Carroll Fankhauser Jr. (died 1965)

FANKHAUSER, HAHN

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 11/21/2020 at 07:32:02

2 September 1965 - The Tipton Conservative

Marine Lance Cpl. Carroll E. Fankhauser Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Carroll Fankhauser Sr. of West Branch, is Cedar county's first casualty of the war in Viet Nam. He was killed in a military air crash in Hong Kong harbor Aug. 24.

Fankhauser was one of 65 servicemen and 6 crewmen aboard the aircraft when it left Hong Kong for the Da Nang air base, 380 miles north of Saigon, where the West Branch serviceman had been stationed since January. Thirteen survived the crash.

The Marine corporal had been in Hong Kong at a rest camp and was returning to duty. He was believed to be scheduled for rotation out of Viet Nam in September.

Mrs. Fankhauser, the former Sylvia Hahn of West Branch, and the couple's 18 month-old son have been living with his parents in West Branch.

Fankhauser was a 1962 graduate of West Branch high school and entered the Marie Corps shortly after graduation. He played varsity football at West Branch for 4 years, took part in track and baseball and was a 4-H club member.

He was the oldest of 8 children and was born in Iowa City. His 3 brothers and 4 sisters all live at home. His father is employed by the Hoover Library.