At this fall’s conference of the Maine Daughters of the American Revolution in Waterville, an exhibit compiled by Cheryl Swift of Koussinoc Chapter in Augusta gave members the opportunity to think about the Vietnam War in terms of individual sacrifices.
Mounted on large posters were the names of Mainers killed in Vietnam, listed by town and county. During a service of commemoration, DAR members stood while the names were read of those who died for their county. Flowers were placed in a vase by the Freeport Flag Ladies, three women who display the American flag from 8 to 9 a.m. each Tuesday in Freeport in remembrance of those who died during the 9/11 attacks in 2001.
With Veterans Day coming up Wednesday, I have been interested in what the National Archives has online for databases.
For example, the names of Mainers killed in Vietnam can be found at archives.gov/research/military/vietnam-war/casualty-lists/me-alpha.pdf.
I looked up Tom Moody, who attended Piscataquis Community High School during some of the same years I did and found him listed as Pfc. Thomas J. Moody of Guilford, Marine Corps, born Jan. 31, 1949. He was killed Jan. 21, 1968.
One of those from Bangor who was killed in Vietnam was Sgt. James B. McLaughlin, Army, born May 3, 1948. He was killed April 16, 1971.
Both are listed on the Maine Vietnam War Memorial, a granite monument with bronze statue at Cole Land Transportation Museum, 405 Perry Road, Bangor.
To see what military databases are available online through the National Archives, visit aad.archives.gov/aad.
In a database of those killed in the “Korean Conflict,” which we now call the Korean War, I found Clair Goodblood of Waldo County, who was born in 1929 and was killed April 25, 1951. He is one of the Medal of Honor recipients who is among Maine’s war dead listed on the Maine Korean War Memorial at Mount Hope Cemetery on Mount Hope Avenue in Bangor.
A World War II database included many enlistees, among them my uncle, Carroll W. Moore, who enlisted in the Army Air Corps on July 31, 1944. His name is on the honor roll of all those from Abbot who served in wars by the side of Route 15 in Abbot.
Bangor men killed in World War II are listed on a monument not far from the Maine World War II Memorial at the Cole Museum, which will hold its Veterans Day observance at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11. Winners of the essay contest held for students who have talked with veterans in the museum’s Veterans Interview Program will be honored during the ceremony, after which the Bangor Band will perform a patriotic concert.
The Bangor-Brewer Veterans Day Parade will begin at 10:15 a.m. Wednesday on Wilson Street in Brewer, proceeding across the Chamberlain Bridge and down Main Street, then on to Exchange Street for disbanding.
Veterans from World War II to present will take part, either walking or riding buses provided by John Cyr Bus in Old Town. After the parade, the buses will take the veterans back to Brewer.
Maine veterans who served during World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War and Global War on Terror are eligible to apply for a walking stick from Cole Museum. The veteran must bring his or her military discharge paper or military ID 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Nov. 11 to the museum at 405 Perry Road.
For information on the Walking Stick Program and the 1 p.m. program Veterans Day at Cole Land Transportation Museum, call 990-3600 ext. 13 or visit colemuseum.org.
For i nformation on researching family history in Maine, see Genealogy Resources under Family Ties at bangordailynews.com/browse/family-ties. Send genealogy queries to Family Ties, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402, or email familyti@bangordailynews.com.