The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, 2LT Ronald James Siengo, who died in the service of his country on December 25th, 1967 in Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam. The cause of death was listed as Short 4.2 Mortar Round. At the time of his death Ronald was 21 years of age. He was from Cornwell Heights, Pennsylvania. Ronald is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Panel 32E, Line 60.
The decorations earned by 2LT Ronald James Siengo include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, 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.
(From The Philadelphia Inquirer on January 4, 1968.)
Second Lt. Ronald J. Siengo, 21, of 4437 Yates Rd., Cornwells Heights, was killed Christmas Day when hit by friendly mortar fire.
FRIENDS 10 YEARS
Lt. Siengo had been planning to marry Carol Welter, 19, of Holland Rd., Newtown, upon completion of his Army service November 15. His brother, 2d Lt. David Siengo, said Ronald and Miss Welter had known each other for more than 10 years.
Ronald was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley J. Siengo.
A 1965 graduate of Bensalem High School, Lt. Siengo had been active in sports, particularly football. He was an avid hunter and fisherman who, while on leave last October won a trophy for killing the largest deer with bow and arrow in Bucks County. The trophy was to have been awared Sunday.
ENLISTED IN ARMY
After high school, Lt. Siengo enlisted in the Army and served at various military installations.
While in the service he attended the University of West Virginia for a year. He was admitted to Officers Candidate School, which he attended at Fort Benning, Ga., with his brother. He graduated on April 4, 1967.
Lt. Siengo arrived in Vietnam on December 1. He was orginally assigned to the 9th Infantry Division and then transferred to the 4th Infantry Division as a rifle platoon leader.
HARDSHIP DEPICTED
On a tape he recorded for his parents amid the crashes of a mortar attack, he told his family of the hardships incurred by the Vietnamese people and how they were underclothed and underfed.
His brother recalled the recording: "He said he had a job to do and was doing it the best he knew how."
Besides his brother and parents, he leaves his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs, Vincent Zober, of Bristol (PA).
Buried in Beverly National Cemetery in Beverly, NJ. Beverly, NJ is located about 20 miles south of Trenton and 5 miles west of Willingboro on the Delaware River. The cemetery is located in the SE part of Beverly. Willingboro exit 45 off of I-295 will take you straight to the cemetery. Ronald is buried in Section L Plot 1800 (His Father Stanley is also buried in the same plat). Plot numbers are engraved on the back of each marker. Section numbers are indicated by small roadside concrete markers. (visited by Jim Hall in Nov 2003)
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