Six Vietnam Heroes to Honor and Remember
Memorial Day, May 25, 2015
“A cemetery is a history of people – a perpetual record of yesterday and a sanctuary of peace and quiet
today. A cemetery exists because every life is worth loving and remembering – always.” — author
unknown
As part of its Memorial Day program this year, Lakewood is honoring and remembering six heroes who
served during the Vietnam War and are laid to rest here at Lakewood Cemetery. In this booklet, you
can read their names, see their faces, learn about them and read remembrances left for them by others
from the Wall of Faces website. (Photos and information are courtesy of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Fund.)
Use the map in the back of the program to locate their graves, or you can download Lakewood’s mobile
app (available via Google Play or Apple stores) to help you locate the graves.
About the Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was an armed conflict that pitted the communist regime of North Vietnam and its
southern allies, known as the Viet Cong, against South Vietnam and its principal ally, the United States.
The divisive war, increasingly unpopular at home, ended with the withdrawal of U.S. forces in 1973
and the unification of Vietnam under Communist control two years later. More than 3 million people,
including 58,000 Americans, were killed in the conflict.*
*Description provided by the History Channel: www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war
A) Fred Chris Kraemer
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Date of Birth: 11/18/1949
Date of Casualty: 8/26/1970
Home of Record: Hopkins, MN
Branch of Service: Army
Rank: SGT
Casualty Province: QUANG TIN
Honored on Panel 7W, Row 11 of
the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in
Washington, D.C.
him a few times since I grew up on Long Island and he in Minnesota.
I do remember spending about a week with Fred and his family in
Minnesota when I was in my early twenties. I remember Fred as one of
the most friendly and engaging young teenagers I have ever met. Fred
was very intelligent and I could feel that even as young teenager he would
be a successful adult. I was deeply saddened to learn on the day that I
was leaving for Japan from San Francisco to teach for two years for the
Overseas Dependents Schools that Fred had been killed. I remember
crying all the way to Japan on that long flight. Fred I still think about you
and love you. What a terrible loss of a fine young man who had so much
ahead of him.
See more posts: www.vvmf.org
Posts from VVFM’s Wall of Faces for Fred Kraemer
Posted on 1/8/15 - by Bob Ahles, St. Cloud, Minnesota & Herb Reckinger Jr.,
Cottage Grove, Minnesota
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your service to our country
and for the sacrifice of your precious life. It is a privilege to be able to
honor you for standing up for what was right and for the courage that you
demonstrated. I know that there are many who say that the loss of your
life was in vain and that the Vietnam War was a senseless war, but for this
American that is not true. What you did for the freedom of others was not
in vain but has always been and will always be an example of good and
honor today and for generations to come. You will never be forgotten by
me and I will honor your name and your sacrifice all my days.
Fred is laid to rest in Lakewood’s Memorial Mausoleum,
Room 103, Tier 0-1, Crypt F. See letter A on map in back of
this booklet.
Photo and information were reprinted with permission from the Vietnam
Memorial Fund website at www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/12709/DENNIS-EDEBNER. Photo was posted by Robert Ahles and Herb Reckinger Jr., received
from Mary Raabe and the Hopkins Historical Society.
Posted on 9/16/99 - by Lois Wood
My name is Lois Wood and Fred was my cousin. I currently live in
Denver, Colorado. Although I am 8 years older than Fred I only met
Vietnam War Commemeration
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B) Michael Allen Stroshane
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Date of Birth: 12/6/1948
Date of Casualty: 12/30/1967
Home of Record: Minneapolis, MN
Branch Of Service: Army
Rank: SP4
Casualty Province: BINH DUONG
Honored on Panel 33E, Row 1 of
the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in
Washington, D.C.
Posts from VVFM’s Wall of Faces for Michael Stroshane
Posted on 3/3/15 - by Richard & Siu Wai Stroshane
Michael, we’re your cousins from the Stroshanes out west. We never knew
you, but we grew up hearing your name and the story of your sacrifice
in Vietnam. As adults, we brought our children to the Wall and found
your name. We prayed for you and took a rubbing. Thank you for your
courage, bless you now in your rest. We will always remember you.
Posted on 10/19/13 - by Bob Ahles, Vietnam Vet, St. Cloud, Minnesota
Photo was taken from the historic book “THE FACES BEHIND THE
NAMES - The Vietnam War” with the permission of author Don Ward.
Thank you Mr. Ward.
You were one of the brave that answered the call. You honored us by your
service and sacrifice. We now honor you each time we stand and sing
the words “THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE
BRAVE”. Rest in peace and honor Mike.
Posted on 12/6/07 - by Donna M. Smith
I don’t know you, but I was looking in the Minneapolis Star Trib today
and saw your picture with a memorial from your family. It touched me as
I only recently put a memorial for my deceased boyfriend on this site. My
sincere sympathies to your family for their loss. May you rest in peace.
Posted on 1/26/03 - by jimmy
You were supposed to come back home, but instead you made everyone
sad. Everyone simply said nothing after that, because it was easier to just
forget about you and not be sad. To remember you is to have a very very
sad empty feeling. We do still speak about you on rare occasion, my sister
and brothers that is. Sometimes something will trigger me to remember
you again, and it is empty sadness again. We simply have our memory of
you in us forever, and we only remember the good times when you were
here. That way we aren’t so sad. This whole thing was never fair, and we
too got cheated back home without seeing you again and knowing that
you too got to lead a long life like we have done.
See more posts: www.vvmf.org
Michael is laid to rest in Section 60, Lot 9, Grave 2. See
letter B on map in back of this booklet.
Photo and information were reprinted with permission from the Vietnam
Veterans Memorial Fund website at www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/50340/
MICHAEL-A-STROSHANE. Photo was posted by Robert Ahles and Herb
Reckinger Jr., taken from the historic book “THE FACES BEHIND THE
NAMES - The Vietnam War” with the permission of author Don Ward.
Vietnam War Commemoration
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C) Dennis Erwin Debner
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Date of Birth: 9/16/1948
Date of Casualty: 1/2/1970
Home of Record: Minneapolis, MN
Branch of Service: Army
Rank: WO
Casualty Province: BAC LIEU
Honored on Panel 15W, Row 121 of
the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in
Washington, D.C.
Posts from VVFM’s Wall of Faces for Dennis Debner
Posted on 7/12/11 - by W. Killian
Crew Members included 1LT Robert E. Carmichael (KIA), WO 1 Dennis
E. Debner (KIA), LTC Roger W. Kvernes (KIA), and SFC Eddie L. Spivey
(KIA). Aircraft entered a gun run from approximately 1,000 feet. Wing
man stated the aircraft leveled off at 300 feet then flew into the ground
at high speed. The aircraft exploded, burned and was destroyed. The late
night test mission involved the UH1M accident aircraft plus a UH1H
and AH1G aircraft from the 235th AWC based at Can Tho. My Cobra
(call sign Satan 12) provided weapons support while the UH1H was
flown by our unit maintenance officer. The test flight was conducted over
the U Minh forest in the southernmost portion of South Vietnam. I was
not briefed on any details concerning the test, just that the aircraft had
the ability to fly low level at night. I don’t recall the weather being a factor
for the mission. The AH1G was flying a wide orbit at 2500’ while the
UH1H was orbiting at a lower altitude and in radio contact with the test
aircraft. The infant ship was at low level and blacked out. While orbiting
I observed a splash of light from the surface and saw flames burning. After
a short while the UH1H announced that the UH1M had crashed. We
provided gunship support while the Huey descended to observe the crash
site using his lights. He observed the wreckage and determined that it
appeared to be completely destroyed. We did our best to determine our
exact location and eventually returned to base. (Submitted by George
Caldwell) [Taken from vhpa.org]
Posted on 5/22/09 - by Sarah Drusch--Howard Lake Waverly Winsted High
School
I did not know Dennis but we are learning about the Vietnam War in our
social class and I would really just like to tell him and his family thank
you so much for fighting for our freedom and even though when he got
back from war not many people were nice to him and treated him badly
and probably never even said thank you I really do appreciate what he did
for me. So i am sorry for your loss and the two words that he probably
never heard from many people are the ones that I repeat a lot in this
message but mean so much to me are THANK YOU!!!!!!!!
See more posts: www.vvmf.org
Dennis is laid to rest in Section 60, Lot 514, Grave 1. See
letter C on map in back of this booklet.
Photo and information were reprinted with permission from the Vietnam
Veterans Memorial Fund website at www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/12709/
DENNIS-E-DEBNER. Photo was posted by Robert Ahles and Herb
Reckinger Jr., taken from the historic book “THE FACES BEHIND THE
NAMES - The Vietnam War” with the permission of author Don Ward.
Vietnam War Commemoration
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D) John Forman Lobsinger
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Date of Birth: 4/18/1949
Date of Casualty: 1/23/1968
Home of Record: St. Louis Park, MN
Branch Of Service: Army
Rank: SP4
Casualty Province: KONTUM
Honored on Panel 35E, Row 16 of
the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in
Washington, D.C.
Posts from VVFM’s Wall of Faces for John Lobsinger
Posted on 1/8/15 - by Bob Ahles, St. Cloud, Minnesota & Herb Reckinger Jr.,
Cottage Grove, Minnesota
This 1967 photo of John was provided by his good friend and classmate
Terry Kirberger from St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Terry last saw John at
John’s mother’s funeral and three months later Terry was attending John’s
funeral. Thank you Terry for providing the picture for John’s memorial.
John, it is with great humility, pride and honor that Terry, Herb and I post
this remembrance for you and upload your photo so that your memory
and the sacrifice you made for your country will never be forgotten and
to ensure your photo will be displayed on your birthday each and every
year when the Education Center is completed. You are not forgotten and
remain in the hearts of many after all these years. Thank you John for
being who you were and for all you did. We live in freedom to this day
thanks to heroes like you that answered the call to duty.
Posted on 11/24/13 - by Curt Carter
Dear SP4 John Forman Lobsinger, sir, As an American, I would like to
thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our
wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of
heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can
never be questioned.
May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake
your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also
allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you;
for America, and for those who love you. With respect, and the best salute
a civilian can muster for you, Sir
Posted on 1/15/07 - by Jack Benitez
I heard of you from my brother John. You were both Medics. C Co
3/12th 4th Inf. He talked about you and took your loss pretty hard. He
said that you were a good medic and he was proud of you. Thank you for
your service, may you rest in peace.
See more posts: www.vvmf.org
John is laid to rest in Section 24, Lot 5C, Grave 4. See letter
D on map in back of this booklet.
Photo and information were reprinted with permission from the Vietnam
Veterans Memorial Fund website at www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/30959/
JOHN-F-LOBSINGER. Photo was posted by Robert Ahles and Herb
Reckinger Jr.
You were one of the brave that answered the call. You honored us by your
service and sacrifice. We now honor you each time we stand and sing
the words “THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE
BRAVE”. Rest in Peace and Honor John.
Vietnam War Commemoration
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E) Robert Fredrick Gartner
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Date of Birth: 12/16/1950
Date of Casualty: 8/27/1971
Home of Record: Eden Prairie, MN
Branch of Service: Army
Rank: SP4
Casualty Province: QUANG TIN
Honored on Panel 2W, Row 3 of
the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in
Washington, D.C.
Posts from VVFM’s Wall of Faces for Robert Gartner
Posted on 12/8/14 - by Bob Ahles, St. Cloud, Minnesota & Herb Reckinger
Jr., Cottage Grove, Minnesota
Bob, it is with great humility, pride and honor that Herb and I post this
remembrance for you and upload your photo so that your memory and
the sacrifice you made for your country will never be forgotten and to
ensure your photo will be displayed on your birthday each and every
year when the Education Center is completed. You are not forgotten and
remain in the hearts of many after all these years. Thank you Bob for
being who you were and for all you did. We live in freedom to this day
thanks to heroes like you that answered the call to duty.
Posted on 11/14/02 - by Timothy R. Jorgensen
Robert was killed on 8-27-71. His squad was on a night ambush near
Chu Lai with C 1/6th 198th LIB. I do not know the particulars as I was
not with his squad. I remember the memorial service as it was very sad for
all of us. He was a credit to our unit and his parents should be proud of
him.
See more posts: www.vvmf.org
Robert’s cremated remains were scattered in Jo Pond. See
letter E on map in back of this booklet.
Photo and information were reprinted with permission from the Vietnam
Veterans Memorial Fund website at www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/18011/
ROBERT-F-GARTNER. Photos were posted by Robert Ahles and Herb
Reckinger Jr., taken from the historic book “THE FACES BEHIND THE
NAMES - The Vietnam War” with the permission of author Don Ward. On
the site, acknowledgement and a thank you were given to Mr. Ward and Bob’s
brother, Lee Gartner.
Vietnam War Commemoration
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F) Charles Wilson Boggs
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Date of Birth: 1/1/1943
Date of Casualty: 10/26/1966
Home of Record: Minneapolis, MN
Branch of Service: Navy
Rank: ENS
Casualty Province: NZ
Honored on Panel 11E, Row 107 of
the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in
Washington, D.C.
Posts from VVFM’s Wall of Faces for Charles Boggs
Posted on 10/26/09 - by 60’s Girl
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your service to our country
and for the sacrifice of your precious life. It is a privilege to be able to
honor you for standing up for what was right and for the courage that you
demonstrated. I know that there are many who say that the loss of your
life was in vain and that the Vietnam War was a senseless war, but for this
American that is not true. What you did for the freedom of others was not
in vain but has always been and will always be an example of good and
honor today and for generations to come. You will never be forgotten by
me and I will honor your name and your sacrifice all my days.
Posted on 12/28/01 - by Jacqueline P. Boggs Poe
On one frosty winter morning, Jan 01, 1943 a new day-New Year- and a
new life was born. His name Charles Wilson Boggs Charles was happy,
loving and considerate. He was interested in everything. At age 3 yrs.
he took an interest in the piano and was a fast learner. Over the years
he became an accomplished pianist. Charles went on to finish college,
married and joined the Navy. He became an ensign and was assigned to
the Air Craft Carrier Oriskany and was shipped out to the Gulf of Tonkin
in the North Viet Nam region. Here he lost his life one early morning to a
terrible accident on board the ship.
Charles was but 24 years old when his life came to an end. He had
so much more to contribute to the lives of others. He will always be
remembered and missed by all that knew him.
Remembered with love “Sissy” Sister Jacqueline
See more posts: www.vvmf.org
Charles is laid to rest in Section 37, Lot 166, Grave 1. See
letter F on map in back of this booklet.
Photo and information were reprinted with permission from the Vietnam
Veterans Memorial Fund website at: www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/4569/
CHARLES-W-BOGGS. Photo was posted by Jacqueline P. Boggs Poe.
In honor of your Angel Day I leave this poem for you:
“Some people come into our lives and quickly go.
Some stay for a while and leave footprints on our hearts.
And we are never, ever the same.” ~ Unknown
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Lakewood Cemetery
3600 Hennepin Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55408 • 612-822-2171 • www.lakewoodcemetery.com
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About this information
Information for this booklet has been reprinted with permission from Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. The
organization that built The Wall, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is dedicated to honoring, remembering and
sharing the legacies of all those who died in the Vietnam War. Visit www.vvmf.org for more information.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial: The Wall
Erected in 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial stands as a symbol of America’s honor and recognition of the men
and women who served and sacrificed their lives in the Vietnam War. Inscribed on the black granite walls are the names
of more than 58,307 men and women who gave their lives or remain missing. Yet the Memorial itself is dedicated to
honor the “courage, sacrifice and devotion to duty and country” of all who answered the call to serve during the longest
war in U.S. history.
Vietnam War Memorial Resources
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The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration: www.vietnamwar50th.com
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund: www.vvmf.org
Vietnam Women’s Memorial Foundation: www.vietnamwomensmemorial.org
Minnesota Vietnam Veterans Memorial: www.mvvm.org
National League of POW/MIA Families: www.pow-miafamilies.org
Vietnam Veterans of America: www.vva.org