• Allison Miles •
• Originally published January 20, 2009 at 7:57 p.m., updated January 20, 2009 at 7:57 p.m.

Editor's Note: This column is a research project of Dr. Peter B. Riesz and the Victoria County Veterans Council. Anyone who has information about the following veterans is asked to contact Riesz at pbriesz@suddenlink.net or 361-575-4600.

The official dates of the Vietnam Conflict were from Feb. 28, 1961 to May 7, 1975. Here are more Victoria County men killed during that conflict:

Rafael Olivares Avila was born on July 1, 1948 in Victoria. He entered the Marine Corps on Nov. 18, 1966. He was shipped overseas on Aug. 15, 1967. He was a corporal (E4) when he was killed on Aug. 2, 1968. He was 20 years old. His death was by an explosive device while near Quang Ngai, South Vietnam. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery outside Skidmore. His name is on the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC on Panel 50W, Line 47.

Need: Unit where he served and his serial number.

Billy Carroll Bolton was born in Victoria on Sept. 20, 1946. He entered the Marine Corps during October 1966. He was a corporal (E4). He went overseas on Aug. 9, 1967. He was killed on Jan. 30,1968 in the vicinity of Quang Nam. He was 21 years old. He was killed by enemy small arms fire. His buddy had been wounded and when Billy went to his rescue he was shot and killed. He is buried in Columbia Cemetery, Columbia, La. His name is on the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC on Panel 35E, Line 66.

Need: Unit where he served and his serial number.

Clarence "Charlie" Arthur Brown was born in Bloomington on April 1, 1931. He entered the Marine Corps in 1952 and would serve 14 years. He served as a marine Recruiter in Victoria from Feb. 1, 1965 to November 1966 and was very well liked here. He went overseas on Dec. 16, 1966. When killed on Feb. 22, 1967 he was a master sergeant (E8) serving in Company D, 7th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Marine Division. He was 35 years old. He was killed near Quang Nam when the Jeep he was riding in hit a land mine. He is buried in Memory Gardens Cemetery. His Marine buddy, gunnery sergeant Dan Adan Alaniz, sounded taps at his funeral. His grave is 18 paces toward the west from No. 87 and 19 paces toward the north from the north entrance road. His name is on the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC on Panel 15E, Line 73.

Need: His serial number.

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