Editor’s Note: This is the third story in a series of nine honoring the 32 casualties and one Missing-in-Action veteran from Grundy, Hardin, Marshall and Tama counties during the Vietnam War, Nov. 1, 1955 to April 30, 1975. The conflict raged in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Nearly three-million service men and women served. The war claimed the lives of 58,220 American and an estimated 250,000 South Vietnamese troops. As a tribute, the Times-Republican is listing at a minimum — the rank, full name, branch of service, hometown, and, if available, date of birth, death, age and burial location of the 32 veterans. The information was obtained courtesy of the Central Iowa Vietnam Veterans Involvement Committee archives, findagrave.com, the Iowa Vietnam War Memorial Directory of Names, Kennan Seda, historian of the Sons of the American Legion of Tama County and the Marshall County Historical Society. Additional information was submitted by family and friends. The second installment – published May 1 — featured two fallen veterans from Grundy County and four from Hardin County. Today’s installment features six fallen veterans and one MIA from Marshall County.

Marshall County

Sgt. Darrell Eugene Bittner – June 28, 1943 – May 5, 1969 – Army – age 25 – Marshalltown

Burial: Albion Cemetery

SP4 Jack Larrell Collins – Sept. 9, 1944 – Jan. 20, 1967 – Army – age 22 – Melbourne

Burial: Clinton Lawn Cemetery, Clinton

Maj. Bradley Gene Cuthbert – Nov. 23, 1940 – Missing in Action – USAF – Marshalltown

Cuthbert was on a photo reconnaissance mission when he and his co-pilot were shot down over North Vietnam on Nov. 23, 1968. Cuthbert parachuted down but contact was lost. His co-pilot was captured and kept prisoner until the war’s end. Remains believed to be from Cuthbert’s body were recovered Aug. 4, 1993. Later the USAF later listed him as a casualty. However, his family maintains that he is MIA. A separate story on Cuthbert will be published May 9-10.

PFC Harvey Woodford Gilbert – Army – Marshalltown

Jan. 29, 1945 to Aug. 13, 1966 – 21 years

Buried at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens and Park, Marshalltown

L/CPL Darwin Lee Judge – USMC – Marshalltown

Feb. 16, 1956 – April 29, 1975 -age 19

Burial at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens and Park, Marshalltown

Judge and Cpl. Charles McMahon of Woburn, Mass. were the last two American ground casualties in Vietnam. As a youth Judge delivered the T-R newspaper and worked at Clifton’s Supermarket. He was active in his church and the Boy Scouts of America, where he earned the coveted rank of Eagle Scout. He graduated from Marshalltown High School (MHS) in 1974, where his portrait is prominently displayed.

“He debated joining either the U.S. Army Rangers or the Marines,” said his sister Lori De Saulniers of Marshalltown. “He wanted a challenge and to do his part … we are a military family. His father was an aircraft tail-gunner in World War II. Darwin’s brother was a military pilot. Darwin was number one in his class in Marine boot camp. After finishing embassy guard training, he was deployed to Vietnam.”

More details on Judge were printed in the April 30 edition of the T-R as part of its coverage of Iowa Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day/Honoring the 50th anniversary of Judge’s Ultimate Sacrifice. The event was held at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown.

WO Robert Douglas King – Army – Marshalltown

April 22, 1928 to Dec. 4, 1967 – 39 years

Buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, Calif.

Cpt. William Russell McKibben – Army — Marshalltown

Jan. 19, 1944 to April 25, 1970 – 26 years

Buried at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens and Park, Marshalltown