In Memoriam

“Remembering the Souls that have kept us free.  For they were family, friends, loved ones, and most of all, our brave.”

L. A. Seyfert

 

John Edward Mullins

John Edward Mullins

January 20, 1943 - May 21, 2024 John Edward Mullins of Oxford, Michigan, died on May 21, 2024 at the age of 81 after a long struggle with cancer and also from a broken heart after the recent death of his beloved wife Debbie. John, who was called Jack by his close...

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Richard “Dick” Chatman

Richard “Dick” Chatman

December 20, 1948 - January 22, 2024 It is with heavy hearts and minds that we acknowledge the loss of Past Department Commander Richard ‘Dick” Chatman, who passed away on January 22, 2024. Richard Irving Chatman (affectionately known as Dick) was born on December 20,...

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George Earl Adams, Jr.

George Earl Adams, Jr.

July 18, 1945 - July 27, 2023 George Earl Adams Jr. of Shelby Township, MI, Age 78, passed away on July 27, 2023. Beloved husband to Isabelle. Loving father of John (Sue) Olley. Cherished grandfather of Breanna, Dominic, and Alyssa. Dear brother of Janice (Peter)...

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Phillip Gannia

Phillip Gannia

November 8, 1950 - March 19, 2023 Phillip Gannia, age 72 died of medical complications on Sunday, March 19, 2023 in his home in Shelby Township.Phil is survived by his son Ryan Frans of New York, his sister, Evangeline “Vange” Gannia of Knoxville, Tennessee and second...

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George G. Sheppard, III

George G. Sheppard, III

George G. Sheppard III, 75, passed away on December 1, 2022 in the hospital near his home in Hudson, Florida. He is survived by his step-sister Tweety and cousins Mike Rankin and Shelly Kerr. He was pre-deceased by his half-sister Denise and step-sister Jan.

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Bobby Lewis Bryant

Bobby Lewis Bryant

April 10, 1950 – December 30, 2021

Bobby Lewis Bryant, born in Forrest City, Arkansas, was a talented athlete and a civil rights activist. He lived in Arkansas until his induction into the United States Air Force in 1970.

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Edward Tuggle JR.

Edward Tuggle JR.

February 27, 1951 – November 22, 2019

Edward Martin Tuggle was born to Edward and Mattie Tuggle on February 27, 1951 in Detroit, MI and was one of six children. He graduated from Martin Luther King High School and attended Eastern Michigan University. He was drafted into the Army in 1971, where he served as a paratrooper, military police officer, cook and fought in the Vietnam War.

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Larry Robert Pretzer

Larry Robert Pretzer

March 17, 1949 – November 10, 2021

Larry was born on March 17, 1949, in Mt. Clemens, Michigan. He was a proud Army Veteran and was decorated with the National Defense Service Medal, Purple Heart, Vietnam Service Medal w/ 2 Bronze Service Stars, Bronze Star Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal w/ 60 Device and Army Commendation Medal.

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John Stephen Hite

John Stephen Hite

May 18, 1946 – October 4, 2015

John Stephen Hite was a U.S. Army Medic during the Vietnam War 1965-1968 also serving in the Army Reserves 1977-1981, and a longstanding member of The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 9 in Detroit, MI serving a term as Vice President.

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Dan McMahon, US Army
Past President

Jim Deland, USAF
Past Board Member,
Honor Guard Captain

Frank Huckleby, US Army
Member

Tobi Geibig, US Army Charter
Member

Michael J. “Crash” Mulherin, US Navy
Past Board Member
October 18, 1948 ~ June 25, 1986

James Lewandowski
Member
December 12, 1946 ~ August 4, 1989

Carl Edward Cook, US Navy Reserves
Chapter Caretaker
November 15, 1958 ~ December 8, 2011

Lois M. Lyons, US Army Nurse Vietnam Board Member
November 15, 1942 ~ January 10, 2012

Joe Safina, US Army
Member
October 21, 1949

Paul D. King, USAF
Brother of Keith King
July 12, 1955 ~ November 19, 2010

Larry Trevino, USAF
Brother of Dave Trevino
July 20, 1952 ~ December 19, 2011

Bill Zinow, US Army
VA Hospital Liaison
Died July 6, 2010

Sgt. Chris Elliot, DPD Member

Frank Gutc, USMC Member

Ron Wolford, USMC
Chapter Photographer/Artist
Created 1985 Poster

Tremon Hicks, US Army
Past Vice President
January 18, 1953 ~ December 27, 1995

Rick Jones, USAF
Past Treasurer ​

​Charles E. Sperry III, US Navy
Board Member, Honor Guard
April 12, 1951 ~ January 18, 2000

Ken Kaczorowsk​i, US Navy
Board Member
Chapter 9 License Plate Creator
June 25, 1948 ~ May 28, 1991

Cindy Estermyer
Wife of Gary,
Associate Member
September 24, 1950 ~ April 29, 1998

Saunders Carter Senior, US Army
Past Board Member
December 30, 1947 ~ June 13, 1994

“L.Z.” Bill John Dybek, US Air Force
Past President
May 9,1948 ~ October 14, 2008

Mike “Froggy” Allen
US Government Vietnam Associate Member, MI VN Monument Comm.
May 26, 1946 ~ June 11, 2010

Reginald “Buddy Ro” Morgan, USMC Past Board Member,
Community Relations
August 8, 1947 ~ September 13, 1991

Frank “Animal” Gannia, US Army Merchandise & Building Committees
October 20, 1952 ~ October 29, 2004

Fred Dubiel, USMC
III MAW Helicopter Pilot
July 10, 1944 ~ August 19, 2012

Lester Pegouske, US Army
Board Member
July 22, 1941 ~ January 26, 2013

Sanderious “Sam” Crocker, USMC Homeless Vietnam Vet
January 1, 1946 ~ March 1, 2013

Robert “Bobby” Byers, US Army
Past Member

Bob McIsaac, US Army
Vietnam Vet/River Rat/Poker Crew October 13, 1948 ~ August 4, 2013

 

Ernst “Raven” Banfield AVVA
Veteran Park Committee
March 26, 1929 ~ January 3, 2014

James O’Neal
Died January 2014

Donald J. DePape Life Member
Past Board Member
June 22, 1949 ~ September 4, 2014

​Dick “Mudpuppy” Chumbler, US Army Past Member,
MI VN Monument Supporter
August 27, 1945 ~ December 11, 2010

​John Crane White III, US Army
River Rat
August 3, 1948 ~ April 18, 2014 2014

Al Barrios, USAF
Life Member
November 15, 1943 ~ June 24, 2015

John Stephen Hite, US Army
Past Vice President,
Chapter Photographer
May 18, 1946 ~ October 4, 2015

Steve “Crazyhorse” Depa, US Navy
Life Member
March 12, 1949 ~ April 6, 2015

William Aust

Brian Bardon, Member

Robert Coppola, Member

Kenneth Marenette, Member

Norman Masiwchuk, Member

Theodore Nickowski, Member

Timothy Rea, Member

Thomas Segan, Member

Chuck Smith, Member

William Tanguay, Member

Lester Vezina, Member

If you have someone to add please send the name, title, DOB, DOD, relationship to Detroit VVA 9 and a short biography and we will add them to this page.  

Send to info@vva9.org 
​ATTN: Memoriam