Politics & Government

Vietnam Memorial Seeks Greenbelt and Lanham Soldiers' Photographs

Two soldiers from Greenbelt, MD, and two from Lanham, MD, are listed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Now organizers seek to put faces to names.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) is on a mission to collect photos for every person whose name is listed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The memorial, also called The Wall, is dedicated to those who died in the Vietnam War.

The names of two soldiers from Greenbelt, MD, and two from Lanham, MD, are inscribed on Vietnam Veterans Memorial (their information is listed below). In all, The Wall contains the names of 58,272 who fell or went missing during the war. Around 1,200 of them are listed as missing — MIAs, POWs and others.

Photographs will be displayed in an exhibit at the future Education Center at The Wall, an underground visitors center to be built near the Vietnam Veterans and the Lincoln memorials.

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VVMF has profile photographs for three of the four men from Greenbelt and Lanham, but not all of them are high quality. Some of the pictures the VVMF receives are merely thumbnails from a newspaper, according to Lee Allen, VVMF director of communications.

If you have photographs, please submit them. Please feel free to share your photos with our Patch readers as well. 

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Greenbelt and Lanham Soldiers on The Wall

Selecting their names will take you to their profiles. At the bottom of each profile is a place to leave remembrances.

RICHARD AARON SKINNER
Home of Record: Greenbelt, MD; Born: 11/23/1945; Date of Casualty: 8/10/1966; Branch: Marine Corps; Rank: Private

Remembrance posted by John Barber: "you will always be remembered by the marines that served with you . fisher and i were talking about you last week. we still remenber those card games old friend. i have really tried to find some of your family to tell them about you but no one answered the ad i put in the paper, do not worry old friend i will find them. say hello to donathan for me. semper fi

Well Richard last week I got a call from your sister..after all these years, I can not tell you how good it was to hear from someone in your family, I told her what a fine Marine you were and also a good friend to me. You won't believe this but we lived at one time within 40 miles of each other for 3 years and didn't know it...she found this message I left on this sight. Still think about you buddy and so do the rest of the guys, saw Moreland just a few weeks ago and he mentioned your name...so you are always in are thoughts. Until another time.

WILLIAM LEWIS KIEFFER, JR.
Home of Record: Greenbelt, MD; Born: 8/19/1924; Died: 2/11/1970; Branch: Air Force; Rank: Lieutenant Colonel

Remembrance posted by Linda Lovell: When I was a child, my family lived next door to William Kieffer and his family in San Antonio, Texas. Bill Kieffer was my favorite adult. He always had time for me and his own daughter, and he often took us places. I still think of him fondly, even though I am now much older at 52 years and it's been years since he was lost in Vietnam. He was a kind and good-humored man and the world is less for the loss of him.

FRANK MELVIN DUNSMORE, JR.
Home of Record: Lanham, MD; Born: 9/14/1948; Died: 1/2/1970; Branch: Army; Rank: Specialist

Remembrance posted by Dunsmore's sister, Joyce: Frankie was my brother. My memories of Frankie are so incredible and wonderful. I miss him terribly to this day!! Frankie has three sisters other than myself who adored him. Our father has suffered so much with the loss of his only son. Frankie lives on with each of us every day. If you knew my brother, please leave a remembrance. Thank you!

JAMES FRANCIS SMALLWOOD (NO PHOTOGRAPH)
Home of Record: Lanham, MD; Born: 11/29/1942; Date of Casualty: 5/4/1966; Branch: Marine Corps; Rank: Lance Corporal

No remembrances from individuals who knew Smallwood appear to be listed in his profile. If you knew Smallwood, feel free to keep his memory alive by sharing your remembrances.

The Education Center is not receiving government funds, Allen said. Those wishing to make contributions may donate online or contact the VVMF at (202) 393-0090.


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