In Memory of….. Sp4 John Wayne Acosta.
You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in those who knew you. You will live on because we remember you!
JOHN WAYNE ACOSTA - Army - SP4 - E4
Age: 21
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth Oct 12, 1946
From: NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR
Religion: PROTESTANT
Marital Status: Single. Parents: Father, Sp6 John S. Acosta, (1928 - 1980) and Mother, Margaret J. Smith of North Little Rock, Arkansas. He had no children.
***** Acosta was a good guy , always wore his platoon scarf around his neck. He was my Gunner on RED 9 , then went to the Bandits , came from the 173 rd Airbourne , 3rd Herd... HE was one of a kind , still miss him , and Simpson to . You Booth were Bandits you booth fought hard . May GOD GRANT YOU A PLACE IN ....HEAVEN because you spent your time in HELL!
Chaz Bergandi
***** Wayne, your on the top of the Ark., list, Wayne, I'm sorry I just now got around to leaving a memorial to you, it's been so long ago. We never understood then, why you did 3 tours, but now, after having been there myself as a Marine, 0311, sq., lder. and plt., guide, in 68, 69, I think, I understand. We were never better, never sharper than in combat. We missed ya, Bro, around town. I was, in ITR., when you went down and Karen let me know from home. I guess I don't have to tell you all the others from NLR., that followed, as you've seen them by now. I often go and sit and read, the wall and your 1st on the list, buddy, in more ways than one. We will see you again, but not yet! Keep your powder dry Bro.
SF. Bob Redd
sqd., lder., B, 1/1,
USMC, 68, 69.
***** Hello Friends, of John Wayne Acosta, I'am the museum coordinator, for the Jacksonville Museum, of Military History, in Jacksonville, Arkansas. Recently a trunk, for John Wayne Acosta, was donated, to the museum. The man had purchased, a house, that had been, foreclosed and the only thing left, in the house was Wayne's trunk. The man, had tried to locate relatives, but was unsuccessful, so he donated it to the museum. One of my Vietnam, Vet volunteers and I spent, the whole day going through, the trunk and as best we could, recreated, Wayne's life. I feel, like I know him even though, I have never met him. If anyone, could send some information, or stories, about his service to me, I would greatly appreciate it.
Sincerely,
Danna Kay Duggar
Jacksonville Museum of Military History
100, Veteran's Circle,
Jacksonville, AR.
***** John Wayne Acosta is also memorialized at the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial, see ID# 228360027
SP4 - E4 - Army - 1st AVN BDE
Length of service 2 years
His tour began on Apr 6, 1966
Casualty was on Jul 27, 1968
In PHUOC LONG, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, HELICOPTER - CREW
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was recovered
Panel 50W - Line 16
Others in incident:
Crew Chief, PFC James Howard Young of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. was killed in the incident.
Aircraft Commander WO1 Marcus Ray Asplund of Phoenix, Az. died 17 days later on 08/13/1968.
Pilot WO1 Michael Ray Wilson of St. James Mo. died in Japan on 08/15/1968 from inhalation of JP-4 fuel
July 27, 1968 Sp4 John Wayne Acosta died from burns received while gunner on military aircraft on combat operation when aircraft received hostile ground fire causing aircraft to crash and burn.
The other three crew members died as well. Crew Chief, PFC James Howard Young of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. was killed in the incident. Aircraft Commander WO1 Marcus Ray Asplund of Phoenix, Az. died 17 days later on 08/13/1968. Pilot WO1 Michael Ray Wilson of St. James Mo. died in Japan on 08/15/1968 from inhalation of JP-4 fuel.
Acosta, who grew up in the Rose City area of North Little Rock, was one of those killed that July day in 1968, along with 19-year-old James Howard Young. It was Acosta's third tour of duty in Vietnam.
**************************
By Jeff LeMaster, Editor
When Dave Bobbitt bought a house in Rose City recently, he assumed that he had just bought an old, empty house. He was wrong.
The previous owners of the house had moved everything out...except for an old trunk in the attic. When Bobbitt moved in, he found the trunk, and opened it to find the story of a man's life.
That man was John Wayne Acosta, a specialist fourth class in the Army, who was killed in Vietnam.
Realizing its historical value, Bobbitt turned the trunk over to the Jacksonville Museum of Military History, where Museum Coordinator Danna Kay Duggar and volunteer Robert Houston began the process of piecing together Acosta's story from the dozens of artifacts and mementos in the trunk.
What they learned was that Acosta was an Army brat whose father was stationed at Camp Robinson for a time. While stationed in central Arkansas, Acosta and his parents lived in the house in Rose City. His parents divorced, and Acosta dropped out of high school after his junior year to join the Army. He volunteered immediately to go to Vietnam.
He served there as a helicopter gunner until July 1968, when the helicopter he was in was shot down by enemy gunfire. Duggar and Houston have contacted some of the men Acosta served with, and have received conflicting reports about his death. Some claim that Acosta died in the helicopter crash, while others say he survived the crash, was taken prisoner, and was shot and killed later.
In addition to discovering the details of his service and how he died, Duggar and Houston have been on a mission to learn as much as they can about Acosta the man. In the trunk were letters, address books, newspaper clippings and even journal-type notes that Acosta had kept. They revealed a shy young man who considered himself misunderstood.
"He was really an artistic guy, kind of a loner," Duggar said.
On a notebook he kept in high school, Acosta referred to himself as "The Lonely Rebel." Included in the trunk was a patch with the intials "T.L.R." on it. Houston, a Vietnam veteran himself, said that it was common for soldiers to have such patches made by South Vietnamese people who were grateful for their presence.
While in Vietnam, Acosta was given a new nickname. His Army buddies referred to him as "Crazy" Acosta. In his contact with some of the men that served with Acosta, Houston said that they told him one story in which Acosta jumped out of a helicopter while in flight to chase down a Viet Cong soldier to take him prisoner.
In another story, Acosta took a bag of grenades on board a helicopter and pulled the pins out of each. When a fellow soldier asked him why he had done that, he said that it was to give him some extra fire power in case he needed it. His friend pointed out to him that if the helicopter were to hit a bit of turbulence, live grenades would not be the most comforting item to have sitting around.
"I hadn't thought of that," Acosta reportedly said before putting the pins back in the grenades.
Acosta had several address books with dozens of female names and phone numbers, but there were no letters to girlfriends or mention anywhere of any serious relationships.
"He didn't seem to have too much luck with the ladies," Duggar said.
While investigating the contents of the trunk, Houston learned that a friend of his, Sam Adkins, was a childhood friend of Acosta's. Adkins confirmed all of the deductions that Houston and Duggar had made about Acosta's life from the items in the trunk.
Duggar is working on putting together a display about Acosta that will open when the museum's new wing is finished.
*******************************************
.
You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in those who knew you. You will live on because we remember you!
JOHN WAYNE ACOSTA - Army - SP4 - E4
Age: 21
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth Oct 12, 1946
From: NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR
Religion: PROTESTANT
Marital Status: Single. Parents: Father, Sp6 John S. Acosta, (1928 - 1980) and Mother, Margaret J. Smith of North Little Rock, Arkansas. He had no children.
***** Acosta was a good guy , always wore his platoon scarf around his neck. He was my Gunner on RED 9 , then went to the Bandits , came from the 173 rd Airbourne , 3rd Herd... HE was one of a kind , still miss him , and Simpson to . You Booth were Bandits you booth fought hard . May GOD GRANT YOU A PLACE IN ....HEAVEN because you spent your time in HELL!
Chaz Bergandi
***** Wayne, your on the top of the Ark., list, Wayne, I'm sorry I just now got around to leaving a memorial to you, it's been so long ago. We never understood then, why you did 3 tours, but now, after having been there myself as a Marine, 0311, sq., lder. and plt., guide, in 68, 69, I think, I understand. We were never better, never sharper than in combat. We missed ya, Bro, around town. I was, in ITR., when you went down and Karen let me know from home. I guess I don't have to tell you all the others from NLR., that followed, as you've seen them by now. I often go and sit and read, the wall and your 1st on the list, buddy, in more ways than one. We will see you again, but not yet! Keep your powder dry Bro.
SF. Bob Redd
sqd., lder., B, 1/1,
USMC, 68, 69.
***** Hello Friends, of John Wayne Acosta, I'am the museum coordinator, for the Jacksonville Museum, of Military History, in Jacksonville, Arkansas. Recently a trunk, for John Wayne Acosta, was donated, to the museum. The man had purchased, a house, that had been, foreclosed and the only thing left, in the house was Wayne's trunk. The man, had tried to locate relatives, but was unsuccessful, so he donated it to the museum. One of my Vietnam, Vet volunteers and I spent, the whole day going through, the trunk and as best we could, recreated, Wayne's life. I feel, like I know him even though, I have never met him. If anyone, could send some information, or stories, about his service to me, I would greatly appreciate it.
Sincerely,
Danna Kay Duggar
Jacksonville Museum of Military History
100, Veteran's Circle,
Jacksonville, AR.
***** John Wayne Acosta is also memorialized at the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial, see ID# 228360027
SP4 - E4 - Army - 1st AVN BDE
Length of service 2 years
His tour began on Apr 6, 1966
Casualty was on Jul 27, 1968
In PHUOC LONG, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, HELICOPTER - CREW
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was recovered
Panel 50W - Line 16
Others in incident:
Crew Chief, PFC James Howard Young of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. was killed in the incident.
Aircraft Commander WO1 Marcus Ray Asplund of Phoenix, Az. died 17 days later on 08/13/1968.
Pilot WO1 Michael Ray Wilson of St. James Mo. died in Japan on 08/15/1968 from inhalation of JP-4 fuel
July 27, 1968 Sp4 John Wayne Acosta died from burns received while gunner on military aircraft on combat operation when aircraft received hostile ground fire causing aircraft to crash and burn.
The other three crew members died as well. Crew Chief, PFC James Howard Young of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. was killed in the incident. Aircraft Commander WO1 Marcus Ray Asplund of Phoenix, Az. died 17 days later on 08/13/1968. Pilot WO1 Michael Ray Wilson of St. James Mo. died in Japan on 08/15/1968 from inhalation of JP-4 fuel.
Acosta, who grew up in the Rose City area of North Little Rock, was one of those killed that July day in 1968, along with 19-year-old James Howard Young. It was Acosta's third tour of duty in Vietnam.
**************************
By Jeff LeMaster, Editor
When Dave Bobbitt bought a house in Rose City recently, he assumed that he had just bought an old, empty house. He was wrong.
The previous owners of the house had moved everything out...except for an old trunk in the attic. When Bobbitt moved in, he found the trunk, and opened it to find the story of a man's life.
That man was John Wayne Acosta, a specialist fourth class in the Army, who was killed in Vietnam.
Realizing its historical value, Bobbitt turned the trunk over to the Jacksonville Museum of Military History, where Museum Coordinator Danna Kay Duggar and volunteer Robert Houston began the process of piecing together Acosta's story from the dozens of artifacts and mementos in the trunk.
What they learned was that Acosta was an Army brat whose father was stationed at Camp Robinson for a time. While stationed in central Arkansas, Acosta and his parents lived in the house in Rose City. His parents divorced, and Acosta dropped out of high school after his junior year to join the Army. He volunteered immediately to go to Vietnam.
He served there as a helicopter gunner until July 1968, when the helicopter he was in was shot down by enemy gunfire. Duggar and Houston have contacted some of the men Acosta served with, and have received conflicting reports about his death. Some claim that Acosta died in the helicopter crash, while others say he survived the crash, was taken prisoner, and was shot and killed later.
In addition to discovering the details of his service and how he died, Duggar and Houston have been on a mission to learn as much as they can about Acosta the man. In the trunk were letters, address books, newspaper clippings and even journal-type notes that Acosta had kept. They revealed a shy young man who considered himself misunderstood.
"He was really an artistic guy, kind of a loner," Duggar said.
On a notebook he kept in high school, Acosta referred to himself as "The Lonely Rebel." Included in the trunk was a patch with the intials "T.L.R." on it. Houston, a Vietnam veteran himself, said that it was common for soldiers to have such patches made by South Vietnamese people who were grateful for their presence.
While in Vietnam, Acosta was given a new nickname. His Army buddies referred to him as "Crazy" Acosta. In his contact with some of the men that served with Acosta, Houston said that they told him one story in which Acosta jumped out of a helicopter while in flight to chase down a Viet Cong soldier to take him prisoner.
In another story, Acosta took a bag of grenades on board a helicopter and pulled the pins out of each. When a fellow soldier asked him why he had done that, he said that it was to give him some extra fire power in case he needed it. His friend pointed out to him that if the helicopter were to hit a bit of turbulence, live grenades would not be the most comforting item to have sitting around.
"I hadn't thought of that," Acosta reportedly said before putting the pins back in the grenades.
Acosta had several address books with dozens of female names and phone numbers, but there were no letters to girlfriends or mention anywhere of any serious relationships.
"He didn't seem to have too much luck with the ladies," Duggar said.
While investigating the contents of the trunk, Houston learned that a friend of his, Sam Adkins, was a childhood friend of Acosta's. Adkins confirmed all of the deductions that Houston and Duggar had made about Acosta's life from the items in the trunk.
Duggar is working on putting together a display about Acosta that will open when the museum's new wing is finished.
*******************************************
.
In Memory of….. Sp4 John Wayne Acosta.
You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in those who knew you. You will live on because we remember you!
JOHN WAYNE ACOSTA - Army - SP4 - E4
Age: 21
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth Oct 12, 1946
From: NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR
Religion: PROTESTANT
Marital Status: Single. Parents: Father, Sp6 John S. Acosta, (1928 - 1980) and Mother, Margaret J. Smith of North Little Rock, Arkansas. He had no children.
***** Acosta was a good guy , always wore his platoon scarf around his neck. He was my Gunner on RED 9 , then went to the Bandits , came from the 173 rd Airbourne , 3rd Herd... HE was one of a kind , still miss him , and Simpson to . You Booth were Bandits you booth fought hard . May GOD GRANT YOU A PLACE IN ....HEAVEN because you spent your time in HELL!
Chaz Bergandi
***** Wayne, your on the top of the Ark., list, Wayne, I'm sorry I just now got around to leaving a memorial to you, it's been so long ago. We never understood then, why you did 3 tours, but now, after having been there myself as a Marine, 0311, sq., lder. and plt., guide, in 68, 69, I think, I understand. We were never better, never sharper than in combat. We missed ya, Bro, around town. I was, in ITR., when you went down and Karen let me know from home. I guess I don't have to tell you all the others from NLR., that followed, as you've seen them by now. I often go and sit and read, the wall and your 1st on the list, buddy, in more ways than one. We will see you again, but not yet! Keep your powder dry Bro.
SF. Bob Redd
sqd., lder., B, 1/1,
USMC, 68, 69.
***** Hello Friends, of John Wayne Acosta, I'am the museum coordinator, for the Jacksonville Museum, of Military History, in Jacksonville, Arkansas. Recently a trunk, for John Wayne Acosta, was donated, to the museum. The man had purchased, a house, that had been, foreclosed and the only thing left, in the house was Wayne's trunk. The man, had tried to locate relatives, but was unsuccessful, so he donated it to the museum. One of my Vietnam, Vet volunteers and I spent, the whole day going through, the trunk and as best we could, recreated, Wayne's life. I feel, like I know him even though, I have never met him. If anyone, could send some information, or stories, about his service to me, I would greatly appreciate it.
Sincerely,
Danna Kay Duggar
Jacksonville Museum of Military History
100, Veteran's Circle,
Jacksonville, AR.
***** John Wayne Acosta is also memorialized at the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial, see ID# 228360027
SP4 - E4 - Army - 1st AVN BDE
Length of service 2 years
His tour began on Apr 6, 1966
Casualty was on Jul 27, 1968
In PHUOC LONG, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, HELICOPTER - CREW
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was recovered
Panel 50W - Line 16
Others in incident:
Crew Chief, PFC James Howard Young of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. was killed in the incident.
Aircraft Commander WO1 Marcus Ray Asplund of Phoenix, Az. died 17 days later on 08/13/1968.
Pilot WO1 Michael Ray Wilson of St. James Mo. died in Japan on 08/15/1968 from inhalation of JP-4 fuel
July 27, 1968 Sp4 John Wayne Acosta died from burns received while gunner on military aircraft on combat operation when aircraft received hostile ground fire causing aircraft to crash and burn.
The other three crew members died as well. Crew Chief, PFC James Howard Young of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. was killed in the incident. Aircraft Commander WO1 Marcus Ray Asplund of Phoenix, Az. died 17 days later on 08/13/1968. Pilot WO1 Michael Ray Wilson of St. James Mo. died in Japan on 08/15/1968 from inhalation of JP-4 fuel.
Acosta, who grew up in the Rose City area of North Little Rock, was one of those killed that July day in 1968, along with 19-year-old James Howard Young. It was Acosta's third tour of duty in Vietnam.
**************************
By Jeff LeMaster, Editor
When Dave Bobbitt bought a house in Rose City recently, he assumed that he had just bought an old, empty house. He was wrong.
The previous owners of the house had moved everything out...except for an old trunk in the attic. When Bobbitt moved in, he found the trunk, and opened it to find the story of a man's life.
That man was John Wayne Acosta, a specialist fourth class in the Army, who was killed in Vietnam.
Realizing its historical value, Bobbitt turned the trunk over to the Jacksonville Museum of Military History, where Museum Coordinator Danna Kay Duggar and volunteer Robert Houston began the process of piecing together Acosta's story from the dozens of artifacts and mementos in the trunk.
What they learned was that Acosta was an Army brat whose father was stationed at Camp Robinson for a time. While stationed in central Arkansas, Acosta and his parents lived in the house in Rose City. His parents divorced, and Acosta dropped out of high school after his junior year to join the Army. He volunteered immediately to go to Vietnam.
He served there as a helicopter gunner until July 1968, when the helicopter he was in was shot down by enemy gunfire. Duggar and Houston have contacted some of the men Acosta served with, and have received conflicting reports about his death. Some claim that Acosta died in the helicopter crash, while others say he survived the crash, was taken prisoner, and was shot and killed later.
In addition to discovering the details of his service and how he died, Duggar and Houston have been on a mission to learn as much as they can about Acosta the man. In the trunk were letters, address books, newspaper clippings and even journal-type notes that Acosta had kept. They revealed a shy young man who considered himself misunderstood.
"He was really an artistic guy, kind of a loner," Duggar said.
On a notebook he kept in high school, Acosta referred to himself as "The Lonely Rebel." Included in the trunk was a patch with the intials "T.L.R." on it. Houston, a Vietnam veteran himself, said that it was common for soldiers to have such patches made by South Vietnamese people who were grateful for their presence.
While in Vietnam, Acosta was given a new nickname. His Army buddies referred to him as "Crazy" Acosta. In his contact with some of the men that served with Acosta, Houston said that they told him one story in which Acosta jumped out of a helicopter while in flight to chase down a Viet Cong soldier to take him prisoner.
In another story, Acosta took a bag of grenades on board a helicopter and pulled the pins out of each. When a fellow soldier asked him why he had done that, he said that it was to give him some extra fire power in case he needed it. His friend pointed out to him that if the helicopter were to hit a bit of turbulence, live grenades would not be the most comforting item to have sitting around.
"I hadn't thought of that," Acosta reportedly said before putting the pins back in the grenades.
Acosta had several address books with dozens of female names and phone numbers, but there were no letters to girlfriends or mention anywhere of any serious relationships.
"He didn't seem to have too much luck with the ladies," Duggar said.
While investigating the contents of the trunk, Houston learned that a friend of his, Sam Adkins, was a childhood friend of Acosta's. Adkins confirmed all of the deductions that Houston and Duggar had made about Acosta's life from the items in the trunk.
Duggar is working on putting together a display about Acosta that will open when the museum's new wing is finished.
*******************************************
.
You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in those who knew you. You will live on because we remember you!
JOHN WAYNE ACOSTA - Army - SP4 - E4
Age: 21
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth Oct 12, 1946
From: NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR
Religion: PROTESTANT
Marital Status: Single. Parents: Father, Sp6 John S. Acosta, (1928 - 1980) and Mother, Margaret J. Smith of North Little Rock, Arkansas. He had no children.
***** Acosta was a good guy , always wore his platoon scarf around his neck. He was my Gunner on RED 9 , then went to the Bandits , came from the 173 rd Airbourne , 3rd Herd... HE was one of a kind , still miss him , and Simpson to . You Booth were Bandits you booth fought hard . May GOD GRANT YOU A PLACE IN ....HEAVEN because you spent your time in HELL!
Chaz Bergandi
***** Wayne, your on the top of the Ark., list, Wayne, I'm sorry I just now got around to leaving a memorial to you, it's been so long ago. We never understood then, why you did 3 tours, but now, after having been there myself as a Marine, 0311, sq., lder. and plt., guide, in 68, 69, I think, I understand. We were never better, never sharper than in combat. We missed ya, Bro, around town. I was, in ITR., when you went down and Karen let me know from home. I guess I don't have to tell you all the others from NLR., that followed, as you've seen them by now. I often go and sit and read, the wall and your 1st on the list, buddy, in more ways than one. We will see you again, but not yet! Keep your powder dry Bro.
SF. Bob Redd
sqd., lder., B, 1/1,
USMC, 68, 69.
***** Hello Friends, of John Wayne Acosta, I'am the museum coordinator, for the Jacksonville Museum, of Military History, in Jacksonville, Arkansas. Recently a trunk, for John Wayne Acosta, was donated, to the museum. The man had purchased, a house, that had been, foreclosed and the only thing left, in the house was Wayne's trunk. The man, had tried to locate relatives, but was unsuccessful, so he donated it to the museum. One of my Vietnam, Vet volunteers and I spent, the whole day going through, the trunk and as best we could, recreated, Wayne's life. I feel, like I know him even though, I have never met him. If anyone, could send some information, or stories, about his service to me, I would greatly appreciate it.
Sincerely,
Danna Kay Duggar
Jacksonville Museum of Military History
100, Veteran's Circle,
Jacksonville, AR.
***** John Wayne Acosta is also memorialized at the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial, see ID# 228360027
SP4 - E4 - Army - 1st AVN BDE
Length of service 2 years
His tour began on Apr 6, 1966
Casualty was on Jul 27, 1968
In PHUOC LONG, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, HELICOPTER - CREW
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was recovered
Panel 50W - Line 16
Others in incident:
Crew Chief, PFC James Howard Young of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. was killed in the incident.
Aircraft Commander WO1 Marcus Ray Asplund of Phoenix, Az. died 17 days later on 08/13/1968.
Pilot WO1 Michael Ray Wilson of St. James Mo. died in Japan on 08/15/1968 from inhalation of JP-4 fuel
July 27, 1968 Sp4 John Wayne Acosta died from burns received while gunner on military aircraft on combat operation when aircraft received hostile ground fire causing aircraft to crash and burn.
The other three crew members died as well. Crew Chief, PFC James Howard Young of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. was killed in the incident. Aircraft Commander WO1 Marcus Ray Asplund of Phoenix, Az. died 17 days later on 08/13/1968. Pilot WO1 Michael Ray Wilson of St. James Mo. died in Japan on 08/15/1968 from inhalation of JP-4 fuel.
Acosta, who grew up in the Rose City area of North Little Rock, was one of those killed that July day in 1968, along with 19-year-old James Howard Young. It was Acosta's third tour of duty in Vietnam.
**************************
By Jeff LeMaster, Editor
When Dave Bobbitt bought a house in Rose City recently, he assumed that he had just bought an old, empty house. He was wrong.
The previous owners of the house had moved everything out...except for an old trunk in the attic. When Bobbitt moved in, he found the trunk, and opened it to find the story of a man's life.
That man was John Wayne Acosta, a specialist fourth class in the Army, who was killed in Vietnam.
Realizing its historical value, Bobbitt turned the trunk over to the Jacksonville Museum of Military History, where Museum Coordinator Danna Kay Duggar and volunteer Robert Houston began the process of piecing together Acosta's story from the dozens of artifacts and mementos in the trunk.
What they learned was that Acosta was an Army brat whose father was stationed at Camp Robinson for a time. While stationed in central Arkansas, Acosta and his parents lived in the house in Rose City. His parents divorced, and Acosta dropped out of high school after his junior year to join the Army. He volunteered immediately to go to Vietnam.
He served there as a helicopter gunner until July 1968, when the helicopter he was in was shot down by enemy gunfire. Duggar and Houston have contacted some of the men Acosta served with, and have received conflicting reports about his death. Some claim that Acosta died in the helicopter crash, while others say he survived the crash, was taken prisoner, and was shot and killed later.
In addition to discovering the details of his service and how he died, Duggar and Houston have been on a mission to learn as much as they can about Acosta the man. In the trunk were letters, address books, newspaper clippings and even journal-type notes that Acosta had kept. They revealed a shy young man who considered himself misunderstood.
"He was really an artistic guy, kind of a loner," Duggar said.
On a notebook he kept in high school, Acosta referred to himself as "The Lonely Rebel." Included in the trunk was a patch with the intials "T.L.R." on it. Houston, a Vietnam veteran himself, said that it was common for soldiers to have such patches made by South Vietnamese people who were grateful for their presence.
While in Vietnam, Acosta was given a new nickname. His Army buddies referred to him as "Crazy" Acosta. In his contact with some of the men that served with Acosta, Houston said that they told him one story in which Acosta jumped out of a helicopter while in flight to chase down a Viet Cong soldier to take him prisoner.
In another story, Acosta took a bag of grenades on board a helicopter and pulled the pins out of each. When a fellow soldier asked him why he had done that, he said that it was to give him some extra fire power in case he needed it. His friend pointed out to him that if the helicopter were to hit a bit of turbulence, live grenades would not be the most comforting item to have sitting around.
"I hadn't thought of that," Acosta reportedly said before putting the pins back in the grenades.
Acosta had several address books with dozens of female names and phone numbers, but there were no letters to girlfriends or mention anywhere of any serious relationships.
"He didn't seem to have too much luck with the ladies," Duggar said.
While investigating the contents of the trunk, Houston learned that a friend of his, Sam Adkins, was a childhood friend of Acosta's. Adkins confirmed all of the deductions that Houston and Duggar had made about Acosta's life from the items in the trunk.
Duggar is working on putting together a display about Acosta that will open when the museum's new wing is finished.
*******************************************
.
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