My First Escort
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 930
Likes: 0
From: Northwest WI
My First Escort
From the PGR Mission board:
"LCpl Merlin (Merl) Raye Allen, born October 22, 1946 in Madison Wisconsin and listed as KIA/BNR since June 30, 1967 from a helicopter crash in Thua Thien-Hue Province, Vietnam, will be making his long-awaited return home to be laid to rest with his parents on York Island, Lake Superior.
Merl loved being a Marine and Reconner. Trained as a radio operator, he served in Danang, Khe Sanh, and Phu Bai. His letters home were filled with stories of friends and experiences, but he was most proud of his decision to join Team Striker of the 3rd Recon Bn, 3rd Marine Division early in 1967.
In February 2013, the family was notified that a Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command recovery team in 2012 recovered and later identified Merl's remains. Merl will be escorted home by a USMC honor guard that will include Team Striker brothers Jeff Savelkoul who will escort Merl from Hawaii to Wisconsin and Junior Guy who will escort Merl to his final rest on York Island. The family invites everyone to join them to celebrate Merl's life and honor his sacrifice at his funeral.
I recommend you read his story at:
http://www.bratleyfamilyfuneralhomes.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=2097854&fh_id=12246
Today June 26th
The Minnesota and Wisconsin PGR teamed up and escorted LCpl Allen from the Minneapolis Airport to Washburn, WI. The Minnesota PGR brought the escrt to Wisconsin and met the Wisconsin contingent at the Wisconsin border near Grantsburg. Many of the Minnesota Riders stayed on and rode all the way to Washburn which was a distance of well over 200 miles for them. Many of the Wisconsin riders came the night before from hundreds of miles away and stayed in local hotels to be there this morning for staging. Needless to say I am inspired by the dedication of the group I had the honor of being part of today. I wore my dark glasses and it was a good thing.
Rolling into the area by Ashland we were saluted by the Ashland Veterans Honor guard on the Roundabout along with many civilians who came out to pay their respect along the route. Rolling into the city of Washburn was especially moving seeing all of the folks that came out and paid their respect.
The link below is about LCpl Allen's buddy Jeff Savelkoul who survived the crash that killed LCpl Allen and others and the individuals fight to bring LCpl Allen home.
http://forestlaketimes.com/2013/05/2...ft-in-vietnam/
"LCpl Merlin (Merl) Raye Allen, born October 22, 1946 in Madison Wisconsin and listed as KIA/BNR since June 30, 1967 from a helicopter crash in Thua Thien-Hue Province, Vietnam, will be making his long-awaited return home to be laid to rest with his parents on York Island, Lake Superior.
Merl loved being a Marine and Reconner. Trained as a radio operator, he served in Danang, Khe Sanh, and Phu Bai. His letters home were filled with stories of friends and experiences, but he was most proud of his decision to join Team Striker of the 3rd Recon Bn, 3rd Marine Division early in 1967.
In February 2013, the family was notified that a Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command recovery team in 2012 recovered and later identified Merl's remains. Merl will be escorted home by a USMC honor guard that will include Team Striker brothers Jeff Savelkoul who will escort Merl from Hawaii to Wisconsin and Junior Guy who will escort Merl to his final rest on York Island. The family invites everyone to join them to celebrate Merl's life and honor his sacrifice at his funeral.
I recommend you read his story at:
http://www.bratleyfamilyfuneralhomes.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=2097854&fh_id=12246
Today June 26th
The Minnesota and Wisconsin PGR teamed up and escorted LCpl Allen from the Minneapolis Airport to Washburn, WI. The Minnesota PGR brought the escrt to Wisconsin and met the Wisconsin contingent at the Wisconsin border near Grantsburg. Many of the Minnesota Riders stayed on and rode all the way to Washburn which was a distance of well over 200 miles for them. Many of the Wisconsin riders came the night before from hundreds of miles away and stayed in local hotels to be there this morning for staging. Needless to say I am inspired by the dedication of the group I had the honor of being part of today. I wore my dark glasses and it was a good thing.
Rolling into the area by Ashland we were saluted by the Ashland Veterans Honor guard on the Roundabout along with many civilians who came out to pay their respect along the route. Rolling into the city of Washburn was especially moving seeing all of the folks that came out and paid their respect.
The link below is about LCpl Allen's buddy Jeff Savelkoul who survived the crash that killed LCpl Allen and others and the individuals fight to bring LCpl Allen home.
http://forestlaketimes.com/2013/05/2...ft-in-vietnam/
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post