Lancaster (PA) New Era - March 11, 1971
Posted for: JAMES LAWRENCE WIELER:
WIELER, James L USA.jpg
Ex-McCaskey Athlete
Killed in Viet Crash

A former McCaskey High School athlete has been reported killed in the fighting in Vietnam.
Specialist Fourth Class James L. Wieler, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Wieler, 429 Brookview Ave., Millersville, became the 65th area man to die when a helicopter, upon which he was riding as a medical aide, crashed on Sunday.
Wieler's parents received official confirmation of the death Wednesday evening in a telegram from the War Department. The wired communication came almost 12 hours after a representative of the military called at the house to inform them of their son's death.
The information in the wire said that Wieler had been killed "while a medical aide on a military aircraft on a military mission."
The telegram said the helicopter crashed for unknown reasons, but did not burn. The wire gave no indication of the location of the crash, but the dead soldier's father said that recent letters indicated his son had been operating in and out of Laos.
Wieler's mother said today that the death occurred just a short time after her son had returned from an R&R leave in Bangkok, Siam.
"He went to Vietnam last June," she added, " and had written that he had hopes of returning home in late May."
The parents added that the date of funeral arrangemenets awaits further word of the arrival of the body from Vietnam.
"James," she said, "attended Memorial Presbyterian Church. The funeral will be held from there, with the Rev. Galen R. Work conducting the services. He will have a military funeral and burial will be in Conestoga Memorial Park."
Wieler, who was a medic with the 326 Medical Battalion of the 101st Airbourne Division, entered the service February 28, 1969. He left this country for service in Vietnam on June 6, 1970.
Queried about her son's attitude toward the Vietnamese war this morning, his mother said she did not know how he felt, but she did know her son volunteered as a battlefield medic because of a "desire to help and serve others."
"I do know," she continued "he felt elated when he helped in saving someone's life, and I also know it got to him very badly when he was unable to save a life on a rescue mission."
During his time in Vietnam, Wieler was the recipient of two Air Medals with "V" device for rescue operations of the wounded under fire.
He was born in Lancaster, a son of John H. and Jane M. Eckman Wieler, and had lived for the past nine years in Millersville.
A 1968 graduate of McCaskey High School, he was a hockey star, and in 1967 won the Jim Neeley Award as co-captain of the school soccer team.
He received his basic training at Fort Dix, N.J., and advanced infantry training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo. He received his paratroop instruction at Ft. Benning, Ga., and was trained for Special Forces at Fort Bragg. His medical training was obtained at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
Besides his parents, he is survived by two brothers, Jerome A., Boston, Mass., and Jeffrey L., at home; a paternal grandfather, Henry P. Wieler, Lancaster; and a maternal grandmother, Mrs. Fannie F. Shaub, Millersville.
Posted by: Jim McIlhenney
Email: christianamacks@comcast.net
Relationship: Native Pennsylvanian & VietVet
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Edit this Remembrance   Remove this Remembrance      Share this on Facebook
Donate Now

Donate Now and Help Us Build The Education Center at The Wall. The stories of our military heroes' stories and sacrifice must never be forgotten

Be an Online Advocate
Spread the word to friends and family.
facebook icon twitter icon

Join Us!
Sign up to receive e-mail updates about
Memorial Fund activities.
Enter your e-mail address below:
Sign up to stay updated on the building of the Education Center and Memorial Fund activities. Enter your e-mail address below:


go
Search The Wall
go
Put a Face With a Name

Behind every name, a story. Our goal is to collect photos for all 58,272 veterans on The Wall. It was thousands of individuals who helped build the Memorial; now we are calling on you once again.

To learn how you can help, click here.

Today We Remember
On February 10,
  172 service members made the ultimate sacrifice.
On this day in 1965,
  23 service members made the ultimate sacrifice.
On this day in 1966,
  13 service members made the ultimate sacrifice.
On this day in 1967,
  14 service members made the ultimate sacrifice.
On this day in 1968,
  54 service members made the ultimate sacrifice.
On this day in 1969,
  32 service members made the ultimate sacrifice.
On this day in 1970,
  27 service members made the ultimate sacrifice.
On this day in 1971,
  7 service members made the ultimate sacrifice.
On this day in 1972,
  1 service members made the ultimate sacrifice.
On this day in 1973,
  1 service members made the ultimate sacrifice.
Click on the number of lives lost
to view the names.