Putting faces to the names
Devin Heilman | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 9 years, 10 months AGO
The servicemen who died in the Vietnam War may be gone, but Janna Hoehn's dogged determination will help ensure that they will never be forgotten.
Hoehn, of Maui, is a volunteer with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund and its Faces Never Forgotten program. She is conducting a national search for photos of the servicemen who were killed in the war. The photos will be submitted into the Wall of Faces digital gallery to accompany the names, birth dates and dates the soldiers became war casualties, information that is already etched into the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
"A name on a memorial is nice, but a picture shows you who they were," Hoehn said. "They were somebody's brothers, husbands, sons, cousins ... they were somebody important."
The Press ran an article in September asking readers to respond with photos or any information they may have about the Kootenai County soldiers whose pictures Hoehn is seeking.
She said photos two of the young men in the first article have been found, but two are still missing - Franklin D. McNary, born 1934, died 1967, from Coeur d'Alene, and Eugene E. Wolters, born 1951, died 1970, from Coeur d'Alene. A photo of a soldier from Smelterville, Richard L. Dennis, born 1929, died 1967, is also missing.
"We want to honor that hero," Hoehn said.
Hoehn said the organization is searching for photos, but even if a relative, classmate or friend knew what high school the soldier attended, that would be helpful. Any information is appreciated.
"People my age (59) and older still get how important this is," Hoehn said. "What I want to see someday is Vietnam vets having their pride back."
If anyone has information or photos of Wolters, McNary or Dennis, they can contact Hoehn at neverforgotten2014@gmail.com. The virtual Wall of Faces can be viewed at www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/.
The Kootenai County men whose photos can already be viewed on the online memorial are: David E. Cinosky, Leroy E. Damiano, Thomas G. Funke, Robert J. Gordon, Howard L. Jones, Jr., Steven M. McArthur, Howard B. Waldron and Russell L. Watson