READ TOM CASTI'S FULL MEMORIAL TO PFC DOUGLAS ALLEY Douglas Alley was 20 years old when enemy shrapnel ended his life in Vietnam over 35 years ago. He was married while home on leave in November 1965. Three months later, Douglas was killed while on patrol near Cu Cui, 25 miles north of Saigon, a mere nineteen days after his arrival in Vietnam (7 February 1966). Considering the average in-country processing, he probably had been with his forward unit a little over a week. He and his young wife Pat never had a chance to share a home of their own. A grainy newspaper picture of Douglas reveals a casual and confident young man, one eyebrow raised, a hint of a smile. A boy trying to look like a man - killed in action after less than three weeks in Vietnam. A week after Douglas' death, the editorial page of the Wilmington Evening Journal included a quote from a man who may have known Douglas: "That boy used to cut my grass ... this is really the first time that the war has come home to me. Why, I knew that boy well.... I knew him well." 122 Delawareans are included in the over 58,000 names inscribed on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial. Many of us have no direct connection to these brave men and women. As the years go by our connection to these lost souls becomes even more distant. Many of the fallen have no direct descendants to keep their memory alive. We must not let them be forgotten. That is what Memorial Day is about - remembrance and honor. In my own small way, I have come to know Douglas Alley. This Memorial Day, he will be in my thoughts. Just one of the many young soldiers who have fought and died for our country ... who will cut the grass no more. Tom Casti 407 Douglas D. Alley Drive Newark, DE 19713 tcasti@wlgore.com Tom Casti lives in the Woods of Yorkshire development in Newark, and he is working with neighbors and the City of Newark to place a memorial to Douglas D. Alley in the park on the street named in his memory. Visit the BOBCATS of the 5TH INFANTRY REGIMENT A memorial from the BOBCAT Webmaster, Randy Kethcart 8 May 2001 Added 2 Photos 07/02/2018

 

The article above also mentions the death of PFC Frederick E. Smith who was killed during a mortar attack on the Phu Loi Base Camp with the 13th Artillery. Alley was killed by fragmentation wounds while with his unit in the bush in the same area of operations. In addition to his widow, Patricia D (Syzmanski) Alley, he was survived by his mother Emma S, father Garnett "Garney" Alley of Corner Ketch, three sisters, Mrs Warren Carroll of Floyd, VA, Mrs. George Sawyers, of Oxford PA, and Mrs. Clyde Nelson of Corner Ketch; and two brothers, Fred Alley of Salem, VA. and Curtis Alley of Corner Ketch. PFC Douglas Dwight Alley was buried with full honors in Arlington National Cemetery. - - - The Virtual Wall, July 2, 2018

 

A memorial from the BOBCATS WebMaster, Randy Kethcart randy@bobcat.ws  8 May 2001

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