PFC John W. Kirchner, 19, U.S.M.C., born in Wisconsin September 25, 1949, was
killed in action on May 27, 1969. Kirchner was a Rifleman with 3rd Battalion, 5th
Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division in Vietnam. While leading a patrol in Quảng
Nam, he stepped on a booby-trapped artillery shell. Rather than jumping to safety
before the explosive went off, Kirchner selflessly turned around and shouted
warnings to the men in his unit to take cover until the shell detonated. For his
service, he earned a Purple Heart. Semper Fi, Marine! Til Valhalla, Brother!