I don't have personal knowledge of the exact sequence when a veteran died during the
Vietnam era, most of the specifics here come from my father's Individual Deceased
Personel file (IDPF) which I obtained through a Freedom Of Information Act submission (FOIA).
If you have questions, comments or criticisms, especially if you are a spouse or next of kin
of a veteran killed while with the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing, please email at at
westin@westin553.net and let me know
Receiving the Devestating Death
Notification and Confirmation
When a veteran serving on
active duty gives the ultimate sacrifice, the U.S. Military will notify the spouse,
or the next of kin of the veteran's death. If possible a personal visit is made by
a military officer and Chaplin to make the notification personally to the spouse or next
of kin. Normally the personal notification is followed by a telegram confirming the
veterans death.
When the veteran dies in a combat situation it may be more difficult to personally
notify the spouse or next of kin and it may not be possible to send a telegram, and
if that is the case another follow up method may be sent.
While the veteran sacrificed everything for his country, the spouse or next of kin
must now experence their own difficult life changing situation. The family is now heavily
burdended with responsibilities, especially so if the veteran had children which the
spouse must now raise alone.
Image shows the spouse holding her child with one hand, and receiving the death confirmation telegram in
the other hand. My Thanks to Lindsay Villapondo
and daughter Dakota for modeling for this photograph,
and allowing me to use this photograph on my hommepage. The confirmation telegram shown is the actual
telegram sent by the Secretary of the Army to webmaster Larry Westin's family.
Click here to view an actual
Death Confirmation Telegram. At the time myself (webmaster Larry Westin), my mother
and my sister were in Japan. My father had served all through WWII, was discharged, then recalled
to active duty in 1949. When my father was recalled my father and mother decided to sell their home in
the U.S. and travel a to Japan to be with my father. In 1949 Japan was considered safe so my father, mother,
myself and my sister followed my father to Japan traveling on a Liberty ship. Due to the deteriorating combat
situation in Korea at the time of my father's death, the three of us were sent back to the U.S. by
airplane. Since there was no address for my mother, the Army sent his death confirmation telegram to his
aunt, whose address he lived at when he entered the Army in WWII (my father's home and school were
destroyed in the 1933 Long Beach earthquake, so he moved in with his aunt).
IMPORTANT If the spouse or next
of kin of one of the 22 veterans of the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing, Batcat, killed on operational
combat missions, has the Death Confirmation Telegram, and is willing to send me an image
of that telegram and allow me to included it here, please email the image to me at
westin@westin553.net. Thank you.
First notification when a 553rd Reconnaissance
Wing member died came from USAF Headquarter's.
This was followed up by a unit notification from
the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing Commander
On September 6, 1969 EC-121R 67-21495, call sign Batcat 19, crashed at Korat RTAFB
upon returing from a 13 hour combat mission. On board was a crew of 16, of which
4 of the 16 were killed. One of the 4 killed was crew member Sgt. Julius Houlditch.
Sgt. Houlditch's family was notified by an USAF officer and Chaplin coming to his
parent's home. They brought with them this notification of his death from
Death Notification from USAF Headquarters. The notification is dated September
6, 1969, the same day Sgt. Houlditch died.
A follow up notification from Sgt. Houlditch's unit, the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing,
Notification from 553rd Reconnaissance Wing Commander Ted Ostendorf. While both
notifications have the same Septemberr 6, 1969 date, it took longer for the unit
notification to arrive from Thailand. In his letter Colonel Ostendorf provides information
about the circumstances of how Sgt. Houlditch died. However Col. Ostendorf did NOT
provide any information about the purpose of the wing, and what it was doing in
Thailand.
My Thanks to Lee Houlditch, Sgt. Houlditch's
brother for providing this information about a 553rd Reconnaissance Wing member's
death, added 07/20/22.
Death Notification during Combat
Death notification may be different during combat conditions. While in Japan in 1950 the
Japanese infrastructure was still being rebuilt from the bombing of WWII, with Korea infrastructure
being far worse, combined with a desperate combat situation. When my father was killed the 25th
Infrantry Divison notified the Japan command by radio teletype. When the base commander received
the notification my mother was asked to come to his office. Myself and sister were only 4 and 3
so we were too young be left at dependent housing therefore we accompanied my mother to the
commander's office. At that time the commander handed my mother this
Radio Teletype Death Notification message notifying us of my father's death. All of
of my father's unit, including the battalion commander and Chaplin, were in Korea at this time.
Kern County WWII Memorial
IMPORTANT PLEASE VISIT the
Planned Kern County WWII Memorial, note
the centerpiece which shows a young spouse holding a young child in one hand, and a Death
Confirmation Telegram in the other. Scroll down to the Memorial Plans area to view a larger
image of the Spouse with child centerpiece receiving the Death Confirmation Telegram. The
centerpiece statue shows the devestation of learning of her spouse's death. I'm unaware
of any other memorial which includes the sacrifice of the spouse or next of kin. Learning
about this memorial and seeing the centerpiece image showing the spouse and child is what
convinced me, webmaster Larry Westin, to add this page. Checking Internet I didn't find
any other memorial which considered the spouse or next of kin.
Notification from the
Veteran's Unit at time of Death
When my father was killed in Korea my mother
received letters of condolence from the battalion commander, the unit Chaplin, and
Commander in Chief Douglas MacArthur. When the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing lost
veterans on operational combat missions next of kin received no further information
except the official death notification. 553rd Wing Commander Ted Ostendorf told me
(webmaster Larry Westin) verbally on a telephone call in 1998, and again when we met
in early 2001, that he was specifically ordered NOT to contact the next
of kin of those killed or provide any further information. This may have been because
the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing was highly classified in 1969, however that reason is only
my guess. Next of kin I've communicated with tell me they did not receive any information
about the circumstances of their veteran's death. Beginning late 1998 I made a number of
Freedom Of Information Act requests to declassify the official 553rd Reconnaissance
wing histories so I could create my 553rd Reconnaissance Wing, Batcat, Korat homepage.
I don't know if General MacArthur's letter to the next of kin was common or unique.
General MacArthur may have sent the letter of my father's death because my father
served under him during WWII, as did many thousands of others. In WWII my father was a
paratrooper, 462nd Parachute Field Artillery, 503rd Regimental Combat Team (Rock Force),
and was part of the parachute attack to retake Corregidor Island. Corregidor was the
island in the Philippines from which General MacArthur was ordered to leave in 1942,
and from which General MacArthur would state on his arrival in Australia that "I Shall Return."
Image shows is the letter General MacArthur
sent to my mother.
Tasks for the Spouse or Next of the Kin
After Receiving the Death Notification
While the death notication to the spouse or next of kin is a terrible shock, the spouse or
next of kin still has confirmation and notifications to receive, and decisions to make with
regard to the deceased veteran.
FIRST - the military contacts the spouse or next of kin
to learn where they wish the veteran's remains to be burried. All veterans, except those who were
dishonorably discharged, are eligble for burial in a National Cemetery. The government
absorbes the cost of shipping the remains and coffin to the National Cemetery, opening the
grave, and will provide the headstone. There are some options for the headstone the spouse
or next of kin must decide. When a veteran dies in combat it may take a long time for the
remains to be returned to the U.S. In my father's case it required 14 months. Anytime there
is a time period between death and returning the remains, the military will take steps to
verify the deceased is the correct person. If the veteran is buried in a National Cemetery,
the spouse of the veteran may elect to be buried in the same grave when the spouse passes away.
NOTE - Advance reservations CANNOT be made at a National
Cemetery. Arrangements for burial can only be requested after the veteran has died.
CIVILIAN CEMETERY - the military will deliver a veteran's
remains to a civilian cenetery or funeral home at the next of kin's request. However I'm not
certain if, or how much the government will help with funeral and burial expenses.
Military Honors for the Veteran
at the time of burial
Burial Honors - veterans who die on active service,
are retired, or severed and separated are entitled to military honors at the time of
burial. The following honors are for a veteran who passes away:
1 - Honor Guard - The local funeral homes notifies the Honor Guard Commander who contacts the appropriate infividuals.
Sometimes the honor guard are outside the funeral home, sometimes graveside, sometimes in backyards for remembrances.
There should be two active duty present but sometimes conflicts occur. The Commander does his talk.
2 - An American Coffin flag (Coffin flags are large, 5x9 feet). The honor guard folds the flag and presents it to family.
3 - Honor Volley - Guard Commander has the Guard fire their 3 volleys (M1 Garands), the empty shells are returned to family.
Webmaster Larry Westin has recently arranged for two family veterans to be buried. Our local funeral home
made all of the arrangements. Funeral Home did want to see the DD-214 for the deceased. In one case the veteran
served om WWII and he didn't have a DD-214 because there was no Department of Defense when he separated,
rather his discharge papers came from the Department of the Navy. The local Veterans Service officer
had no problem obtaining the needed papers through the Pentagon so he could receive military honors at
his burial.
If the funeral home is unaware of what is available for veteran honors, or who they should contact,
recommend contacting a local American Legion Post, a Veterans of Foreign War Post (VFW), or another veteran
organization. Check URL https://www.westin553.net/batcat21.htm#serviceOrg as starting point. My Thanks
to John Benson for recommending the veteran burial honors
section. Added 08/20/22.
SECOND - the military
carefully inventories the money
the veteran had and provides the spouse or next of kin with a written report. All U.S. currency
the veteran had is counted. If serving in an area where military payment certifiates (MPC) are
in use the funds are exchanged into U.S. currency. The total amount of U.S. funds and MPC is
then sent to the spouse or next of kin in the form of a check. If the veteran had the
currencies the military will NOT convert the foreign currency into U.S. currency, the foreign
currency is returned to the spouse or next of kin. Because exchange rates change frequently
it may cause friction if the military exchanged foreign currency into U.S. dollars because
exchange rates change frequently.
THIRD - the military carefully inventories the
veteran's personal belongings and will return the veteran's personal belongings to the
spouse or next of kin - up to a point. While serving with the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing at
Korat RTAFB, the veteran assigned to the bed next to webmaster Larry Westin, at Korat, was
Don Stepp. Don had purchased a motorcycle while at Korat. Don Stepp was killed with the
loss of Batcat 21, EC-121R serial number 67-21493 on April 25, 1969 and the military
inventoried his personal belongings, including the motorcycle. The military shipped Don's
personal items to the next of kin at government expense, except the motorcycle. The military
would not ship free of charge the motorcycle back to the U.S. at government expense. The next
of kin wanted the motorcycle so the military agreed to send the motorcycle to the next of
kin - at the expense of the next of kin.
IF the veteran died due to Enemy
Action (Killed In Action - KIA) the Purple Heart
If the veteran's death was caused by enemy action, then the veteran's spouse or next of
kin will receive the Purple Heart medal award. If the veteran died due to an accident
which was NOT caused by enemy action, or by natural causes then the veteran does NOT
qualify for award of the Purple Heart medal.
Reviewing the documentatioin my mother received as my father's spouse, it appears
the military mailed the Purple Heart medal to my mother. The Purple Heart was NOT
presented at a military ceremony. NOTE - the
Purple Heart is presented not just to veterans killed by the enemy, the Purple
Heart is also presented to veterans who were wounded by enemy action.
IF the veteran is Posthumously
Awarded a medal for gallantry
Webmaster Larry Westin's father was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry Posthumously
when he was killed in Action in Korea. When a veteran is awarded a medal it is often
presented to the veteran at a ceremony. When a veteran is awarded a medal in which the
veteran is killed, then the military will arrange with the next of kin for a presentation
at a military facility located near the next of kin. My mother was contacted to let her
know my father was awarded the Silver Star and that if it was acceptable to my mother
the Silver Star would be presented at Fort MacArthur. My mother wrote back to ask if
the Silver Star could be presented to me, his son. The militry agreed. Next of kin
should feel free to communicate their wishes to the military.
At the ceremony at Fort MacArthur Major General William B. Kean, Commanding General
of III Corps and Fort MacArthur made the presentation of the Silver Star which was
awarded Posthumously to Captain Sten E. Westin for gallantry in action.
This image shows Major General Kean pinning
the Silver Star on Larry Westin,
son of Captain Sten Westin killed in Korea, with Flora Westin his mother,
and Betty Ann Westin his sister. Photograph taken at the Fort MacArthur
Chapel on Saturday March 1, 1952 during the ceremony to present awards.
Current changes of notification and Confirmation
Contacting a friend who retired from the USAF, and now works for the USAF brought the
following updated information. "Responsibilities pretty much remain the same today regarding notification.
However, in the Air Force, a casualty officer now sits down with the surviving widow and family and goes
over the veteran's survivor benefits and the burial plans and details.
"I think things have gotten better in regards to veterans families since Vietnam.
I do know that even retired civil service (most are vets anyway) who pass away
(retired or active) has a casualty officer assigned to help the family with benefits and burial plans."
My Thanks to Mike Bourcier, USAF Retired for providing thie
curren proceedures area, added 07/12/22.
IN Conclusion
The veteran gave everything to the United States with their ultimate sacrifice. The
veteran has given all, and the veteran deserves the recognition they receive. However,
few people consider the difficulties the spouse or next of kin experience. The purpose of creating
this page is to let eveyone know of those difficulties which occur upon the veteran's death which
fall on the spouse or next of kin and which they must deal with. Hopefully, this page will be read
so others will understand those difficulties the spouse or next of kin must deal with after the
veteran's death.
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