James Edward Widener
Private First Class
3RD FORCE RECON CO, 3RD RECON BN, 3RD MARDIV, III MAF United States Marine Corps Churchville, New York November 12, 1948 to June 11, 1967 JAMES E WIDENER is on the Wall at Panel 21E, Line 93 |
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Jimmy was an all-around athlete, who competed in soccer, wrestling and track. Always had a big smile on his face and had a good sense of humor. On high school graduation night, June 25, 1966, he and some other guys were sitting in the front row on the stage, and on cue, they all crossed their legs. It was very funny. He dated Gloria, my next door neighbor.
From a high school classmate, |
I grew up with Jimmy, he was like a big brother to me. His Mom baby-sat for me while my mom worked. Jimmy was one of four brothers so to have a girl in the family, well, I guess I was teased by them all as anyone can imagine. They had a backyard in-ground pool, the only one in the country neighborhood that we grew up in, so our summers were spent at the Widener's pool. What fun!!! I have so many wonderful memories of growing up in their family and can still remember like it was yesterday when we heard that his helicopter had gone down and he was MIA. It was like losing a brother, because that was how I felt about the whole family, they were like my own. I was only 14 years old, but the memory of that day will always be with me, 34 years later.
Kathleen Westlake Moses |
Jimmy was my uncle. I never met him, or got to know him. All I knew about him was a photo that hung in my grandparent's home when I was young. I remember stories that my grandmother used to tell about him getting into a healthy amount of fun as a child, and what a great person he was. It's so sad to talk about him in the past tense. Even though I didn't know him, I miss the fact that I was denied him in my life. He is the reason that I support the troops when there is time of war, and the reason I pray for their return. I know the sadness my family has endure losing him, and I hope that everyone thinks of Jimmy fondly.
From a niece, |
Jimmy was my Uncle and I still to this very day remember him holding me when he left for the war. I was just a year and a half old. As he held me he pulled me close and whispered in my ear, "Take care of everyone while I'm gone." At first my family didn't believe that my memory could be that long until I described the type of furniture that was in the room to them. We all miss Jimmy in our own way. I still pray for him every night. God Bless you Jimmy and all the other soldiers on this Wall.
Dawn M. Pratt |
REMEMBEREDby a friend,Sallie L. Myers (Coyle) budtails@aol.com |
My mother, Kathleen, who posted above, called me this morning to say that they have identified Jimmy's remains, and that he is finally coming home. I've been hearing about Jimmy since I was a little girl, from my mother, and my Uncle, Robert Westlake. I'm glad he's finally coming home, so people can now have a chance to say goodbye to someone who was loved very much.
From |
"Portray sincerity I didn't know my Uncle, but I heard he was a good person. I'd imagine the quote out of the song "Downer" could pretty much sum up what his leaving for Vietnam was like, but then again I wouldn't know ... I'm only 15.
From a great-niece, |
Jim and I were High School buddies. We played sports together and were in the Boy Scouts together. We had some great times. I also am a Vietnam Veteran. Jim was truly a great person and I think about him often. I am grateful that Jim is finally home after all these years. God Bless America.
From a friend, |
Notes from The Virtual WallOn 11 June 1967 a reconnaissance team from the 3rd Force Recon Company was scheduled for insertion into position on the southern border of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) four kilometers north of Hill 208 and 900 meters west of Hill 174, both well known NVA positions.The insertion force consisted of two CH-46As from HMM-265 and two UH-1E gunships from VMO-2. The lead CH-46A (BuNo 150270) carried four crewmen and seven men of the recon team:
"transitioned to landing speed, in almost slow motion his nose rose, then rose more sharply, then climbed toward the vertical. Then the aircraft rolled inverted, split S, and dived down and exploded."Trimble's recollection is that there was no evident enemy action and that the likely cause was mechanical failure. The crash was not survivable. The enemy presence in the area prohibited recovery of the bodies at the time, and as of 19 Feb 2003 their remains have not been repatriated.
From the Notes The POW Network page contains the statement that"Machinegunmen had been waiting for the opportune time to fire on the aircraft. Portions of the rear blades were seen to separate from the aircraft and a radio transmission was received from the aircraft indicating that it had been hit."and the Task Force Omega page states that "Capt. Bohlscheid radioed that they had been hit by machinegun fire". No source is given for these statements, which contradict Trimble's recollection that there was no observed enemy fire or radio call stating that the aircraft had been hit. On 29/30 June 1967 Echo and Golf Companies, 2/9 Marines, were sent from Con Thien to search for the wreckage and recover the bodies. Echo 2/9 encountered a bunker complex and suffered four men killed while cleaning it out. A platoon from Golf 2/9 did reach the area where the crash was thought to have occurred but found nothing - the seach area was about 1-1/2 kilometers north of the actual crash site. The four dead from Echo 2/9 were
UPDATE As of 08 October 2006 DoD's PM/SEA Office has not released official notice that any of the men aboard CH-46A BuNo 150270 have been identified. However, the following news article appeared on 22 Sep 2006, apparently based on information released by the family:
UPDATE The Defense Department has announced that Pfc Widener's remains were repatriated on 05 Aug 2005 with identification made on 22 Aug 2006. No announcement has been made with respect to the other men on the helicopter. |
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