WWII. Clyde, Sr., passed away about two yeas ago.

Clyde, Jr. was only in Vietnam about thirty days when he was killed by one of our own men. I believe he had gone to fetch a sick buddy's bed roll for him. Someone shot him by mistake.

I left college (U.C.S.B.) to attend the funeral in Tulare. It was so sad.

Clyde, Sr. and Clyde, Jr. and buried near each other in the Tulare cemetery.

My mother, Lily Mae (Van Valkenburg) Clark, still keeps all the VV graves decorated. I go with her when I'm in town.

I just wanted all the newsletter readers to know something about that name on the "Wall".

Cupertina, CA