Craig Alden Ver Linden
Sergeant
RECON PLT, HHC, 1ST BN, 2ND INFANTRY, 1ST INF DIV, USARV
Army of the United States
El Sobrante, California
October 11, 1946 to October 04, 1967
CRAIG A VER LINDEN is on the Wall at Panel 27E, Line 51

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Craig A Ver Linden
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30 May 2006

Many years have passed ... so many! But you have not been forgotten, my friend! In the year of Our Lord 1967 on the 4th of October in a far away place called Vietnam, a sacrifice was made. A costly sacrifice to freedom. I was at that time a young Sergeant stationed in Germany. I got a letter from a friend telling me of the loss of a dear friend ... someone who I grew up with. That friend was Army Sergeant Craig Alden Verlinden. As children Craig and I played Army together. We always won those battles. He always wore his Dad's old World War Two campaign hat (the kind worn by drill sergeants in today's Army). Craig's hat was turned up in the front like one of Gabby Hayes's cowboy hats. Craig was one of the nicest people that I have ever known. You never saw Craig without a big smile on his face. He was the kind of person that everybody liked! Yesterday was Memorial Day and I remembered my friend again. I remember Craig every time the word Vietnam is mentioned or played by in my head. It was just after Craig's death that I went to Vietnam. So many were lost there! Let us never forget the Craig Alden Verlindens who have given their precious lives for the freedom that we have. I will never forget you "old friend"! That is a promise! I hope and pray that Craig had accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, so that I might see him again at a reunion of "Soldiers".

Robert "Dennis" Brown
SFC, U.S. Army, Retired
halfmst@crosstel.net


 

A Note from The Virtual Wall

On 04 Oct 1967 five men from the 1st Bn, 2nd Infantry, were killed in an action east of Chon Thanh:
  • CPT Howard M. Gerstel, Hewlett, NY
  • SGT Craig A. Verlinden, El Sobrante, CA
  • SP4 Charlie F. Sauler, Martin's Point, NS (Silver Star)
  • SP4 Terrance H. Schneider, Montrose, MI, medic
  • SP4 Donald G. Schrenk, Buena Vista, CO (Silver Star)

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