2nd Lt. Heinz Ahlmeyer, Jr.
Position
on The Wall, Washington, D.C.
Panel:
19 East Row 77 May 10, 1967 Quang Tri Providence
2nd
Lt. Heinz Ahlmeyer, Jr. United States Marine Corps, DOB 2/6/44. DOD 5/10/67
Heinz was assigned to H&S Co. 3rd Recon BN, 3rd Marine Division, Khe Sanh, South Vietnam.
Heinz was raised in Pearl River, N.Y. and
attended Pearl River High School where he played football, basketball, and
baseball. He was an excellent athlete who will always be remembered for
his hard work, determination and huge smile on his face. Heinz was also a
member of the Boys Leader Club in high school where he demonstrated his superior
leadership qualities.
Heinz graduated from high school on June
26, 1961, a year ahead of time. He
wanted to join the Marine Corps with his brother Bill but was told that college
was in his future; So Heinz went to college and received a bachelor’s degree
from the New York State University at New Paltz.
Once he graduated from college, Heinz proceeded to fulfill his dream of
joining the Marine Corps. He
attended OCS and graduated as a 2nd Lt.
Shortly after arriving in Vietnam, Heinz
was leading a reconnaissance patrol, whose mission was to gather intelligence
information on the enemy infiltration routes near their base.
The patrol was helicopter lifted into an area just south of the DMZ,
where they found signs of recent enemy activity, and moved to high ground to
establish a night defensive position. Shortly
after midnight the patrol came under heavy small arms fire and several of the
patrol were wounded. After twelve
hours and numerous attempts all team members were helicopter lifted out except
Heinz and three of his men, who are listed as KIA/BNR (Killed in Action / Body
Not Recovered).
The four men left behind near the DMA were
never found. The government of
Vietnam has been consistently uncooperative in releasing remains they hold or in
allowing access to known sites. Heinz’s
loss site and coordinates: Khe Sanh, South Vietnam – 163706N, 1064404E
(XD845485).
The date was May 10, 1967:
the day a promising young life was sacrificed for the freedoms we now
enjoy. The cost of Heinz’s life
and others like his is a debt we can never repay.
The best we can do is to NEVER FORGET.
During the first week of 2005, Heinz’s only
living sibling, Irene, was notified that her brother’s remains have been
located, returned to the United States and positively identified using DNA
technology.
It is not only imperative, but it is the
responsibility of all of us, to make sure that the POW-MIA campaign is never
abandoned. We never stop searching
for those who gave everything.
Almost 38 years after Heinz was killed, he
has finally come home. He will be
buried with Honors, this spring in the Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia.
Rest in Peace, Dear Friend, Lord knows you
have earned it
UPDATE
