Alumni – Page 5 – EWU Army ROTC

EWU ROTC Gold Star Alumni: Owen McCandlis

07/13/2019 by jstafford3

OWEN TED McCANDLIS

(U.S. Army Reserve)

Rank: 1st Lieutenant

Hometown: Snohomish, WA

Branch: Infantry

Born: 27 December 1944

Death: 05 February 1970

Location: Quang Tri, Vietnam

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall: Panel 14W–Line 105

In the Army, when a family loses a member in war, we refer to them as a “Gold Star Family.” Each of our Eastern Washington University (EWU) Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) graduates that were killed in action we consider them a “Gold Star Alumni” because they are part of our ROTC family.

First Lieutenant Owen McCandlis was from Snohomish, Washington and graduated from Eastern in 1968 where he commissioned into the Army as an Infantry officer. He deployed to Vietnam the following year and was killed on February 5, 1970. He was 25 years old.

The Department of Military Science offers condolences to the family of First Lieutenant Owen McCandlis and commemorates his service for making the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our great nation.

Note: If any friends or family have any memories they would like to share about Owen McCandlis, please leave a note in the comments section because we would love to learn more about our fallen Fighting Eagle.

EWU ROTC Gold Star Alumni: Victor Hodson

07/13/2019 by jstafford3

VICTOR M. HODSON

(U.S. Army Reserve)

Rank: 1st Lieutenant

Hometown: Moses Lake, WA

Branch: Aviation

Born: 27 November 1942

Death: 14 April 1969

Location: Binh Thuan, Vietnam

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall: Panel 27W–Line 81

First Lieutenant Victor Hodson was from Moses Lake, Washington and during his time in ROTC was the Cadet Battalion Commander. He graduated in 1968 and commissioned as an Army Aviator. After completing flight school he deployed to Vietnam. He died in a crash of his “Bird Dog” reconnaissance plane on April 14, 1969. He was 26 years old.

The Department of Military Science offers condolences to the family of First Lieutenant Victor Hodson and commemorates his service for making the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our great nation.

Note: If any friends or family have any memories they would like to share about Victor Hodson, please leave a note in the comments section because we would love to learn more about him.

EWU ROTC Gold Star Alumni: Bruce Grandstaff

07/13/2019 by jstafford3

BRUCE ALAN GRANDSTAFF

(US Army)

Rank: Sergeant First Class / Platoon Sergeant

Hometown: Spokane, WA

Branch: Infantry

Born: 02 June 1934

Death: 18 May 1967

Location: Plieku, Vietnam

Medal of Honor

SFC Grandstaff is the only Fighting Eagle Cadet to ever be recognized with the Medal of Honor. Bruce Grandstaff enrolled into Eastern in 1952. Two years later in 1954, Grandstaff decided to enlist into the Army. He spent two years in the Army before returning to Eastern to continue his military science studies in 1956. Grandstaff decided to reenlist in the Army in 1961. In 1967 he was deployed to Vietnam as a Platoon Sergeant. During an operation along the Cambodian border, Grandstaff’s platoon became surrounded by an estimated 700 enemy soldiers.

The battle lasted for 5 hours and Grandstaff was wounded in both legs as he rallied his men, coordinated helicopter strafing runs, and artillery fire against the attacking North Vietnamese troops. In a final act of courage Grandstaff ordered an artillery strike on top of his own position. He died that day on May 18, 1967. He left behind a wife and three daughters, he was 32 years old.

The Department of Military Science offers condolences to the family of Platoon Sergeant and Sergeant First Class Bruce Grandstaff and commemorates his service for making the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our great nation.

Note: If any friends or family have any memories they would like to share about Bruce Grandstaff, please leave a note in the comments section because we would love to learn more about him.

EWU ROTC Gold Star Alumni: Richard Ator

07/13/2019 by jstafford3

RICHARD DENNIS ATOR

(US Army)

Rank: Major

Hometown: Moses Lake, WA

Branch: Infantry

Born: 10 March 1937

Death: 05 March 1970

Location: Tuyen Duc, Vietnam

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall: Panel 13W–Line 84

Major Richard Ator was from Moses Lake, Washington and was known by his nickname “Buck”. During his time in ROTC, “Buck” received the Legion of Valor Cross for being the top Cadet in the Pacific Northwest. He graduated in 1962 and commissioned as an infantryman in to the U.S. Army. He was killed in action during his second tour in Vietnam on March 5, 1970 while running through mortar and small arms fire to resupply the South Vietnamese unit he was serving as an advisor to. His heroism that day was recognized with receiving the nation’s third highest medal for valor, the Silver Star. Major Ator left behind a wife, one son and one daughter. He was 32 years old.

The Department of Military Science offers condolences to the family of Major Richard Ator and commemorates his service for making the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our great nation.

Note: If any friends or family have any memories they would like to share about Richard Ator, please leave a note in the comments section because we would love to learn more about him.

EWU Gold Star Alumni: Timothy Burchett

07/13/2019 by jstafford3

TIMOTHY GORDON BURCHETT

(US Army)

Rank: Private First Class

Hometown: Spokane, WA

Branch: Infantry

Born: 25 November 1948

Death: 29 June 1969

Location: Kien Hoa, Vietnam

Silver Star

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall: Panel 21W–Line 31

Private First Class Timothy Burchett was from Spokane, Washington and after enrolling into Eastern and participating in ROTC, Timothy decided to enlist into the Army as an infantryman in 1968. He deployed to Vietnam and was killed in action on June 29, 1969 during an enemy ambush. During the ambush Burchett though heavily wounded provided accurate and devastating fire on the enemy allowing his unit to escape. His heroism was recognized with the posthumous awarding of the Silver Star. PFC Burchett was 20 years old.

The Department of Military Science offers condolences to the family of Private First Class Timothy Burchett and commemorates his service for making the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our great nation.

Note: If any friends or family have any memories they would like to share about Timothy Burchett, please leave a note in the comments section because we would love to learn more about him.

EWU ROTC Gold Star Alumni: Randall Arney

07/13/2019 by jstafford3

RANDALL NAVE ARNEY

(U.S. Army Reserve)

Rank: 1st Lieutenant

Hometown: Klickitat, WA

Branch: Infantry

Born: 31 December 1943

Death: 12 July 1968

Location: Thua Thien, Vietnam

First Lieutenant Randall Arney’s hometown is Klickitat, Washington and he commissioned as an infantryman from Eastern in 1967. He would go on to serve in Vietnam the following year and was killed in action on July 12, 1968. He was 24 years old.

The Department of Military Science offers condolences to the family of First Lieutenant Randall Arney and commemorates his service for making the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our great nation.

Note: If any friends or family have any memories they would like to share about Randall Arney, please leave a note in the comments section because we would love to learn more about him.