World History Explained

Roger James Mazal was born on July 23, 1948, and was from Valatie, New York. He served in the U.S. Army as a Specialist Four with Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, in Vietnam. On March 7, 1969, while serving in Vietnam, Mazal was killed in action. He was only 20 years old.

Roger was one of the soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment who lost his life that day. His death was recorded as a combat fatality during the Vietnam War. Back home in Valatie, New York, he was remembered as one of the community’s young men who never returned from Vietnam.

Today, Roger James Mazal’s name remains engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Panel 30W, Line 67. He was just 20 years old when his life ended in Vietnam. His name, his service, and his sacrifice remain a permanent part of the history of the Vietnam War.

Lest We Forget… 🇺🇸

Warrant Officer Shawn G. Cannon — U.S. Army Aviation

Born and raised in Flushing, New York, Shawn G. Cannon was drafted into the U.S. Army and became a helicopter pilot. On November 28, 1969, he arrived in Vietnam and was assigned to the 92nd Assault Helicopter Company, 10th Aviation Battalion, 17th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade.

Cannon flew UH-1C Huey gunships on dangerous combat missions, supporting troops and operating under enemy fire. His courage and skill in the air earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross.

On November 28, 1969, during a mission near Camp Smith, approximately six kilometers southwest of Bao Loc Airfield, Cannon was piloting UH-1C #66-15201 when the helicopter lost control while descending for landing. The aircraft crashed and caught fire, killing Cannon.

He was only 23 years old.

From Flushing, New York, to the skies of Vietnam, Shawn G. Cannon gave his life serving his country. His name remains part of the history of the thousands of young Americans who never returned home from Vietnam.

May he rest in peace. May he never be forgotten. 🇺🇸

Lest We Forget… 🇺🇸

Captain Ronald Luce — U.S. Army Green Beret

At just 27 years old, Captain Ronald Luce lost his life on August 2, 2009, while conducting combat operations in Qole Gerdsar, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Serving with the U.S. Army Special Forces, Luce was killed when a command-wire improvised explosive device struck his vehicle during his deployment. His life was tragically cut short while serving his country, leaving behind a legacy of courage, dedication, and sacrifice.

He was one of the brave soldiers who answered the call of duty and never returned home. His sacrifice will forever be remembered.

May he rest in peace. God bless our veterans. 🇺🇸

Lest We Forget… 🇺🇸

David M. Agazzi — U.S. Navy, Brown Water Navy

On September 29, 1967, Fire Control Technician Third Class David M. Agazzi was serving aboard PBR-54 with River Division 52, Task Force 116, in Vietnam. Near Hoi An, Quang Nam Province, his boat and PBR-79 came under a devastating barrage of rifle-grenade and automatic-weapons fire.

Wearing a flak jacket, Agazzi fought alongside his fellow sailors as the boats battled through the ambush. But the protection could not save him. A bullet pierced his vest and struck him behind the left ear, killing him. Another sailor was wounded in the fierce engagement.

This was the Brown Water Navy, where sailors fought from small patrol boats on Vietnam's rivers, often just yards from enemy positions. There was little protection, and danger could erupt without warning.

On that tragic day, David M. Agazzi gave his life while serving aboard PBR-54. His courage and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

May he rest in peace. God bless our veterans. 🇺🇸

Paula Noonan Quindlen — U.S. Army Nurse, Vietnam War

From 1970 to 1971, Paula Noonan Quindlen served as a U.S. Army nurse at the 27th Surgical Hospital in Chu Lai, Vietnam. While war raged around her, she worked tirelessly through exhausting days and dangerous nights, treating wounded soldiers and fighting to save lives.

While others fought on the battlefield, Paula and her fellow nurses faced the pain, fear, and heartbreak of war inside the hospital. They cared for the wounded, comforted the suffering, and stood beside soldiers during some of their darkest moments.

Years later, she offered a simple but powerful reminder: “Please remember the women who served. We are often forgotten.”

Her words remind us that behind every war are countless women whose courage and sacrifices deserve to be remembered. Their service may not always have been seen, but it mattered deeply.

May all the women who served in Vietnam never be forgotten. God bless our veterans. 🇺🇸

Lest We Forget… 🇺🇸
Leigh Ann Hester — The Woman Who Fought Her Way Through an Ambush

At just 23 years old, Sergeant Leigh Ann Hester of the Kentucky Army National Guard faced a deadly ambush in Iraq on March 20, 2005. When insurgents attacked her convoy near Baghdad with ri**es, machine guns, and rocket-propelled grenades, she refused to stand still. Alongside Staff Sergeant Timothy Nein, she maneuvered her Humvee to flank the attackers and moved into a trench under heavy fire, engaging enemy fighters at close range. Her courage helped break the ambush, and every soldier in the convoy survived. For her extraordinary bravery, Hester became the first woman since World War II to receive the Silver Star for combat valor and the first woman to earn it for direct ground combat. She never called herself a trailblazer—she said she was simply doing her job. But her actions became a lasting symbol of courage, sacrifice, and determination.

God bless our veterans. 🇺🇸

Major Masaki Hattori & Specialist 4 Ian Franks — Missing in Action in Vietnam

On March 23, 1968, Major Masaki Hattori and Specialist 4 Ian Franks were flying an OV-1C aircraft near Can Tho, South Vietnam, when they attempted to avoid a midair collision with two U.S. Navy helicopters. Their aircraft crashed into the Hau Giang River. Witnesses confirmed that neither man had managed to bail out.

After four days of searching, rescuers recovered pieces of the wreckage and two shattered flight helmets bearing traces of hair and tissue. A medical analyst concluded that neither crew member could have survived the crash. Leaflets were distributed along the riverbanks, but no further information was found.

Though both men were declared killed, their remains were never recovered, and they were ultimately listed as missing in action. Their final resting place remains unknown, and their sacrifice is remembered with honor.

God bless our veterans. May they never be forgotten. 🇺🇸