Edward William Secrest

The database page for Edward William Secrest

19 Jun 2006 Eddie and I grew up together in Philadelphia. He lived three blocks from me, and I dated his sister Cathy a bit. We lived in the Fishtown area of Philadelphia. Eddie's family is a great bunch and were loved by all Fishtowners. After I went into the army in 1966 at age 17 I lost contact with Eddie's family until the day the Philadelphia Vietnam Memorial was dedicated. Eddie is very much missed and loved and in my thoughts and prayers, Rest in peace my brother, see you soon. GOD BLESS Sincerely, Charles Murawski C-Troop 1/4 CAV 67-68 trooper6768@yahoo.com

25 June 2006 Sergeant Killed in Vietnam A 20-year-old Army sergeant who planned to be a Philadelphia policeman when he returned from Vietnam, was killed September 6 by automatic weapons fire while on a combat operation, the Defense Department said Monday. The victim was Sgt. Edward W. Secrest, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Secrest Sr., of 1639 E. Eyre st., Kensington. "In his last letter he asked for a watch that glows in the dark," his father said. "We brought one and were going to send it today-then the telegram arrived. Now we'll send it to one of his buddies." Sgt. Secrest was a member of the 11th light infantry brigade, Americal Division. He enlisted in April, 1966, after attending Mercy Technical School. After spending 15 months in Hawaii, he was sent to Vietnam in December, 1967. In the letters, Sgt. Secrest said he would be home for Thanksgiving dinner and promised to take his mother Christmas shopping. The family talked with him through a radio-relayed phone call three weeks ago and his last words were, "Don't worry. I'll be home." His father, a veteran of the Second World War, is a machinist for Philadelphia Gear Corp. and Dienelt Eisenhardt Co. The Philadelphia Inquirer September 10, 1968 The photo and following article is taken from The Philadelphia Daily News, special supplement entitled 'SIX HUNDRED AND THIRTY,' October 26, 1987. Edward W. Secrest E. Eyre Street, Kensington The youngest of six sons, all of whom were military veterans, Secrest aspired to become a policeman when he got home from Vietnam. The 20-year-old Army sergeant had attended Mercy Technical School, where he studied carpentry, before enlisting in the Army. He was sent to Vietnam and became an assistant squad leader in Company E of the 4th, Battalion, 3rd Infantry. 11th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. Secrest had decided to forgo leave in Japan in the summer of 1968 so that he could end his tour of duty earlier and be home by Thanksgiving, but was killed in action on September 6, 1968, in Quang Ngai Province. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. The day his body returned to Philadelphia, Secrest's parents received a $500 check he had mailed before his death for them to use on a family vacation. Survivors included his parents, five brothers and four sisters. Secrest was one of at least 11 young men from the Fishtown-Kensington-Port Richmond neighborhoods to die or be missing in action in Vietnam. All are honored on the Cpl. Charles J. Glenn 3rd Memorial in Fishtown, dedicated in 1967 and one of the first memorials to Vietnam veterans in the U.S. From a native Philadelphian and Marine, Jim McIlhenney christianamacks@comcast.net

A Note from The Virtual Wall E Company, 4/3rd Infantry, lost eleven men in an engagement on 06 Sep 1968 about 5 kilometers west of Quang Ngai City. They were SGT James C. Holmes, Sabina, OH SGT Edward W. Secrest, Philadelphia, PA (Silver Star) CPL Marshall J. Brown, Hyampom, CA SP4 Terrance R. Hanson, Stewartville, MN SP4 Larry A. Jones, St Louis, MI, Medic HHC w/ E/4/3 CPL Floyd L. Still, Barnwell, SC PFC Barry R. Moree, Akron, OH PFC Hershel E. Morrow, Corinth, MS PFC Jerry G. Richard, Anniston, AL PFC Donnie R. White, Nashville, TN PFC Rayner E. Williams, Baltimore, MD Sergeant Edward W. Secrest is buried in Site 3979, Section J, of the Beverly National Cemetery, Beverly, New Jersey.

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 19 Jun 2006
Last updated 08/10/2009