Alan Served as a - Pfc - E3 - Army - Regular Enlisted Service
He was 19 years old at the time of his death.
Alan was born on January 4, 1948 in Easton, Pennsylvania
Alan's tour of duty began on January 25, 1967.
Alan served with C Company, 1st Btl. 327th Infantry, 3rd Platoon.
Alan died on May 25, 1967 in Quang Ngai Province, in the area of Duc Pho, South Vietnam.
His death was a result of hostile small arms fire. Alan's platoon was ambushed at the top of a no-name hill in the area of Duc Pho. Before the rest of Alan's unit could get to the top to help them, which took the rest of the day, the North Vietnamese had executed those still alive after the initial contact and retreated. Alan died that day with his platoon leader,
Lt. Benjamin Gareth Wells;
Sfc. Edward Lewis Tieman; Pfc. Edward Michael McMullan;
SSgt. Alfred George Kircher; Pfc. Terry Alan Harding;
Sp4 Peter Joseph Gerspach III; Sp4 Joe Albert Funk II;
Sp4 Leonard Arvin Enos; a scout dog named Thunder and his handler
Sgt. Gary Allen Rathbun from the 42nd Scout Dog Platoon.
"As remembered in part by Lee Broll"
His body was recovered.
Alan is interred in the Hays Cemetery in Easton, Pennsylvania
He left a father Forrest and his mother Dorothy Marie
Alan's religion was Methodist.
Alan's name is listed on Panel 20E --- Line 100
of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington D.C.
"Rest In Peace Alan You Are Missed By All Who Knew You"
Honors
Alan Wayne Bonney, served his Country and Flag with Courage and Bravery. His acts of Gallantry to his Men and Country earned him the following awards:
Bronze Star
Purple Heart for wounds received in combat
National Defence Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Ribbon
Good Conduct Medal
The Combat Infantryman Badge
The Republic of Vietnam, Military Merit Medal
The Republic of Vietnam, Gallentry Cross with Palm
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Alan Bonney's 3rd Platoon 1967.
"Click on the photo to enlarge"
Front Row: L to R, #3 Ssgt. Alfred G. Kircher (Kia) #5 Sfc. Edward L. Tieman (Sliver Star ) (Kia),
Second Row: L to R, #2 Eddie Dutchie, #7 Hughey Walker, #15 SSgt. Ramsey
Third Row: L to R, #1 David "Hutch" Hutchinson, #4 David J. Markham, #5 Bruce Manning, #6 Bob Giampirtro, #12 Alan Bonney (Kia), #13 Hoyt Porter
Pfc. Edward Michael McMullan Killed in action on 5/25/67 with Alan Bonney
SFC. Edward Lewis Tieman Killed
in action on 5/25/67 with Alan Bonney
Scout Dog, Thunder and his handler Sgt. Gary Allen Rathbun were Killed in action on 5/25/67 with Alan Bonney
"Photos above curtesy of the Tieman family, the Wells family, Lee Broll, and Jackie McIntyre"
Gary Allen Rathbun was born I Hutchinson, Minnesota. Gary went to live with his grandmother, Lizzy Rathbun in Corvuso, Minnesota, when he was five years old. His father, Frank, and his mother, Tillie, were divorced at that time.
Gary was the youngest of four boys, Frank Rathbun, Jr., Raymond Rathbun, and Donald Krasen. Two of Gary’s brothers were in the Marines and one was in the Navy.
Gary was a loving and fun person to be with, and was easy to get along with. We had a lot of good times playing cards, especially when he was home on furlough. We regret that we never had more time to spend with him. We never saw him for about two years before he was killed.
Gary joined the Air Force right after he graduated from Cosmos High School in 1959. He was in the Air Force for four years, and then came home to Hutchinson, Minnesota. Where he trained as a highway patrolman. Gary re-enlisted in the Army in 1964, received his training and then went to Vietnam.
Gary was in the 101st Airborne Division and he was a Scouting Leader in Vietnam. Gary and his dog, Thunder, were shot by the Vietnamese, May 25, 1967. He received the Purple Heart and other citations.
The family has visited the National Memorial and the Minnesota Memorial and we remember him and participate in the memorial services here in Hutchinson every year.
