By Craig Groshart

Bellevue Reporter

Six years ago, Janna Hoehn and her husband made their first trip to Washington, D.C. When they set out to see memorials, the Vietnam Veterans Wall was first on her list.

“The Vietnam war was going on while I was in high school,” Hoehn said. “Even though I never knew anyone killed in Vietnam, I wanted a rubbing of one of the names.”

The name she chose was Gregory John Crossman, listed as missing in action. When Hoehn returned home, she decided to research Crossman and find his family.

“In the event they were never able to go to the Wall, I would send them the etching, hoping they would share a photo with me of Gregory,” Hoehn said.

Unsuccessful at first, she enlisted her cousin, the family’s historian, and was able to find a college photo of Gregory after six weeks of searching.

Jump forward two years and Hoehn, a resident of Maui, Hawaii, saw a story about the “Faces Never Forgotten” for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. The goal, to put a face with every name that is etched on the Wall.

Hoehn sent in the photo she had of Gregory Crossman. Five days later she received an email from Jan Scruggs, the founder and president of the Vietnam Wall, saying it was the first for that soldier and asking her if she could help him find the photos for the 42 Maui County soldiers who were killed in Vietnam.

“I told him it would be an honor,” said Hoehn, adding that she always hoped she could to do something for the Vietnam veterans because of the way they were treated when they returned home.

“What I thought would be a very easy project, with Maui being so small, was anything but easy,” Hoehn said.

She combed phone books, calling every like name of each soldier and found 10. Next, she searched archived yearbooks for every high school on Maui and found a few more soldiers. Finally, the Maui News ran an online story about her efforts and over time she found all of the photos.

Next she turned her efforts to her hometown, Hemet, Calif., and eventually the whole state.

“I have collected over 1,200 photos since May 2013,” Hoehn said.

Now her search has turned to King County.

Hoehn has collected the names of soldiers (see list) from King County without a photo to link with the Wall.

“If anyone is related, a friend or a classmate to any of the young men on the list I would very much appreciate hearing from you,” Hoehn said. “Even if you don’t have a photo, but know which school any of these young men attended, it would be so helpful.”

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall has the names of 58,300 etched on its face. To date, only 39,500 photos have been collected.

Those who have photos or information can contact Hoehn at neverforgotten2014@gmail.com. She also is seeking a volunteer to “do some footwork” in the community if all the photos aren’t found.

Craig Groshart: 425-453-4233; cgroshart@bellevuereporter.com

NAME    DOB-DOD    City/Town/Home of Record

William M. Adair    1945-1970    Bellevue

Charles L. Anderson    1948-1967    Seattle

Ciro J. Andreassi    1944-1967    Seattle

Jerry E. Barker    1949-1969    Seattle

Dan W. Beargeon    1946-1966    Seattle

Dewey L. Beatty    1948-1967    Seattle

Lawrence P. Berech    1947-1967    Seattle

Troy Bethea    1948-1969    Seattle

David P. Betts    1943-1967    Seattle

George M. Binns    1949-1969    Kent

Guy R. Bristol    1922-1970    Seattle

John E. Brix    1946-1968    Seattle

Patrick E. Brower    1947-1969    Auburn

John C. Browning    1944-1969    Renton

Sidney L. Bryant Jr.    1946-1966    Seatlle

Joesph M. Buchanan    1948-1969    Seattle

Gary L. Carlson    1948-1968    Seattle

Donald G. Davenport    1931-1966    Snoqualmie Falls

William L. Dazey Jr.    1946-1968    Bellevue

Patrick L. De Water    1949-1968    Kent

David R. Devik    1948-1968    Bellevue

Donald D. Douglas    1950-1970    Seattle

Clancy G. Drake    1931-1965    Kirkland

Van L. Durham    1947-1968    Seattle

Henry A. Dye Jr.    1949-1969    Auburn

Garrett E. Eddy    1944-1970    Seattle

James F. Ellis    1948-1968    Seattle

Melvin R. Ellis    1927-1966    Seattle

Alan C. Erickson    1947-1967    Seattle

William L. Erickson Jr.    1948-1969    Seattle

Richard D. Feiro    1937-1968    Seattle

William Fernan    1942-1968    Seattle

Walter L. Ferrell    1946-1969    Vashon

Ronald E. Fitzgerald    1950-1970    Auburn

Thomas R. Foster    1947-1969    Seattle

Amos L. Franklin    1945-1968    Seattle

Allan M. Fredricksen    1948-1968    Seattle

Fredrick I. Frenier    1946-1967    Seattle

Edward T. Frodsham    1947-1966    Seattle

Robert E. Furstenwerth    1945-1971    Seattle

Enrique L. Garcia Jr.    1941-1968    Seattle

Richard W. Geyer    1918-1963    Seattle

Glenn A. Gordon    1936-1969    Seattle

Bradford M. Graham    1950-1971    Mercer Island

Wendell J. Graham Jr.    1949-1969    Seattle

Leonard O. Graves    1947-1968    Seattle

David T. Hake    1945-1966    Burton

Jesse L. Hancock    1932-1966    Seattle

Thomas F. Harding    1948-1967    Seattle

Thomas J. Harty    1947-1967    Seattle

Gary W. Harvey    1948-1969    Seattle

Michael A. Hawk    1949-1969    Black Diamond

Joseph E. Heiman    1947-1968    Seattle

Walter M. Henry    1949-1968    Seattle

Robert D. Hickox    1948-1968    Seattle

George M. Hightower    1942-1966    Seattle

John A. Hoggatt    1943-1968    Seattle

Stanley R. Honea    1950-1969    Seattle

Jeffrey L. Hulbert    1949-1969    Kirkland

Robert P. Ilsley    1949-1969

James A. Johansen    1944-1968    Mercer Island

Larry V. Johnsen    1945-1968    Seattle

Ronald J. Johnson    1947-1967    North Bend

Pierce M. Kimball    1946-1968    Seattle

Steve W. Kinghammer    1946-1967    Renton

Rand G. Kittleson    1947-1970    Seattle

Paul G. Knighton    1946-1967    Seattle

Richard C. Langsjoen    1948-1967    Seattle

Michael E. Linderman    1946-1968    Auburn

Moon W. Lock    1942-1965    Seattle

Ralph T. Lomen    1949-1969    Seattle

James A. Long    1938-1971    Seattle

David W. Maclurg    1951-1970    Kent

Richard C.    1946-1968    Seattle

Richard E. Martinez    1934-1969    Renton

Patrick T. Mathews    1944-1972    Seattle

Ted E. McClintock    1922-1969    Seattle

Emmett R. McDonald    1939-1966    Bellevue

Michael P. McLaughlin    1947-1968    Seattle

Ronald R. Meyer    1950-1969    Seattle

Robert A. Montgomery    1947-1967    Fall City

Archie W. Morris    1944-1967    Seattle

Charles T. Morton    1950-1970    Seattle

David W. Moseley    1949-1968    Seattle

David L. Nelson    1943-1971    Kirkland

Gregory J. Niccoli    1946-1969    Kent

Roger D. Otto    1951-1970    Seattle

Charles R. Petchnick    1947-1967    Renton

Wayne A. Pettersen    1943-1967    Seattle

John F. Pettigrew    1949-1969    Seattle

Carroll W. Powell    1947-1966    Seattle

Ralph D. Raber    1948-1969    Seattle

Edward L. Rayburn    1950-1971    Milton

Leonard W. Roberson    1947-1967    Redmond

Robert R. Sanford    1949-1969    Kent

Kenneth E. Sargent    1936-1965    Auburn

Allen F. Scranton Jr.    1947-1966    Kent

Richard S. Sedies    1943-1967    Seattle

John H. Sherman    1946-1967    Seattle

Harry E. Smith    1947-1968    Kirkland

Phillip R. Smith    1940-1966    Bothell

Richard D. Smith    1951-1970    Bellevue

Warren L. Spink    1946-1969    Seattle

Dennis E. Springsteen    1946-1966    Seatttle

Lance W. St. Laurent    1949-1969    Seattle

Benny A. Starr    1939-1966    Seattle

Ronald L. Stroomer    1945-1968    Auburn

Clarence J.Sweeney    1933-1967    Seattle

Tagipo V. Tauala    1945-1971    Seattle

George M. Taylor    1948-1967    Kent

Lawrence G. Thode    1938-1970    Seattle

Everett B. Thompson    1947-1965    Maple Valley

Richard L. Thompson    1944-1966    Seattle

Dennis A. Trimble    1946-1967    Seattle

Alfred L. Turner    1934-1969    Bothell

James E. Vernor    1948-1968    Maple Valley

Richard L. Vinge    1947-1968    Seattle

Raymond A. Voss    1949-1969    Seattle

James R. Waldowski    1947-1969    Mercer Island

Charles E. West    1929-1967    Seattle

Albert R. Wilson    1939-1966    Seattle

Norman R. Wilson    1940-1966    Seattle

Douglas G. Wingert    1947-1967    Auburn

William R. Zeyen    1950-1971    Seattle