"And they who for their country die shall fill an honored grave, for glory lights the soldier's tomb, and beauty weeps the brave." (Joseph Drake)
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
UNITED STATES ARMY - Selective Service
CORPORAL - E4
196th Light Infantry Brigade
American Division
Company A, 3rd Batallion, 21st Infantry
Killed In Action
★★★★★★★ RECIPIENT OF THE PURPLE HEART ★★★★★★★
TY TO Zina ♥︎ Bee for sponsoring Mr. Abel's memorial - it is greatly appreciated!
CPL Arnold Gordon Abel began his tour on 29, October, 1967; he was killed on 10, January, 1968.
A Note from The Virtual Wall:
The Hiep Duc Valley, southwest of Que Son, was a hotbed of NVA/VC activity throughout the war. Between 03 and 14 Jan 1968 elements of the 196th Infantry Brigade conducted search and destroy operations in the Valley, with the intention of locating and destroying enemy units and infrastructure. One soldier was killed on 03 Jan, and one on 14 Jan - and 77 others in between those two dates. The first major engagement was on the second day of the operation, 04 Jan, when D Company, 4/31st Infantry, lost five men.
The largest engagement was on 10 Jan, when two companies from 2nd Bn, 21st Infantry engaged elements of the 2nd NVA Division near Hiep Duc. Nineteen US soldiers were killed in the fighting:
A COMPANY, 3rd BATALLION, 21st INFANTRY
SSG Samuel J. Helfenstine, Cincinnati, OH
SSG James M. Morgan, Concord, MI
SGT Gordon A. Campbell, Atlanta, GA
SGT Norris F. Johnson, Tampa, FL
CPL Arnold G. Abel, French Lick, IN
CPL Robert D. Blea, Denver, CO
CPL Murrie L. Blocker, New Orleans, LA
CPL Paul M. Fones, Bear, DE
CPL Thomas A. Ghelli, Holliston, MA
CPL Franklin H. Raub, Flat Rock, MI
CPL Paul W. Rumrill, Cambridge, MA
D Co, 3rd Bn, 21st Infantry
2LT Richard J. Seibert, Far Hills, NJ (Dist Svc Cross)
SGT Jeffrey Perez, Elmhurst, NY
SGT Edwin F. Brown, Beloit, WI
SGT Jerome W. Ellenson, Walcott, ND
CPL Charles L. Hanselman, Dearborn, MI
CPL Benton Michaud, Fort Kent, ME
PFC Francis H. Andrysiak, Glen Head, NY
PFC Garland A. Griffin, Coolidge, GA
Corporal Abel's body was recovered. A big Thank You to travelingal for the follow up information regarding Mr. Abel's place of rest -
Mr. Abel is listed as being survived by his father, Carol Abel of French Lick, Indiana - I am trying to find follow up files on this lead, as well as any photographs, etc.
Arnold Gordon Abel is listed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, Panel 34E - Line 13.
Arnold Gordon Abel was 20 years old at the time of his death; he was returned to French Lick and is buried at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery.
This page is being put online on what would have been Mr. Abel's 65th birthday.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
"These heroes are dead. They died for liberty - they died for us. They are at rest. They may or may not sleep in the land they made free, under the flag they rendered stainless, under the solemn pines, the sad hemlocks, the tearful willows, and the embracing vines. They sleep beneath the shadows of the clouds, careless alike of sunshine or of storm, each in the windowless Place of Rest. Earth may run red with other wars - they are at peace. In the midst of battle, in the roar of conflict, they found the serenity of death. I have one sentiment for soldiers living and dead: cheers for the living; tears for the dead." ~Robert G. Ingersoll
"And they who for their country die shall fill an honored grave, for glory lights the soldier's tomb, and beauty weeps the brave." (Joseph Drake)
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
UNITED STATES ARMY - Selective Service
CORPORAL - E4
196th Light Infantry Brigade
American Division
Company A, 3rd Batallion, 21st Infantry
Killed In Action
★★★★★★★ RECIPIENT OF THE PURPLE HEART ★★★★★★★
TY TO Zina ♥︎ Bee for sponsoring Mr. Abel's memorial - it is greatly appreciated!
CPL Arnold Gordon Abel began his tour on 29, October, 1967; he was killed on 10, January, 1968.
A Note from The Virtual Wall:
The Hiep Duc Valley, southwest of Que Son, was a hotbed of NVA/VC activity throughout the war. Between 03 and 14 Jan 1968 elements of the 196th Infantry Brigade conducted search and destroy operations in the Valley, with the intention of locating and destroying enemy units and infrastructure. One soldier was killed on 03 Jan, and one on 14 Jan - and 77 others in between those two dates. The first major engagement was on the second day of the operation, 04 Jan, when D Company, 4/31st Infantry, lost five men.
The largest engagement was on 10 Jan, when two companies from 2nd Bn, 21st Infantry engaged elements of the 2nd NVA Division near Hiep Duc. Nineteen US soldiers were killed in the fighting:
A COMPANY, 3rd BATALLION, 21st INFANTRY
SSG Samuel J. Helfenstine, Cincinnati, OH
SSG James M. Morgan, Concord, MI
SGT Gordon A. Campbell, Atlanta, GA
SGT Norris F. Johnson, Tampa, FL
CPL Arnold G. Abel, French Lick, IN
CPL Robert D. Blea, Denver, CO
CPL Murrie L. Blocker, New Orleans, LA
CPL Paul M. Fones, Bear, DE
CPL Thomas A. Ghelli, Holliston, MA
CPL Franklin H. Raub, Flat Rock, MI
CPL Paul W. Rumrill, Cambridge, MA
D Co, 3rd Bn, 21st Infantry
2LT Richard J. Seibert, Far Hills, NJ (Dist Svc Cross)
SGT Jeffrey Perez, Elmhurst, NY
SGT Edwin F. Brown, Beloit, WI
SGT Jerome W. Ellenson, Walcott, ND
CPL Charles L. Hanselman, Dearborn, MI
CPL Benton Michaud, Fort Kent, ME
PFC Francis H. Andrysiak, Glen Head, NY
PFC Garland A. Griffin, Coolidge, GA
Corporal Abel's body was recovered. A big Thank You to travelingal for the follow up information regarding Mr. Abel's place of rest -
Mr. Abel is listed as being survived by his father, Carol Abel of French Lick, Indiana - I am trying to find follow up files on this lead, as well as any photographs, etc.
Arnold Gordon Abel is listed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, Panel 34E - Line 13.
Arnold Gordon Abel was 20 years old at the time of his death; he was returned to French Lick and is buried at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery.
This page is being put online on what would have been Mr. Abel's 65th birthday.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
"These heroes are dead. They died for liberty - they died for us. They are at rest. They may or may not sleep in the land they made free, under the flag they rendered stainless, under the solemn pines, the sad hemlocks, the tearful willows, and the embracing vines. They sleep beneath the shadows of the clouds, careless alike of sunshine or of storm, each in the windowless Place of Rest. Earth may run red with other wars - they are at peace. In the midst of battle, in the roar of conflict, they found the serenity of death. I have one sentiment for soldiers living and dead: cheers for the living; tears for the dead." ~Robert G. Ingersoll
