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Sgt John Francis Link

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Sgt John Francis Link

Birth	:	26 Nov 1944 Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	30 Mar 1968 Vietnam
Burial	:	Mount Hope Cemetery, Monroe County, USA
Coordinate	:	39.6217384, -81.2184448
Plot	:	Lot 67, blk 4, add 3rd
Description	:	From Ottumwa, IA. Served a second tour of duty in Vietnam from 21 Dec 1967 - 30 Mar 1968. Awarded the Purple Heart and (posthumously) the Distinguished Service Cross for his extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life. He was able to assist three wounded comrades, treat casualties and pull them to cover before being wounded by rocket and mortar fire; however, he continued his lifesaving efforts and while shielding the body of a fallen soldier from enemy fire, was mortally wounded. Ottumwa Courier, Wednesday, 3 April 1968 page 1, columns 8-9: "MARINE JOHN LINK KILLED... Read More	From Ottumwa, IA. Served a second tour of duty in Vietnam from 21 Dec 1967 - 30 Mar 1968. Awarded the Purple Heart and (posthumously) the Distinguished Service Cross for his extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life. He was able to assist three wounded comrades, treat casualties and pull them to cover before being wounded by rocket and mortar fire; however, he continued his lifesaving efforts and while shielding the body of a fallen soldier from enemy fire, was mortally wounded. Ottumwa Courier, Wednesday, 3 April 1968 page 1, columns 8-9: "MARINE JOHN LINK KILLED IN VIETNAM "An Ottumwa Marine, Specialist Five John Francis Link, 23, died of gunshot wounds suffered while fighting the enemy last Saturday near Hue, Vietnam. "His parents, Mr. and Mrs. John B. Link of 133 S. Lillian, were notified by the Defense Dept. of his death Tuesday afternoon. The young Marine's father is employed in the industrial engineering dept of John Morrell & Co. and his mother is a clerk at One-Hour Martinizing Cleaning. "Special mission "Specialist Link, a member of the "Green Berets," had written his parents about a month ago that he was being sent on a mission and would not be able to write them for a while. However he had met a friend in Da Nang about two weeks ago, and the friend had written Mr. and Mrs. Link telling them of his visit with their son. "Specialist Link became a member of the "Green Berets" on Oct. 19, 1966 upon completion of Special Forces training at John F. Kennedy Center for Special Warfare at Ft. Bragg, N.C. "While at Ft. Bragg, he received several months of training in guerrilla tactics and counterinsurgency and instruction in methods of teaching modern medicine, improved agricultural practices, techniques of local government, communication and basic commerce to native villagers. "He was born in Ottumwa on Nov. 26, 1944, and graduated from Walsh High School in 1962. He attended Northeast Missouri State College at Kirksville prior to enlisting in the Armed Forces in August of 1965. He was home on leave in the middle of December 1967, prior to leaving for Vietnam. He was with the 5th Group Special Forces, Airborne. "He was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church. "Besides his parents, he is survived by one brother, Terry Link of Davenport; two sisters, Jane Anne and Jo Ellen, both at home; and his grandmother, Mrs. James Tray of Ottumwa. "The body will be returned to the Traul Funeral Home." Ottumwa Courier, Saturday, 13 Apr 1968 page 4, columns 1-2: "IN MEMORY OF PATRIOTS "We are flying the flag at half staff on this page today. "Also, we are heartily endorsing the idea projected on Monday by Paul Heckart, the Ottumwa streets councilman. "Paul was approving the flying of the flag at half mast out of respect for Rev. Martin Luther King. 'Dr. King gave his life for freedom,' said the councilman. "Then he proposed, and the council approved, a plan to fly the flags of Ottumwa at half mast also when the body of John Francis Link is returned from Vietnam where he was killed in action. "Heckart told his fellow councilmen that "We were having a little talk-the Lord and I-when this came to my mind...Many boys from here in Ottumwa have given their lives for their home town and their country. I think it is time we thought more about this sacrifice..." "He suggested the honor to John Francis Link "be in memory of every boy we in Ottumwa have lost in past years." We salute Paul Heckart for his thoughtfulness. We salute the council for its decision to follow the suggestion, and to make it official policy for any similar losses in the future." Ottumwa Courier, Saturday, 13 Apr 1968 page 8, columns 7-8: "RITES WEDNESDAY FOR SPEC. 5 LINK "The funeral of Army Specialist 5 John Francis Link, 23, who died March 30 in Vietnam, will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church. The Rev. Denis Cahalan will celebrate a Requiem Mass. "The body will arrive at 10:06 p.m. Sunday in Des Moines and will be brought to the Traul Funeral Home here. "Specialist Link was killed in fighting near Hue. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Link of 133 S. Lillian. He was born in Ottumwa on Nov. 26, 1944, and graduated from Walsh High School in 1962. "Prior to entering the Army in 1965, he attended Northeast Missouri State College at Kirksville. He became a member of the Green Berets on Oct. 19, 1966, after training at Ft. Bragg, N.C. He went to Vietnam last December. He was serving with the 5th Group Special Forces Airborne. He was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church. "Survivors besides his parents include a brother Terry Link of Davenport; two sisters at home, Jane Anne and Jo Ellen; and his grandmother, Mrs. James Tray of Ottumwa. "The American Legion will conduct burial rites at Calvary Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Gary Ebelsheiser, Dick Warder, Tom Yochum, Gary Banyas, Jim Mitchell and Mike Yates. "Walsh High School students will recite the Rosary Monday night at 7 o'clock at the funeral home. The parish Rosary service will be held Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. "Mayor Richard Hofmann said today that the flag at the Municipal Building will be flown at half staff Wednesday in respect for Specialist Link." Vietnam War: U.S. Military Casualties, 1956-1998 about John Francis Link Name: John Francis Link Birth Date: 26 Nov 1944 Death Date: 30 Mar 1968 Home City: Ottumwa Home State: Iowa SSN/Service #: 17731124 Death Date: 30 Mar 1968 Casualty Country: Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) Tour Start Date: 21 Dec 1967 Service Branch: Department of the Army Component: Regular Rank: Sergeant Military Grade: Sergeant Company: B-52 Province: 11 Decoration: Army Distinguished Service Cross CN: Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) Service Occupation: Combat Engineer (ARMY) Data Source: Coffelt Database Location on the Vietnam Memorial Wall: Panel 47E - Line 13

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Sgt John Francis Link's memorial?
Sgt John Francis Link's memorial is located at: Mount Hope Cemetery, Monroe County, USA.
When did Sgt John Francis Link death?
Sgt John Francis Link death on 30 Mar 1968 in Vietnam
Where are the coordinates of the Sgt John Francis Link's memorial?
Latitude: 39.6217384
Longitude: -81.2184448

Family Members:

Parent

TSGT John Bernard Link

(1920 - 1974)

Anne Tray Link Schmeder

(1920 - 2012)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Mount Hope Cemetery
Monroe County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6217384, -81.2184448

2. Miller Cemetery
Marr, Monroe County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6400000, -81.2272680

3. Smith Cemetery
Rinard Mills, Monroe County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6081291, -81.2001120

4. Adams Cemetery
Lebanon, Monroe County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6203300, -81.2480200

5. Lamping Cemetery
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Coordinate: 39.6286846, -81.1884447

6. Henthorn Cemetery
Monroe County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6418991, -81.1994019

7. Merrill Ridge Cemetery
Monroe County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6009064, -81.1931686

8. McVay Cemetery
Sycamore Valley, Monroe County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6444016, -81.2427979

9. Hopewell Cemetery
Lebanon, Monroe County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5811844, -81.2267761

10. Pleasant Ridge Church of Christ Cemetery
Graysville, Monroe County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6625850, -81.2076540

11. Scott Cemetery
Monroe County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6643982, -81.2117004

12. Masterton Cemetery
Lebanon, Monroe County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6122017, -81.2750015

13. Masterson Cemetery
Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6124350, -81.2758580

14. Liberty Cemetery
Lebanon, Monroe County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5911767, -81.2645550

15. Liberty EUB Church Cemetery
Dalzell, Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5910187, -81.2644730

16. Low Gap Cemetery
Cline, Monroe County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6075745, -81.1592789

17. Old Masterton Cemetery
Bethel Township, Monroe County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6099330, -81.2795220

18. Hercher Cemetery
Monroe County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6702995, -81.2397003

19. Creighton Ridge Church of Christ Cemetery
Marr, Monroe County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6629320, -81.2612340

20. Parks Cemetery
Marr, Monroe County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6611500, -81.2681900

21. Graysville Cemetery
Graysville, Monroe County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6632996, -81.1714020

22. Pioneer Cemetery
Graysville, Monroe County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6672000, -81.1741000

23. Rinard Mills Cemetery
Monroe County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5839615, -81.1567764

24. Thomas Mulinex Farm Cemetery
Ludlow, Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5607390, -81.2227390