The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, SP4 Paul Elroy Helsel Jr., who died in the service of his country on February 27th, 1966 in Darlac Province, Vietnam. The cause of death was listed as Grenade Accident. At the time of his death Paul was 20 years of age. He was from Youngstown, Ohio. Paul is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Panel 05E, Line 83.

The decorations earned by SP4 Paul Elroy Helsel Jr. include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation.

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The following was received from Cacti Charles Sittig who retrieved it from a Youngstown, OH newspaper archive.
Paul Helsel was a member of A Co 1/35th and was KIA on Feb 27, 1966.


Rites Will Be Monday For Paul E. Helsel Jr.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday for Spec. 4 Paul E. Helsel Jr., son of Mr. And Mrs. Paul E. Helsel Sr. of 25 S. McKinley Ave., who was killed Feb. 27 in South Viet Nam when a hand grenade exploded.
Mr. Helsel was with the 1st Battalion of the 3rd Brigade, a unit of the 25th Infantry Division fighting near Ban Me Thout. He enlisted in the service in 1963 upon his graduation from Chaney High School. He was stationed in Hawaii before being transferred to South Viet Nam Dec. 31.
Spec. Helsel was born March 2, 1945, in Youngstown, a son of Paul and Mary Louise Obinger Helsel. He attended Washington Elementary School, West junior High School and Graduated from Chaney High.
Besides his parents he leaves two brothers, Airman 2.c. William at Tyndall AFB., Fla., and Thomas, 11, at home, and a sister, Janet, 6, at home.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the Lane Funeral Home, Austintown chapel.