Remembering a Nebraskan, one of the 1st Americans killed in Vietnam

PLATTSMOUTH, Neb. (WOWT) – Greater than 58,000 American troops died within the Vietnam Warfare. One of many first casualties was a particular forces workers sergeant from Plattsmouth.

Wayne Marchand was killed in Vietnam 60 years in the past this month.

America started its full-scale involvement within the Vietnam Warfare in 1964, two years earlier than Particular Forces Workers Sergeant Wayne Marchand and three different staff members have been coaching a south Vietnam village self-defense group after they got here beneath assault from the Viet Cong. After preventing off a number of assaults, Marchand was wounded, captured, and later executed.

Terry Wayne Marchand by no means knew his uncle Wayne, however he wears his uncle’s center title.

“It’s very humbling to know I’ve some lineage to somebody who has carried out nice issues for individuals not for himself, not being egocentric,” Terry mentioned.

Terry says he wasn’t but born when his uncle was killed in Vietnam, however his household usually informed tales about his uncle Wayne.

“He was talked about being an excellent man, a down-to-earth individual, at all times pondering of different individuals. I’ve at all times requested questions of my father, about his time with him, and he mentioned there was not a greater brother on the market. He at all times had his again.”

Sixty years in the past the demise of Workers Sergeant Marchand was massive information right here within the heartland, and Omaha despatched Corridor of Fame Journalist Dave Hamer and his digicam to Vietnam to cowl the story.

Dave Hamer labored in Omaha tv information for 40 years. In 1962, a then 32-year-old Hamer and his digicam have been despatched to Vietnam to cowl the demise of the native soldier.

“The station needed to know why are People over there and why are they dying,” Hamer mentioned. “So the lengthy and in need of it was they despatched two of us, Bob Fuller and myself, and we went over and spent nearly a month there.”

Hamer coated the story and produced 4 documentaries on the scenario in Vietnam, two years earlier than the U.S. turned completely concerned within the struggle.

The aim was to tell native individuals right here what was occurring there, and why an area man from Plattsmouth had been killed.

There have been solely 5 U.S. reporters in Vietnam. New York Occasions had one, United Press had one, AP had one, and two males from Omaha, which everybody thought was slightly unusual.

Terry says this time of 12 months he thinks about his uncle and all of the issues he went by means of over in Vietnam. He tells us the person he by no means met nonetheless conjures up him.

“It makes me attempt to be a greater man each time I give it some thought. You already know it makes me have lots to dwell as much as. He sort of put an ordinary I attempt to shoot for on a regular basis and attempt to dwell my life that manner. Attempt to be that humble individual, and attempt to be that person who cares for others and led others to raised themselves.”

Workers Sergent Marchand is interred at Lafayette Cemetery in Nemaha County.

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