There are 37 names on the Vietnam Wall from Albany, NY.
USA Capt. Thomas J. Bergin, 30, 3/14/64
USAF Maj. Theodore R. Loeschner, Jr., 37, 4/24/65
USMC Pfc. Hans Jorg Rudolph Lorenz, 21, 4/26/66
USA Spec 4 Keith Knott, 19, 5/9/66
USA Pfc. Robert G. Burrell, 19, 8/2/66
USA Pfc. Arthur J. McNally, 23, 10/17/66
USMC Lance Corp. William F. Ditoro, 22, 1/7/67
USA Spec 4 Richard J. Mosley, 20, 1/27/67
USA Spec 4 Donald J. Sheehy, 20, 5/5/67
USMC Lance Cpl. Rich Rockenstyre, 18, 8/31/67
USMC Capt. William M. Van Antwerp, Jr. 30, 9/16/67
USA Pfc. Frank Maleca, 20, 10/13/67
USA Spec 4 Ralph J. DiPace, 20, 10/21/67
USA Spec 4 Gerald H. Slingerland, 10/26/67 (a day after his 19th birthday)
USA Spec. 4 Robert J. Winters, 22, 11/9/67
USA Spec. 4, Edward A. Finlay, 19, 12/6/67
USA Corp. Willam M. Seabast, 22, 1/31/68
USMC GY Sgt. Anthony N. Valente, 38, 2/27/68
USMC Cpl. Bertram A. Deso, 20, 3/1/68
USMC Lance Cpl. Michael G. DeMarco, 21, 4/11/68
USMC Corp. John J. Vennard, 34, 4/17/68
USA Staff Sgt, Robert J. Smith, 22, 4/18/68
USMC Pfc John C. Fiffe, 18, 5/8/68
USN, Fireman, Joseph S. Ott, 20, 7/14/68
USMC Pfc. Kevin J. McArdle, 18, 8/18/68
USMC Maj. Harold S. Lonergan, 39, 2/23/69
USA Spec 5 Christopher Brow, 23, 2/26/69
USMC Lance Cpl. Richard J. Leahy, 22, 3/6/69
USMC Pfc. 1st class, Clifford G. LaBombard, 19, 4/15/69
USA Spec 5 Charles Chandler, 20, 4/18/69
USMC Pfc. John W Gladney, 19, 7/4/69
USA, Spec 4, Thomas K. Ryan, 18, 8/2/69
USA 1st Lt. Stanley A. Brown, 23, 11/1/69
USA Spec 4 Lewis C. Ouellette, 19, 4/13/70
USA Corp. Samuel W. Williams, 21, 7/26/70
USA Staff Sgt. Daniel E. Nye, 25, 11/28/71
USN Lt. Ralph P. Dupont, Jr., 24, 5/16/72
USMC Lance Cpl. Ashton N. Loney, 5/15/75
They came from all neighborhoods – Pine Hills, Arbor Hill, North Albany, West Hill, New Scotland and the South End. They lived on Myrtle Ave, Livingston Ave., Clinton Ave., Second Ave., Emmett St., Madison Ave., First St., Washington Ave., Lark Dr., Magnolia Terrace, Hunter Ave., So. Main Ave. and Ontario St.
A very small number were college graduates. Most had just completed high school when they joined the service – they were graduates of Albany High, Philip Schuyler, Milne, Cardinal McCloskey, and VI.
Most were impossibly young… 18, 19, 20. (There is an old Bellamy Boys lyric, “..they sent him off to Vietnam on his senior trip”.)
Some enlisted, some were drafted and, and in the time honored Albany tradition, several had brushes with the law and Albany’s justice system offered them the “choice” – jail or the Army.
Their deaths span 11 years. The first to be killed was an Army captain “observer” who died in 1964. One was an MP who died defending the US Embassy during the Tet offensive of 1968. Most died in the harsh and unforgiving provinces of Vietnam during the War’s brutal years of 1967 -1969. One was a medic who went borrowed a gun and went into save other men. The last one to die was a Marine killed in the Mayaguez “Incident” by the Khmer Rouge in 1975. His body was never recovered. He was not even a US citizen (he was from Trinidad, but his mom lived on Lark Drive). His name, as well as the others killed in the “Incident”, are the last names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
An astonishing number died within their first 4 months in Vietnam. Johnny Gladney, who was a year ahead of me in Jr. High and High School, was killed after being in Vietnam less than a month – on the 4th of July.
During the 10 months of my junior year in high school, 15 boys died. This is Smalbany, so you always knew the boy, or you knew his sisters/brothers or his cousins, or a friend of a friend.
The City moved on, but underneath, people felt a sadness and then they went numb – just like the rest of the country. The killing seemed inexorable. There was no way to stop it – it went on and on and on.
They are more than names.. each one has a story. One was a long distance runner who could fly like the wind. One was an avid reader; he won a Boy’s Club prize for reading the most books when he was 11. Another was fascinated by flying, so he became a helicopter pilot. Some were quiet and reserved, some were outgoing and boisterous.
8 boys were from the same class in Albany High and all members of the same Hi-Y club, They all enlisted in the Marine Corps. The bond between 2 of the boys was so strong, that after the death of one, the other, sensing his own imminent death, begged to be buried next to his buddy when his time came. They rest together in St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery – one Catholic and one Protestant. A third boy from that same group died a year later. ( See Semper Fi – In life and Death for the store of Rich and Mike.)
Here are pictures of some of the boys/men.
Christopher BrowAshton LoneyRichard RockenstyreBertram Deso
13 thoughts on “The Boys of Albany. Not Just Names on the Vietnam Wall”
rest in peace brothers charlie co 2/8 1st air cav 69-70
Two were friends of mine Clifford Labombard high school classmate and Keven Mcardle we grew up together. His older brother Mark Mcardle just died 2 weeks ago at the age of 66. He was in the Marine boot camp when his brother died and was sent home to his mom and dad not to return. There is nothing glorious about war it is all so very sad sincerely Philip Harper formally from Hamilton street albany….Now Niskayuna NY
Thank you Philip for your kind words and memories. My father Mark was an amazing man and we all miss him terribly. I never had the chance to know my Uncle Kevin. We still keep his pictures around. We show our children how important he is not only to our family but our country as well. Their spirits will remain with all of us and we continue to hold on tight to the cherished times. Meagan Girgenti Colonie, NY
In 69′ on a loading dock in Dix in N.J. I looked through the crowd of guy who where in transit status. And a guy spotted me ” Bobbie!”……” Freddie” ….What the F..K are U . Long story short we end up at little Viet Nam (FT Polk). we.see each other one more time before we graduated, then he get his big ticket ..I luck out…..a year goes by and then I get mine to go over, I go home for the 30….walk into the back door of the Fountain Grill……..There Freddie was with shoulder length hair and a prominent limp as he walked my way, I heard my name screamed out over the large crowd ……it turn into a very emotional reunion, in particular after finding out It was my turn to go over!
Well it is a number of years later and I’m at City hall for one or another reasons ….and I find out about the dedication of the monument…………….well just as it was that so many years before I look across a crowd of people and there once again is my old friend Freddie showing His kids the names of the friend he lost! It show you how things come around ….then they go around.
My thought are now with the guys who are on that monument in Albany and on the one that is about 40 miles north of me in Washington, D.C………..but there is also a grateful thought for You Freddie my friend ……..because you came back to acknowledge this Day!
Great piece! Thanks.
REST IN PEACE…I GREW UP ON IRVING STREET….LATER MOVED TO MT. HOPE DRIVE WENT TO PHILIP SCHUYLER HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 69…. WENT TO VIET NAM IN DEC.69 AS A COMBAT MEDIC …WOUNDED IN ACTION 1970…. REST IN PEACE BROTHERS AND A WELCOME TO ALL WHO SERVED IN VIET NAM !!!!
Edward Finlay was my brother. You spelled his name wrong. Hope you can change it. Thank You. Bill Finlay
Bill.. than you for pointing out my error. I will immediately. Julie
I knew some of these men. Such a sad loss for so many…
So much more than names on a wall I loved o e of them and my life was changed forever, it’s been 50 years missing a piece of my heart. Gone but not forgotten
my co Capt Van .Antwerp was my company commander I was with him the night he and cpl Rilk died when cpl rilk stepped on a lad mind god bless them .50 years and there still with me I’m from cohoes ny united states marine corp 1966 to 1970
Went to school with many of these guys. Bertram A. Deso was my cousin but more like my brother. We grew up side-by-side for most of my early years. He was handsome, funny and loving. When he went back for his second tour, he told me that he loved the Marine Corps and that it was his home. Miss him every day. R.I.P. my dear cousin.
I grew up with Stanley Brown. He had even dated my sister. He went to Albany High and I went to Philip Schuyler. We spent one summer just before our senior year in high school working in the kitchen of religous summer camp. He went in the Army and I went in the Marine Corps. I didn’t find out about his death in Vietnam til just before I received my orders to go to Vietnam. I knew he was a helo pilot at the time. I still have problems from the war and I have no good memories from being over there. I lost a lot of good friends from that war. It made no sence to me. Stanley rest in peace my brother. You were the best friend I ever had and i still miss you. Semper Fi.
Albany Muskrat 
rest in peace brothers charlie co 2/8 1st air cav 69-70
Two were friends of mine Clifford Labombard high school classmate and Keven Mcardle we grew up together. His older brother Mark Mcardle just died 2 weeks ago at the age of 66. He was in the Marine boot camp when his brother died and was sent home to his mom and dad not to return. There is nothing glorious about war it is all so very sad sincerely Philip Harper formally from Hamilton street albany….Now Niskayuna NY
Thank you Philip for your kind words and memories. My father Mark was an amazing man and we all miss him terribly. I never had the chance to know my Uncle Kevin. We still keep his pictures around. We show our children how important he is not only to our family but our country as well. Their spirits will remain with all of us and we continue to hold on tight to the cherished times. Meagan Girgenti Colonie, NY
In 69′ on a loading dock in Dix in N.J. I looked through the crowd of guy who where in transit status. And a guy spotted me ” Bobbie!”……” Freddie” ….What the F..K are U . Long story short we end up at little Viet Nam (FT Polk). we.see each other one more time before we graduated, then he get his big ticket ..I luck out…..a year goes by and then I get mine to go over, I go home for the 30….walk into the back door of the Fountain Grill……..There Freddie was with shoulder length hair and a prominent limp as he walked my way, I heard my name screamed out over the large crowd ……it turn into a very emotional reunion, in particular after finding out It was my turn to go over!
Well it is a number of years later and I’m at City hall for one or another reasons ….and I find out about the dedication of the monument…………….well just as it was that so many years before I look across a crowd of people and there once again is my old friend Freddie showing His kids the names of the friend he lost! It show you how things come around ….then they go around.
My thought are now with the guys who are on that monument in Albany and on the one that is about 40 miles north of me in Washington, D.C………..but there is also a grateful thought for You Freddie my friend ……..because you came back to acknowledge this Day!
Great piece! Thanks.
REST IN PEACE…I GREW UP ON IRVING STREET….LATER MOVED TO MT. HOPE DRIVE WENT TO PHILIP SCHUYLER HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 69…. WENT TO VIET NAM IN DEC.69 AS A COMBAT MEDIC …WOUNDED IN ACTION 1970…. REST IN PEACE BROTHERS AND A WELCOME TO ALL WHO SERVED IN VIET NAM !!!!
Edward Finlay was my brother. You spelled his name wrong. Hope you can change it. Thank You. Bill Finlay
Bill.. than you for pointing out my error. I will immediately. Julie
I knew some of these men. Such a sad loss for so many…
So much more than names on a wall I loved o e of them and my life was changed forever, it’s been 50 years missing a piece of my heart. Gone but not forgotten
my co Capt Van .Antwerp was my company commander I was with him the night he and cpl Rilk died when cpl rilk stepped on a lad mind god bless them .50 years and there still with me I’m from cohoes ny united states marine corp 1966 to 1970
Went to school with many of these guys. Bertram A. Deso was my cousin but more like my brother. We grew up side-by-side for most of my early years. He was handsome, funny and loving. When he went back for his second tour, he told me that he loved the Marine Corps and that it was his home. Miss him every day. R.I.P. my dear cousin.
I grew up with Stanley Brown. He had even dated my sister. He went to Albany High and I went to Philip Schuyler. We spent one summer just before our senior year in high school working in the kitchen of religous summer camp. He went in the Army and I went in the Marine Corps. I didn’t find out about his death in Vietnam til just before I received my orders to go to Vietnam. I knew he was a helo pilot at the time. I still have problems from the war and I have no good memories from being over there. I lost a lot of good friends from that war. It made no sence to me. Stanley rest in peace my brother. You were the best friend I ever had and i still miss you. Semper Fi.