On Memorial Day, we honored our ancestors who served in the Armed Forces during
America's wars, and all those who fought to preserve and protect our nation.
Among those who served during the War in Vietnam were three Carlins, from
different Carlin family lines. Two were in the Army, one was in the Marine
Corps. Each of the three died in action in Vietnam, and the three
men's names are engraved on the Vietnam Wall.
They're listed on the "Carlins in the Vietnam War" page, at
http://attorney.carlin.net/carlin-w-vietnam.htm. Unfortunately, we know nothing
about them other than their names and some information about their military
service.
Capt. David Allen Carlin, an Army helicopter pilot, was born July 14, 1941 and
was killed in action in 1969 while piloting a helicopter that was carrying
planks of wood to help build a roof for an orphanage in Binh Doung
Province. He was married, and his home of record was in Eureka, CA.
Corporal James Cook Carlin, U.S.M.C., was born Jan. 30, 1949, and lived in
Binghamton, NY. He was unmarried when he was killed in action in 1970 from small
arms fire in Quang Nam Province.
First Lieut. Stephen Bernard Carlin was born March 6, 1944 and grew up in
Oceanside, NY. He was unmarried when he was killed in action in 1969 in Kien
Hoa Province, the victim of a hostile explosive device.
All three men were Roman Catholic, and their bodies were, fortunately,
recovered. But we have no information about these three men (other than their
serial numbers) other than the brief bit of military information that appears
above. We have no photographs, no information about their parents. In the case
of Capt. David A.
Carlin, we have no information about his wife, or whether he and his wife had
any children.
I've checked telephone directories and email listings for Eureka, CA,
Binghamton, NY and Oceanside, NY, but none related to any of these three
Carlins.
Although these three men aren't directly related to you or me, I'd appreciate it
if you'd remember them in your prayers. In addition, if you know anything about
them or their families, please let me know. And if you're near
Eureka, Binghamton or Oceanside, and have the time to check newspaper records
and other data, it'd be great if you could find out something about these men.
Although I didn't know any of them personally, it seems wrong that we know
nothing about them.
Thanks, all.