Page 19 - Valley Life & Health

THE MORNING CALL SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2019 19

CPL Edward Corcoran, USMC
Corporal in the U.S. Marines, Vietnam War
Died October 17, 1968

ENGAGED BY FRIENDLY AMBUSH 5 KM NORTH OF BINH SON
In country 7 months.
On the way to their night ambush position near the hamlet of My Hue in Binh Son
District, the patrol lead by Cpl Corcoran deviated from their assigned route and had
entered into the hamlet of Ben Yen Noi. CAC (Combined Action Company) LIMA-1
from Ft Page, as a part of their routine night deployment, had an ambush set up on a trail.
The CAP (Combined Action Platoon) unit mistook the Marines who strayed into their
ambush for the enemy and opened fire at the shadowy figures. Cpl Corcoran, who was in
the lead, was hit and died instantly. Shouts from his men alerted the CAP members and
they ceased fire immediately.
On October 17, 1968, Cpl Corcoran was killed in action as a result of gunshot wounds
sustained from friendly fire.
Anonymous

Dr. Lloyd Eslinger
Corporal in the U.S. Army, WWII
Easton, PA

My father, Dr. Lloyd Eslinger, joined the Marines after studying pre-med for 3 years at
Muhlenberg College. After completing boot camp at Camp Lejune he was sent to serve
in the Pacific theatre, and was among thousands of other American Army and Marine
soldiers who fought the battle of Okinawa on April 1st, 1945. He was only 20 years old.
Dad was wounded in the gun battle with a bullet through his shoulder, and luckily was
removed from the front line. Unfortunately 14,000 other brave American soldiers lost
their lives to win that battle and ultimately caused the Japanese surrender to end the war.
My father healed from his wound, and returned home to the Lehigh Valley. Thanks
to the GI Bill, he was able to attend Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, and
become an Osteopathic physician, his lifelong dream. For many years he treated and
cared for hundreds of patients in his small town family practice in Northampton, PA.
He and my mother, Doris, raised 6 children.
As a young child, I never realized the sacrifices he and his family made as he served
his country to preserve our freedoms. As I got older, I’d ask him questions about that
time in his life, and he told me he saw and experienced horrible things that he didn’t
want to talk about.
At dad’s funeral in 2015, we had a Marine honor guard salute, which was very
moving. After the young Marine handed my mother the perfectly folded American
flag, she told him one of dad’s proudest accomplishments was being a Marine.
Donna Harris

The 35 Lost Soldiers
Vietnam War
Bethlehem, PA
My “hero” is the group of 35 brave young men the City of Bethlehem lost in the Vietnam
war. Some were drafted, some enlisted, but they all went when their country called and
made the ultimate sacrifice. They belonged not only to their families, but also to our city
and each one of us. They were our classmates, teammates, neighbors, and friends. They
were denied the opportunity to earn a living, marry, hold their babies, or own a home –
everything we take for granted. As this Memorial Day approaches, we should all remember
and honor the service and sacrifice of all those who died defending our freedom, and live a
life that they would be proud of. We owe them that. Never forgotten, forever missed.
Beth Melloy Masiado
Proud sister of U.S. Marine, Vietnam 66-67