Page 29 - Valley Life & Health

THE MORNING CALL SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2019 29

Michael W. Embrey
Sergeant, U.S.M.C.
Decorated Veteran
Vietnam 1966-1972

Mike graduated from Easton Area High School in June 1966. He held the Center
position on EAHS football team. Following graduation, he entered the Marine
Corps, served two tours in Danang and two years in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.
While stationed in Danang, he befriended a little Vietnamese orphan girl
named “Pimpa.” She pretended he was a water buffalo and he would carry
her up on his shoulders. When she saw Mike, she would call out, “Sergeant E,
Sergeant E, Bucbau!”, which was the Vietnamese word for water buffalo.
Several decades later, Mike and his brother-in-law and a friend from Arizona
traveled to N.Y.C. to see the sights and the Statue of Liberty. Mike waited outside
while they toured the Statue. While waiting for his friends, he saw a young couple
approaching—a short woman and a very tall man. As they drew nearer to Mike,
the woman became excited, pointed to Mike and called out, “Sergeant E,
“Sergeant E, Bucbau!” As it turned out, the woman was Pimpa. She had grown
up and married a missionary, after which they moved to the United States.
Anonymous

Lt. Col. Paul M. Reagan
U.S. Army Air Corps
WW ll, Vietnam

Paul Reagan grew up on his father’s farm in Plainfield Township and graduated
from Nazareth High School in 1943. He was called to active duty in the U.S.
Army Air Corps. In WWll he was a B-17 Pilot in the 15th Air Force. His unit
was located at Amendola, Italy, where he flew 17 missions over Nazi territory.
He mustered out of the Army in 1945 but was called back to active duty
with the USAF in 1953 and was assigned to The Strategic Air Command. He
was a pilot for numerous aircraft including the B-47E and the KC-97G. He
was also an Atlas Missile Silo Commander. When the Vietnam War began,
he transitioned to flying the Sikorsky HH-3E helicopter and served with the
“Jolly Green Giants” Squadron, a famous Air Rescue group for downed pilots.
During one of the missions he was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry. He
retired in 1970 and died in 2014 at the age of 90. He was laid to rest with
Military Honors in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Major military awards: Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal
(7 times), Air Force Commendation.
Michael Reagan

Thomas Henry Kane
United States Coast Guard
World War ll

Thomas Henry Kane served in the Black Watch Regiment of the 48th
Highlanders in the Canadian Army during World War 2 and fought in Sicily.
He was the son of Joseph Kane and Henrietta McLees. He also had an older
brother, Joseph, who served in the United States Coast Guard during
World War ll.
Shortly after the war, he married Evelyn Whaites in 1953 and eventually
they settled in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania and raised four children. He worked
for Louis H. Hein Company in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania and became
part owner and Vice President of the company up until the company was sold.
Soon after he passed away in March of 1976.
Many of his interests included gardening, reading poetry and Early
American History, and traveling.
Anonymous