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Honoring Our Vietnam War
and
Vietnam Era Veterans
February 28, 1961 - May 7, 1975
Town of West Seneca, New York
seesaw battle raged for possession of the 155mm howitzer position / During the course of the battle, this
weapon exchanged hands 3 times in hand-to-hand fighting decided at close range with rifles and entrenching
tools, or shovels
Another light howitzer section was caught in an enemy crossfire between a heavy machine gun and rifles until
the U.S. artillerymen managed to turn their lowered muzzle and pump “Beehive” flechettes, small, pointed, fin-
stabilized steel into the enemy / All enemy automatic weapon fire against the howitzer was instantly silenced /
As Cavalry counterattacks continued, the Americans reestablished the perimeter, and the enemy force began
withdrawing, breaking contact at 6:00 AM / After the battle ended and the smoke cleared, 10 U.S. soldiers lay
dead and 62 others wounded / Enemy losses were 101 killed and 29 captured / The Americans Killed in Action
included Private First-Class Paul John Kronthaler / PFC Paul Kronthaler was posthumously awarded the Bronze
Star Medal for meritorious service during combat action and the Purple Heart for wounds suffered during the
fierce fighting
Base Assignments:
Miscelleaneous:
Paul Kronthaler was a 1964 graduate of West Seneca Central School and had received his Bachelor's Degree from
Brockport State College in June 1968, prior to joining the Army in October 1968 / Paul John Kronthaler was 22
years of age at the time of his death and is interred at Woodlawn Cemetery, Orchard Park, New York
Paul John Kronthaler is honored on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington D.C. - Name inscribed at
VVM Wall, Panel 25w, Line 12
An Indirect Fire Infantryman works as a member of a platoon or a mortar squad / Among their responsibilities
include participating in various combat operations, setting up and firing different types of mortars, locating and
recovering mines, cleaning and organizing weapons and other supplies, and overseeing members
The 8th Infantry Regiment was constituted as an infantry regiment on 5 July 1838 in the Regular Army / The 8th
Infantry is also known as the "Fighting Eagles”, is an infantry regiment in the United States Army / The 8th
Infantry participated in the Mexican War, American Civil War, Philippine Insurrection, Moro Rebellion, World
War I, World War II, Vietnam War, and Iraq Campaign / During Operation Wayne Grey at Landing Zone Brace 3
March 1969 in Vietnam, the 3rd Battalion Company "A" had at least 21 fatalities
The 1st Cavalry Division ("First Team") is a combined arms division and is one of the most decorated combat
divisions of the United States Army, as well as the other four branches of the U.S. military / Based at Fort Hood,
Texas, the 1st Cavalry was formed in 1921 and served during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War,
the Persian Gulf War, with the Stabilization Force in Bosnia-Herzegovina, in the Iraq War, in the War in
Afghanistan and in Operation Freedom’s Sentinel / In the Vietnam War, the First Cavalry Division suffered more
casualties than any other army division: 5,444 men killed in action and 26,592 wounded in action
The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a is the fourth-highest individual military award and the ninth-highest by order
of precedence in the United States Armed Forces / The Bronze Star is awarded to members of the United States
Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a
2016 WWW.WSVET.ORG