2nd Lt. ANTHONY EDWARD KUPKA "Tony"

MEMORIAL DAY 2015

906 Frisco Avenue • Monett, Missouri

Over the summer of 1967, Anthony Edward Kupka entered Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Virginia. He was an “Officer Candidate”; assigned to 1st Platoon, “Bravo” Company. After being picked up and “herded” around, by their Viet Nam Veteran Platoon Sergeant and Sergeant Instructor, to various stations for check-in and issue of their clothing and gear, 1st Platoon were put into their “summer house”; one of four squad bays located in the north wing of a three-storey brick barracks facing the Potomac River. The building was of classical colonial military architecture; probably built between the Wars; a structure that had housed thousands of Candidates over decades. After being assigned their “racks” (bunk beds) and attenuate steel wall lockers, the Candidates were ordered to stand at attention in front of their racks.

In strutted their Platoon Commander, a captain, who was in no mood for friendly greetings. His shocking tirade included allusions to USMC history and traditions but, mainly, on the difficulties that lay ahead. “Those of you who have been through fraternity hell weeks will discover ten weeks of hell lay ahead … for those of you who make it the full ten weeks. When I give you the order, each of you look at the Candidate to your right then to the Candidate to your left. Do it!” (pause) “At the end of these ten weeks, one of you will NOT be here to graduate!”

At the end of ten weeks the Candidate who had, from the Day One, been designated “Kupka, A.E.” was among the graduates. For Kupka it was “just a matter of doing it.” He was a stocky, bear-chested young man with long strong arms and legs capable of carrying him though the Obstacle Course, morning runs and forced marches (strenuous hikes). Although athletic, Kupka was the pensive type; friendly but not outgoing. He was between his junior and senior years at Trinity College. In hind sight, I wonder if Kupka had once seriously considered becoming a Roman Catholic priest.

Upon graduation from Trinity, Kupka was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and went on for a further five months of officer training at The Basic School (“TBS”) in Quantico. He had also gotten married. At TBS he must have performed the top echelons of his class for Kupka was assigned to Marine Corps Force “Recon”; a particularly demanding specialty in which the members are outstanding in military skills, presence of mind, and all-around athletes. While he was in Viet Nam, his daughter was born … but she would never see her father. On patrol, during the Tet Counter-offensive, Second Lieutenant Anthony Edward Kupka, USMC, was Killed in Action.

As well as his wife and daughter loosing the treasure of husband and father, we lost a National Treasure.

Not all of those who have sacrificed their lives in all Wars since the American Revolution are of the type represented by Lt. Kupka; young, strong, and with promises of wonderful lives ahead. Some were more senior, some younger. Some deliberately set out to join up and stand in the gap for the rest of us. Some were drafted. For some, it was the choice of going into the Army or Marine Corps or going to jail. Some were dedicated family men and some were rouges; “believers” and atheists. Most were junior enlisted men, but thousands senior enlisted and officers (including generals) also were sacrificed. Some were outstanding (or would have become outstanding) soldiers and citizens; others just to go on and fade into the populations of wherever they may have landed. The overriding and common factor known to every “Kupka” who was Killed in Action is that they died, however deliberately or unwittingly, for the sake of more than “the living,” but for the FREEDOM of the living … including for the people of the foreign countries in which they fought, as well as for us, their fellow Americans.

Now, Memorial Day 2015, is for us, who live comfortable lives in comfortable homes, enjoying scents of spring, to faithfully remember heroes whose prospects of mortal enjoyments were forever lost; for us to be especially thankful to them for their individual parts in giving us life and freedom.

Let us pause to pray for the repose of the souls of those who Anthony Edward Kupka today represents; that Light Perpetual shine upon them.

Pyper, C.G.
1st Pltn., Bravo Co., OCS/PLC (Combined)
1967

Tony Kupka

2015

For more Info Click Here

Second Lieutenant

Anthony Edward Kupka was a second lieutenant for the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. He died on April 16, 1969 at the age of 23

Personal Details
Name: Anthony Edward Kupka
Date of Birth: February 20, 1946
Date of Death:  April 16, 1969
Age 23
Hometown: Falmouth, Massachusetts
Home County: Barnstable
Sex: Male
Race: White
Marital Status: Married
Religion Roman: Catholic Church
Military Service
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Service: Marine Corps
Component: Reserve
Unit Name: E Co. 1 Recon Bn
Occupation:

Basic Infantry Officer
Pay Grade O01

On April 16th, 1969 Marine Second Lieutenant Tony Kupka was killed by multiple fragmentation wounds in combat in Quang Nam. He was buried in Arlington Cemetery in May of 1969. He had been killed by a grenade near DaNang. Almost exactly a year after his graduation and marriage, just three days after the birth of his daughter.

Force Recon Association

2ndLt Anthony Edward Kupka

Tony

April 16th, 1969

LCpl Karl Howard Culp 16APR1969 KIA RVN

LCpl Walter Edward Gierman, II 16APR1969 KIA RVN

PFC Robert Earl Gill 16APR1969 KIA RVN

LCpl Chester Jarmolinski, Jr 16APR1969 KIA RVN

2ndLt Anthony Edward Kupka 16APR1969 KIA RVN

April 1969

U.S. combat deaths in Vietnam exceed the 33,629 men killed in the Korean War.

ANTHONY EDWARD KUPKA


2LT - O1 - Marine Corps - Reserve

Length of service 3 years
His tour began on Mar 16, 1969
Casualty was on Apr 16, 1969
In QUANG NAM, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
MULTIPLE FRAGMENTATION WOUNDS
Body was recovered

Panel 27W - Line 95

A Note from The Virtual Wall

Recon Team NAIL BRUSH was inserted onto Hill 146, some 5 kilometers west-southwest of An Hoa, on 02 Apr 1967 with orders to establish a long-term observation post to monitor NVA/VC infiltration from the mountains to the west. Originally expected to extract on 13 May, NAIL BRUSH was extended.

The NAIL BRUSH post-patrol report contains the following entry for 16 April:

The 1st Recon Bn SITREP for 16 April reports that one of the wounded died during or immediately after evacuation, changing the toll to 3 dead, 6 wounded. The three Marines killed by the boobytraps were

2ndLt Anthony E. Kupka, Falmouth, MA, patrol leader;
LCpl Karl H. Culp, Fort Worth, TX; and
LCpl Walter E. Gierman, Lake Worth, FL.

JOHN O'DONNELL
MARINE VET
HONORING A YOUNG BRAVE MARINE HERO
THIS MAN HAS GIVEN OF HIMSELF EVERTHING HE COULD, SO THAT HIS BROTHER MARINES AND THE PEOPLE BACK HOME COULD LIVE A MORE PEACEFUL LIFE. THIS GIFT OF HIS LIFE SHOWS THE GREATNESS OF THIS HERO. HERO'S DON'T WEAR A CAPE OR MASK NO! THEY WEAR MARINE GREEN. HERO'S COME IN DIFFERENT SHAPE'S AND SIZE'S. AS EACH DAY PASSES,WE MUST TAKE THE TIME TO REMEMBER WHAT THIS HERO GAVE UP! SO THAT WE COULD LIVE IN A FREE SOCIETY. THANK YOU ! SEMPER FI! HERO YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN. DOSEN'T MATTER IF YOU ARE A 2YR, 3YR, 4YR, ENLISTMENT OR A DRAFTEE OR RESERVIST, OFFICER OR ENLISTED. YOU HAVE EARNED THE TITTLE OF UNITED STATES MARINE! A NATION CRIES OUT FOR THE LOSS OF ONE OF ITS SON'S.
Apr 16, 2014

Carl G. Pyper
cgp906@sbcglobal.net
Fellow 'Candidate'
906 Frisco Avenue Monett MO 65708 USA
Candidate Kupka, A.E.

'Best way to get through OCS: Be fit. Pass the fitness and academic tests. Keep your mouth shut/eyes forward. Believe that doing it is just a matter of doing it. Don't freak out be calm and friendly. THAT was Kupka...over 10 solid weeks of the summer of 1967. 'Don't remember having any extensive conversation w/Kupka, but he impressed me with his subtle/friendly attitude...A guy looking directly into my eyes vague friendly smile on his face, as he passes me somewhere in the squad bay or passageways. Our Platoon Sergeant (Sgt. Gaymon) heaped the drill and harrassment on us, but Kupka just took it, and kept on trucking. During a 'problem-solving' discussion held by our Platoon Commander (Capt. Jenkins), the case of an unrulely/insuborinate junior Marine in a field situation was presented. 'What are you going to do now, Candidate?' Several of the candidates gave our solutions...most shot down. Finally Capt. Jenkins came around to Kupka. 'Well Candidate?' Without hesitation/absent even a hint of bravado, Kupka calmly/firmly responded: 'I'd take the man around back and fix the problem' (or words to that effect). Capt. Jenkins suppressed a smile a such a ('unorthodox') response. The rest of the platoon took a deep breaths, murmuring words to the effect of 'Yeah, 'fits. That's Kupka' I never saw or corresponded with Kupka after OCS, but was shocked when the word of his being KIA found its way to me. Nice guy one of the best-performing candidates in 1st Platoon, had been lost. Learning that he was married made it all the more sorrowful. Memories of 1st Platoon, Bravo Company, OCS, 1967 are daily welcomed back. Among our trainers, I always migrate to Sgt. Gaymon. Imaginitively revisiting my fellow candidates, I see Kupka, moving here, moving there hunched over doing this, doing that...catching my eye, knowing smile on his face. Thankfully, the fellows who have already written about Kupka had the priviledge of benefiting directly from his talents and goodwill. Thanks for being a calming influence and a good example to me while we were in 1st Platoon together. May Light Perpetual shine upon you Kupka. Pyper, C.G.
Aug 20, 2010

R Craycraft
The sacrifice you made will not be forgotten. Thank you for being a brave American. Rest in peace dear soldier and may God bless you and your family always.
Friday, February 20, 2004

DA NANG, QUANG NAM PROVINCE,

SOUTH VIETNAM.