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EWU ROTC Gold Star Alumni: Randy Turner

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RANDY VAN TURNER

(U.S. Army)

Rank: 1st Lieutenant

Hometown: Spokane, WA

Branch: Adjutant General

Born: 23 February 1944

Death: 25 September 1969

Location: Bien Hoa, Vietnam

Silver Star

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall: Panel 17W–Line 8

In the Army, when a family loses a member in war, we refer to them as a “Gold Star Family.”  Each of our Eastern Washington University (EWU) Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) graduates that were killed in action we consider them a “Gold Star Alumni” because they are part of our ROTC family.

Randy Turner graduated from Eastern in 1968 and commissioned into the Army’s Adjutant General Corps. He deployed the following year to Vietnam and was killed in action on September 25, 1969. He was posthumously recognized with the Silver Star. After his death Randy left behind a wife and a daughter. He was 25 years old.

Randy during his time at Eastern was a founding member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. In remembrance of Randy, his fraternity established the annual Randy Van Turner ROTC Scholarship.

The Department of Military Science offers condolences to the family of First Lieutenant Randy Turner and commemorates his service for making the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our great nation.

Note: If any friends or family have any memories they would like to share about Randy Turner, please leave a note in the comments section because we would love to learn more about him. 

EWU ROTC Gold Star Alumni: Ronald Wolfe

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RONALD GALE WOLFE

(U.S. Navy Reserve)

Rank: Lieutenant

Hometown: Spokane, WA

Branch: Navy

Birth: 05 November 1939

Death: 20 October 1966

Location: Phouc Tuy, Vietnam

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall: Panel 11E–Line 93

In the Army, when a family loses a member in war, we refer to them as a “Gold Star Family.”  Each of our Eastern Washington University (EWU) Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) graduates that were killed in action we consider them a “Gold Star Alumni” because they are part of our ROTC family.

Lieutenant Ronald Wolfe graduated from Eastern in 1961 and decided to attend Officer Candidate School and become an officer in the Navy. He successfully completed OCS and was serving with a naval advisory group in Vietnam when he was killed on October 20, 1966.  He was 26 years old.

The Department of Military Science offers condolences to the family of Lieutenant Ronald Wolfe and commemorates his service for making the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our great nation.

Note: If any friends or family have any memories they would like to share about Ronald Wolfe, please leave a note in the comments section because we would love to learn more about him. 

EWU ROTC Gold Star Alumni: William Wall

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WILLIAM PENN WALL III

(U.S. Army Reserve)

Rank: 2nd Lieutenant

Hometown: Tekoa, WA

Branch: Field Artillery

Born: 02 January 1946

Death: 01 April 1970

Location: Thua Thien, Vietnam

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall: Panel 12W–Line 77

In the Army, when a family loses a member in war, we refer to them as a “Gold Star Family.”  Each of our Eastern Washington University (EWU) Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) graduates that were killed in action we consider them a “Gold Star Alumni” because they are part of our ROTC family.

William Wall from Tekoa, Washington who went by the nickname of “Bink”, was an All-American linebacker who helped lead the Eastern football team to the 1967 national championship game. He graduated in 1968 and commissioned into the Field Artillery branch. Less than two years later while serving in Vietnam, “Bink” was killed on April 1, 1970.  “Bink” left behind his wife Linda and his two daughters. He was 24 years old.

The Department of Military Science offers condolences to the family of Second Lieutenant William Wall and commemorates his service for making the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our great nation.

Note: If any friends or family have any memories they would like to share about William Wall, please leave a note in the comments section because we would love to learn more about him. 

EWU ROTC Gold Star Alumni: Richard Walker

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RICHARD HAROLD WALKER

(U.S. Army Reserve)

Rank: 1st Lieutenant

Hometown: Spokane, WA

Branch: Infantry

Born: 11 August 1944

Death: 15 January 1968

Location: Tay Ninh, Vietnam

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall: Panel 34E–Line 56

In the Army, when a family loses a member in war, we refer to them as a “Gold Star Family.”  Each of our Eastern Washington University (EWU) Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) graduates that were killed in action we consider them a “Gold Star Alumni” because they are part of our ROTC family.

Richard Walker was from Spokane, Washington and commissioned as an Infantry officer in 1967.  He would then deploy to Vietnam and was killed in action on January 15, 1968 leading his platoon in an attack against an enemy bunker complex. His attack allowed other soldiers in his company to extract the critically wounded.

The Department of Military Science offers condolences to the family of First Lieutenant Richard Walker and commemorates his service for making the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our great nation.

Note: If any friends or family have any memories they would like to share about Richard Walker, please leave a note in the comments section because we would love to learn more about him. 

EWU ROTC Gold Star Alumni: Owen McCandlis

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OWEN TED McCANDLIS

(U.S. Army Reserve)

Rank: 1st Lieutenant

Hometown: Snohomish, WA

Branch: Infantry

Born: 27 December 1944

Death: 05 February 1970

Location: Quang Tri, Vietnam

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall: Panel 14W–Line 105

In the Army, when a family loses a member in war, we refer to them as a “Gold Star Family.”  Each of our Eastern Washington University (EWU) Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) graduates that were killed in action we consider them a “Gold Star Alumni” because they are part of our ROTC family.

First Lieutenant Owen McCandlis was from Snohomish, Washington and graduated from Eastern in 1968 where he commissioned into the Army as an Infantry officer. He deployed to Vietnam the following year and was killed on February 5, 1970. He was 25 years old.

The Department of Military Science offers condolences to the family of First Lieutenant Owen McCandlis and commemorates his service for making the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our great nation.

Note: If any friends or family have any memories they would like to share about Owen McCandlis, please leave a note in the comments section because we would love to learn more about our fallen Fighting Eagle. 

EWU ROTC Gold Star Alumni: Victor Hodson

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VICTOR M. HODSON

(U.S. Army Reserve)

Rank: 1st Lieutenant

Hometown: Moses Lake, WA

Branch: Aviation

Born: 27 November 1942

Death: 14 April 1969

Location: Binh Thuan, Vietnam

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall: Panel 27W–Line 81

In the Army, when a family loses a member in war, we refer to them as a “Gold Star Family.”  Each of our Eastern Washington University (EWU) Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) graduates that were killed in action we consider them a “Gold Star Alumni” because they are part of our ROTC family.

First Lieutenant Victor Hodson was from Moses Lake, Washington and during his time in ROTC was the Cadet Battalion Commander. He graduated in 1968 and commissioned as an Army Aviator. After completing flight school he deployed to Vietnam. He died in a crash of his “Bird Dog” reconnaissance plane on April 14, 1969. He was 26 years old.

The Department of Military Science offers condolences to the family of First Lieutenant Victor Hodson and commemorates his service for making the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our great nation.

Note: If any friends or family have any memories they would like to share about Victor Hodson, please leave a note in the comments section because we would love to learn more about him.