An American Town and the Vietnam War

Tony Pavia is a retired American history teacher and the former principal of Stamford High School, Trinity Catholic High School, and New Canaan High School. He lives in Naples, Florida. Matt Pavia teaches English and American studies at Darien (Connecticut) High School. He lives in Stamford, Connecticut.

Table of Contents


Acknowledgments

Introduction

Stamford, Connecticut, at the Start of the War

About the Interviews

Stamford’s Sacrifices

The Lives of the Fallen: Alfons Bankowski

One • 1964–1965: The War Hits Home

The Lives of the Fallen: Richard E. Broadhurst

Woody Broadhurst, Jr.

Anthony DiGiacomo

Diane DiGiacomo

The Lives of the Fallen: William B. Mitchell

The Lives of the Fallen: Norman J.G. Spenard

Mike Harding

Two • 1966: Guns and Butter

Ralph Del Vecchio

The Lives of the Fallen: Stuart M. Andrews

Alan Weisel

The Lives of the Fallen: William B. Nickerson

Bill Ferri

The Lives of the Fallen: Kent E. Gandy

Frank LiVolsi

The Lives of the Fallen: James A. Branson

Chris Munger

The Lives of the Fallen: Alfred A. Kaspaul

Three • 1967: The War Escalates

The Lives of the Fallen: Richard Rich

A Letter from the President

The Brothers Five

Donald Hunter

Larry Hunter

Lenny Hunter

The Rotary Club Surprise

The Lives of the Fallen: Duncan H. Fleming

Bob Doyle

The Lives of the Fallen: Fergus F. Connors, Jr.

Lt. Barbara Kesckes Pitkin and the Army Nurse Corps

The Lives of the Fallen: Robert K. Dwyer

James Sparrow

The Lives of the Fallen: Roger R. Cauthern

Wayne “Nubby” Garner

The Lives of the Fallen: Charles D. Kerr

Four • 1968: The Turning Point

Dan Doyle

The Lives of the Fallen: Charles E. Richards

Stewart Sprouse

The Lives of the Fallen: Eugene L. Manselle III

Frank Passero

Dennis Clayburn

Jackie Robinson, Jr.’s Long Road Home

Alan Sosnowitz

The Lives of the Fallen: Thomas R. Morris

Richard Prowse

The Lives of the Fallen: Kurt K. Jobst

Peter Samperi

The Lives of the Fallen: John P. Pellegrino

Douglas Baker

The Lives of the Fallen: Andrew D. Chowka

Rita Miller

Five • 1969: The Peak

The Lives of the Fallen: Jerold J. Shelton

Frank Ambruso

The Lives of the Fallen: Ronald L. France

Harvey Melzer

The Lives of the Fallen: Willie C. Davis

Daniel Burke

The Lives of the Fallen: Isaac Sapp

Stamford Man Refuses Induction

Charles W. Coleman, Jr.

The Lives of the Fallen: Douglas A. Arcano

Francis Cuddy and the Silver Star

Dennis Doshna

Moratorium 1969

Six • 1970–1972: “Vietnamization”

Greg Sigler

James Tessitore

The Lives of the Fallen: James J. Pastore, Jr.

William Forker

The Lives of the Fallen: Michael J. Vagnone

Dom Plateroti

The Lives of the Fallen: Robert J. Kiser

John Michaelson

The Flag Case of 1971

Richard Keeshan

Seven • Coming Home

Bill Ferri

Ralph Del Vecchio

Lenny Hunter

Richard Prowse

Frank LiVolsi

Jimmy Sparrow

Dan Burke

Alan Sosnowitz

Charlie Coleman

Donald Hunter

Doug Baker

Greg Sigler

James Tessitore

Frank Ambruso

John Michaelson

Richard Keeshan

Dom Plateroti

Dennis Clayburn

Dan Doyle

Stewart Sprouse

William Forker

Peter Samperi

Anthony DiGiacomo

Wayne “Nubby” Garner

Eight • 1973–1975: The End

A Ray of Light

Rita Romano

Paul and Maria Nakian

Chris Nakian

“I died in Vietnam and didn’t know it”: Paul Reutershan and the Legacy of Agent Orange

Rita Hornlein Ratti

The Trial of Roger Ligon

The Many Mysteries of Richard Flaherty

From Stamford to Saigon: Roy Nirschel

Stamford at the End of the War

Epilogue: Shattering the Myth

Postscript: Memorial Day 2016

Chapter Notes and Sources

Index