(family pics via virtualwall.org)
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Soon after Willing left the gate, friends heard shots in the vicinity and a perimeter guard saw a man in black pajamas running toward a tree line with a rifle. A group of children were dragging something that possibly was a body. During the next several days searches were made of the area. Villagers were questioned and a reward was offered, but no information was ever obtained. Willing had been in Vietnam nine months, having first been assigned to an artillery company as a radio operator shortly after his arrival. He had been in the Marine Corps since November 1966.
**
That afternoon LCpl. Willing departed the Tu Cau Bridge compound to pick up mail for his team. At roughly 1600 hours, he checked in with Headquarters and Supply Company for the mail, then joined friends for evening chow at the 3rd Battalion, 27th Marines mess hall.
After dinner he commented to his friends that he needed to get back to the bridge because he had guard duty that evening. He left the mess hall, put away his mess gear, said goodbye to his friends and began the short trip back to the bridge.
When last seen, Edward Willing was wearing a green T-shirt, cartridge belt, and helmet. He was also carrying his M-16 rifle. LCpl. Willing never made it to the Tu Cau Bridge. The next morning several Marine patrols searched the area, however, no trace of Edward or his equipment could be found. Battery D, 2nd Battalion, 13th Marines, 1st Marine Division *Click link for case
synopsis:GSGT. Edward A.Willinghttp://www.taskforceomegainc.org/w036.htmlLong time supporter
and bracelet wearer, Patricia Mielke, would like to hear from the Willing Family
and anyone who knew Edward. She can be reached via email at:
RacinYank@aol.com
HQ Battery 2-13 sent a search squad to look for LCpl Willing in early August. He was seen being taken prisoner wounded, from a tower two miles away, while walking back to base along the road
Willing transferred as a replacement from Lima 4-11 on 5/16/68, when eleven members of Delta 2-13 were killed or captured at Ngok Tavak 5/10/68. The eleven are still MIAWe are looking for the Delta 2-13 Corpsman. We have reason to believe that Willing saw the Corpsman on the day he was captured.
We have hope he will be found. Hero, Son, Brother, Marine Lance Corporal Edward Arlo Willing, 2533 Radioman for a Artillery Forward Observation team.
Semper Fi, Mac
6 comments:
May your brother be at rest, somewhere, good Lord somewhere, Nancy. How deep your pain must be; words just don't cut it.
I will always remember, rest assured.
Thanks Shirley.
The pain is unbearable as was watching my parents go through blaming themselves for him going into the Marine Corps.
When Ed began to get caught in minor delinquencies, he attempted suicide out of the guilt from shaming the family. State psychiatrists told my dad that he was too involved in activities outside the family and that his eight kids needed more of his attention.
My dad was a manager at Chambers Works for DuPont but also had dipped in politics. He was appointed to the Levy Court (county government of the fifties). He didn't like being a politician after one term at county governing showed him the horrible corruption that went with land use policy making.
Dad went on to lead the County Parks Commission for over a decade, developing the county park system and negotiating the county purchase of Canby, Banning and Iron Hill parks. He quit the commission once Eddie started getting into trouble and he ultimately blamed himself for Eddie's disappearance. We had to wait 5 years to see if he would appear on the lists of POW posted after Nixon took us out.
Nancy, i too shall never forget the sacrifices that our brave heros made. i pray your brother is out there somewhere at rest the people of the usa had no clue how much people like your brother and your family gave and gave and gave, i too had a family member in vietnam, while he came home wounded forever changed we were very fortunet he came home, so i pray all the time for the brave heros who were captured and those who simply are listed as mia, how i wish that all of our troops could have come home, and i still to this day have my bracelet,its in the safe deposit bo x as one of my most valuable things. i unlike so many who opposed the war never blamed our men and women who served just as today they do, thru the trials and tribulations of your brothers dissapearrance i pray your family has had peace. i hope that your mom is with him now and some day they will find his earthly remains and bring them back to the us and let him rest in peace forever more. god bless you dear, vicki
I am not old enough to have any memories of vietnam, but I am old enough to appreciate the ultimate sacrifice that was made. Vietnam veterans, POW MIA's(your brother), are not forgotten by this generation. We share in your prayers and awareness of the loved ones who arent yet home!
I WASNT THERE BUT,
I STILL CARE.
J. Morrow
Nancy - I did not know your brother Eddie, but I have a bracelet with his name on it. I too am from Delaware and noticed when your mother passed away - my belated sympathies to you and your family - but truly my first thought when I read her obituary is that at least now she'll know what happened to her son.
Nancy-
Today is Ed's Birthday. He is remembered by a 'stranger' not only on his Birthday, but every day.
I remain to keep the faith.
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