11 Jun 2003 36 years ago I lost a friend. He is still my brother today, along with being the brother of all those men from our platoon. Someday we will all soar, until then may God bless and keep you, Henry Wilhelmi. Your Friend Richard Richard Davis P O Box 87, Foster W V 25081 gdavis@newwave.net

 

16 Feb 2007 Henry, known as Joseph to childhood friends, was a friend of my brother's. We grew up in the same neighborhood. I found a relative of Joe's on the Classmates website forum where people talked about those classmates who were lost to the Vietnam War. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family still. February 6th would have been his 60th birthday. In June it will be 40 years since his death. From the sister of a friend, Barbara Malone Philadelphia, Pa bfmuldrake@comcast.net

 

25 Jun 2007 Sgt Wilhelmi was known as Joe by his neighborhood friends in Olney, Philadelphia. He was an extremely funny person, tough as nails, kind as can be. I remember being down the shore (Wildwood, NJ) with him on Labor Day weekend before he deployed to Vietnam. We were all drinking, having a good time, when he suddenly jumped up on the back of the couch and pretended he was 'chuting in Vietnam. He was awarded the Silver Medal for his bravery in Vietnam, saving several of his platoon. The world was much poorer after June 10th. From a friend, Paul Hackney pitchinhack@aol.com

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall "H. Joseph," as he was nicknamed, had written home from Vietnam shortly before his death that, if anything should happen to him he would go without regrets because he believed in what he was doing. The Army paratrooper followed three generations of Wilhelmis into the armed forces: his father had retired in 1962 after 30 years in the Navy; his grandfather was a 30-year Navy veteran, and his great-grandfather spent 30 years in the Army. Young Wilhelmi also planned to make the Army a career. The 20-year-old sergeant was a grenadier with Company B of the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry, 173 Airborne Brigade [sic], 101st Airborne Division. He was killed near Duc Pho, Quang Ngai Province, on June 10, 1967, after carrying two wounded men to safety and returning for a third. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. The 1965 Cardinal Dougherty High School graduate was survived by his parents, two brothers and four sisters. Photo and article from the Philadelphia Daily News October 26, 1987 On 10 Jun 1967 a ten-man patrol from B Company, 2/502nd Infantry was ambushed about 16 kilometers southwest of Mo Duc, Quang Nghai Province. As the patrol withdrew under fire with several wounded, one man believed to be dead had to be left behind. When a reaction force reentered the area the body could not be found. Search operations continued until 16 June but without success. Two men were lost to the ambush: SP4 Henry J. Wilhelmi, killed in action, and Pfc Robert L. Platt of Charleston, SC, missing in action. SP4 Wilhelmi received a posthumous promotion and as noted above a Silver Star for his actions. He is buried in the Beverly National Cemetery. PFC Platt was carried as missing in action until the Secretary of the Army approved a Presumptive Finding of Death on 02 March 1978. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant while carried as missing. His remains have not been repatriated.

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