Home > United States of America > South Dakota > Minnehaha County > Sioux Falls > Saint Michael Catholic Cemetery > Capt Terrence Edward Wehrkamp

Capt Terrence Edward Wehrkamp

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Birth	:	4 Feb 1938 Sioux City, Woodbury County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	9 Oct 1970 Fort Gaines, Clay County, Georgia, USA
Burial	:	Saint Michael Catholic Cemetery, Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate	:	43.5786018, -96.7117004
Plot	:	Section 15
Description	:	Terrance served as a Captain in the US Army. He served in Vietnam and was killed in a plane crash in 1970. Terrance had served for nine years. Terrance Edward “Terry” Wehrkamp was born on February 4, 1938, at Sioux City, Iowa, the only child of Eugene and Marjorie Wehrkamp. He grew up on a farm near Hartford, South Dakota, and attended St Joseph Cathedral Elementary and High School in Sioux Falls, graduating in 1956. After high school Terry went to the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts and receiving a commission... Read More	Terrance served as a Captain in the US Army. He served in Vietnam and was killed in a plane crash in 1970. Terrance had served for nine years. Terrance Edward “Terry” Wehrkamp was born on February 4, 1938, at Sioux City, Iowa, the only child of Eugene and Marjorie Wehrkamp. He grew up on a farm near Hartford, South Dakota, and attended St Joseph Cathedral Elementary and High School in Sioux Falls, graduating in 1956. After high school Terry went to the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts and receiving a commission as a second lieutenant on June 3, 1963. Terry married JoAnn L. Palmer on September 1, 1962, while still a university student. The couple had two children: Don and Linda. Terry is remembered for being an “avid outdoorsman. He spent a great deal of time hunting and fishing with friends and family.” He also liked photography, making home movies, and spending time with his family. His family also remembers that he truly loved flying and would visit air shows, museums, and airports as a hobby and recreation—in addition to his career as an aviator. In October of 1963, Lt. Wehrkamp reported for duty at Fort Gordon, Georgia, where he was trained in the Signal Corps for three months and then went on to Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey, for two more months of training before being assigned to Ft. Huachuca in Arizona. While there he was advanced to First Lieutenant and was a member of the Board of Directors for the Huachuca Youth Association. In January of 1966, Lt. Wehrkamp was assigned to report to KMAG (Korean Military Advisor Group) in Seoul, Korea. After being accepted to flight school, he trained at Fort Stewart, Georgia and Fort Rucker, Alabama, as a fixed wing pilot for much of 1967. From there, Captain Wehrkamp was sent to Vietnam for a year with the 223 Aviation, 1 Battalion, 1 Aviation Brigade. Starting on December 6, 1968, when he arrived for service in Vietnam, Terry would send home tapes for his family to listen to and then they’d send back tapes for him. According to his widow, JoAnn, “It meant a lot for his children and me to be able to verbally communicate this way.” In one early tape, Terry told them how much he missed them and that one of the first things he’d do when he got home was take them fishing. After his tour of Vietnam ended, on December 5, 1969, Captain Terrance Wehrkamp reported for duty at Fort Rucker, Alabama where he was a flight instructor for the Instrument Training (“Under the Hood”) segment of Flight School. On October 9, 1970, while on a routine training mission which started at Cairns Air Force Base and was to end there, Captain Wehrkamp and the two student pilots disappeared near Fort Gaines, Georgia. On October 13, 1970, JoAnn Wehrkamp received a telegram from Ft. Rucker which said in part: “Terrance was last heard from at 4:15 P.M. on 9 October 1970 while contacting Dothan Municipal Airport tower.” The letter went on: “An intensified search has been in progress since your husband was reported missing. You may be assured that every effort is being made by this installation to locate your husband.” During this time the local papers also reported on the missing airplane and aviators. First the Alabama Wing, Civil Air Patrol and the Army jointly searched and then the Army took over the search operation. It was eventually a civilian aircraft with the widow of one of the missing student pilots aboard which discovered the wreckage on October 14, 1970—apparently based on a tip they’d received from the student pilot’s sister who had dreamt about where the wreckage was. They located the plane near Fort Gaines, Georgia, about one mile from the Chattahoochee River in a wooded area near the Kolomoki Indian Mounds with trees up to 125 feet tall, making the wreckage difficult to see from the air. On October 16, 1970, Mrs. Wehrkamp received another correspondence from the Acting Commander at Fort Rucker, this time a sympathy letter. Captain Wehrkamp’s body was returned to Sioux Falls, South Dakota and after funeral service on October 20, 1970, at St. Joseph Cathedral, he was buried with full military honors at St. Michael’s Cemetery. Among his awards, Captain Wehrkamp received the Bronze Star Medal, the Air Medal with 9 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Vietnam Gallantry Cross. He was also a member of the Hartford American Legion. Terry Wehrkamp is survived by his widow, JoAnn, of Sioux Falls; his son, Don, and his family of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and his daughter, Linda, and her family of Sioux Falls. This entry was respectfully submitted by Sheila Hansen, teachers, and Slade Marlin Hansen, 7th grade student, Spearfish Middle School, Spearfish, SD, May 11, 2006. Information for this entry was provided by an application for a SD Veteran’s bonus and JoAnn Wehrkamp, Sioux Falls. Profile approval by JoAnn Wehrkamp.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Capt Terrence Edward Wehrkamp's memorial?
Capt Terrence Edward Wehrkamp's memorial is located at: Saint Michael Catholic Cemetery, Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, USA.
When did Capt Terrence Edward Wehrkamp death?
Capt Terrence Edward Wehrkamp death on 9 Oct 1970 in Fort Gaines, Clay County, Georgia, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Capt Terrence Edward Wehrkamp's memorial?
Latitude: 43.5786018
Longitude: -96.7117004

Family Members:

Parent

Eugene William Wehrkamp

(1917 - 1977)

Marjorie Elaine Johnson Wehrkamp

(1919 - 1994)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Minnehaha County Cemetery
Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.6025009, -96.7003021

2. Mount Zion Cemetery
Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.5438423, -96.6973495

3. Sons of Israel Cemetery
Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.5435410, -96.6966400

4. Hills of Rest Memorial Park
Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.5483017, -96.6821976

5. Mount Pleasant Cemetery
Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.5421982, -96.6988983

6. Calvary Episcopal Cathedral Cemetery
Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.5423000, -96.7279100

7. Berg Cemetery
Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.6122017, -96.7514038

8. South Dakota Veterans Cemetery
Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.6228800, -96.6776300

9. Woodlawn Cemetery
Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.5257988, -96.7133026

10. Peterson Cemetery
Renner, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.6403900, -96.7534300

11. Bethel Cemetery
Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.5872002, -96.8107986

12. Forest Home Cemetery
Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.5328382, -96.8054295

13. Swedona Covenant Cemetery
Brandon, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.6394100, -96.6311500

14. Brandon Cemetery
Brandon, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.5877991, -96.5919037

15. Dalemoe Cemetery
Crooks, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.6698000, -96.7715600

16. Hokenson Cemetery
East Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.5338650, -96.5854450

17. Monson Cemetery
Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.5146970, -96.5990070

18. Pioneer Cemetery
Sverdrup Township, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.7050018, -96.7406006

19. South Beaver Valley Cemetery
Brandon, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.5592003, -96.5366974

20. Beaver Valley Lutheran Cemetery
Valley Springs, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.5871680, -96.5324020

21. Benton Lutheran Cemetery
Crooks, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.6603600, -96.8548470

22. Split Rock Lutheran Church Cemetery
Garretson, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.6460500, -96.5519000

23. Springdale Cemetery
Harrisburg, Lincoln County, USA
Coordinate: 43.4746590, -96.5944595

24. West Nidaros Lutheran Church Cemetery
Crooks, Minnehaha County, USA
Coordinate: 43.7027300, -96.7926200