The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, PFC William Edward Lund, who died in the service of his country on March 21st, 1967 in Kontum Province, Vietnam. The cause of death was listed as Small Arms/AW. At the time of his death William was 20 years of age. He was from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. William is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Panel 17E, Line 7.
The decorations earned by PFC William Edward Lund include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star with V, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation.
William Edward Lund was a member of HHC 3rd Bde LRRP for two months prior to his demise.
(A Childhood Memory)
WE GREW UP NEXT DOOR TO EACH OTHER IN NORTH PHILADELPHIA. HE LOVED HERSHEYS KISSES, HE WOULD CALL THEM "TINNIES", BECAUSE OF THE COLOR. WE HAD A LOT OF KIDS OUR AGE IN THE NEIGBORHOOD AND A GREAT MILITARY SURPLUS STORE AROUND THE CORNER, SO PLAYING ARMY WAS A COMMON GAME. SINCE IT WAS ONLY A SHORT PERIOD SINCE THE KOREAN WAR, THERE WERE PLENTY OF AMMO BELTS, HELMET LINERS, LEGGINGS, AND ALL SORTS OF GEAR CHEAP; SO THE WHOLE GROUP, PROBABLY ABOUT 20 KIDS, PLAYED ARMY AT THE RAILROAD EMBANKMENT AND ON THE TRACKS. LOOKING BACK, IT IS A WONDER THAT NOBODY WAS KILLED. BILL ALWAYS WAS THE AMBUSH GUY, BECAUSE OF HIS SIZE, HE COULD HIDE IN THE TALL WEEDS AND NOBODY COULD SEE HIM, THEN HE WOULD POP-UP, MAKE THAT STRANGE LAUGH OF HIS AND SCARE HELL OUT OF EVERYBODY, AND THEN ASK IF ANYBODY HAD ANY CANDY.
THE GOOD OLD DAYS, WHO COULD FORSEE THE FUTURE? HONESTLY, I THINK OF HIM EVERY DAY. HE WAS MY BEST FRIEND. I HAVE BEEN TO THE WALL MANY TIMES, NEVER FAIL TO SAY HELLO. I WAS AIR FORCE, ENGINE MECH. ON F-4 PHANTOMS. DID A TRIP TO THE PI IN 67 AND TO THAILAND, IN TIME FOR TET IN 68. THANKS FOR LISTENING, IT HELPS MY HEART. IF ANY OF YOUR GUYS HAVE A PHOTO OF HIM, OTHER THAN HIS HIGH SCHOOL SHOT, AND WOULDN'T MIND SHARING IT, I WOULD BE ETERNALLY GRATEFULL.
George Hecht georgeh@depcopump.com
William E Lund
W. Allegheny Avenue, West Kensington
"Billy" Lund and five of his closest friends went to Vietnam. Only Lund did not come back. He was best remembered as a shrewd card player by one friend who recalled Lund teaching him to play hearts: "He always shot us that sly, smirky grin when he was about to slap us with that damn queen." The 1964 graduate of Cardinal Dougherty High School entered the Army in February 1966 and was sent to Vietnam in August of that year.
(Obituary courtesy of the Philadelphia Daily News)
Buried in the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery/ Cheltenham Ave./ Philadelphia.
(His BSV Citation)
General Orders 844, Award of The Bronze Star Medal for Heroism, 4th Division, 7 May 1967
For heroism in connection with military operations against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Private First Class Lund distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 21 March 1967, while serving as a rifleman in the 3rd Platoon of C, 2/35th Infantry which was on a search and destroy operation in Kontum Province. When his unit became engaged with a numerically superior NVA force, Private First Class Lund refused to take cover and began to deliver a heavy volume of accurate fire on the enemy positions. It was during this daring act of bravery that Private First Class Lund was mortally wounded. Private First Class Lunds gallant actions and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
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