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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Specialist Gale Kurk Vogler was born in East
3Moline to Jess and Margorie Vogler on February 22, 1947; he
4attended United Township High School in East Moline, where he
5excelled in baseball and football; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Specialist Vogler graduated from high school in
7June of 1964; after graduating, he went to work at John Deere
8until he enlisted in the United States Army in May of 1966; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Specialist Vogler completed basic combat training
10at Fort Riley, Kansas and was sent to advance infantry
11training; after graduation from infantry training, he was
12deployed to the Republic of Vietnam, commencing his tour of
13duty in South Vietnam on December 1, 1966; while in South
14Vietnam, he was promoted to Specialist 4, and assigned to
15Company A, 5th Battalion, 60th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division,
16nicknamed "The Old Reliables", headquartered in the Mekong
17Delta; and
 
18    WHEREAS, On March 11, 1967, Specialist Vogler's unit was
19participating in a search and destroy operation against a
20heavily-armed, large body of Communist Viet Cong guerrillas,
21which had been terrorizing the local population and
22assassinating political figures loyal to the Government of the

 

 

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1Republic of Vietnam, around My Tho and other areas in Dinh
2Tuong Province; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Specialist Vogler's platoon was divided into 2
4squads and ordered to sweep an area surrounded by heavy, thick
5jungle on the outskirts of several hamlets; as his squad
6prepared to move out, in keeping with his selfless nature, he
7volunteered to walk point, one of the most hazardous jobs for
8an infantryman to undertake, let alone volunteer for during the
9Vietnam War; and
 
10    WHEREAS, As Specialist Vogler made his way down the trail,
11which was shrouded in shadows due to the thick jungle canopy,
12he activated a tripwire, which detonated a Viet Cong
13anti-personnel mine; severally wounded, he was medevaced to the
1493rd Evacuation Hospital at Long Binh, 25 miles North of
15Saigon, where he succumbed to his injuries; he died on March
1611, 1967 in Vietnam as the result of wounds received when he
17was hit by fragments from a hostile bobby trap; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Specialist Vogler was survived by his wife, Gail
19Vogler; his father, Jess D. Vogler; his mother, Margorie M.
20Vogler; his daughter, Ann Vogler-Hos, (who was born 2 months
21after he was killed in action); his grandson, Travis Grostick;
22his brothers, Gaylord and Jackie; and his sister, Marlene
23Vogler; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, For his service in the defense of the Republic of
2Vietnam, Specialist Vogler was awarded the following: the
3Bronze Star Medal; the Purple Heart Medal; the National Defense
4Service Medal; the Vietnam Service Medal; the Combat
5Infantryman Badge, 1st Award; the Republic of Vietnam Campaign
6Ribbon w/Device (1960); the Good Conduct Medal; and the
7Sharpshooters Badge with Rifle Bar; and
 
8    WHEREAS, From the Government of the Republic of Vietnam,
9Specialist Vogler was awarded: the Vietnam Campaign Medal; the
10Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/Palm; and the Military
11Merit Medal; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Specialist Vogler died in the performance of his
13mission and his loss has been greatly mourned by both his
14American and Vietnamese comrades-in-arms; therefore, be it
 
15    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
16ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
17Specialist Gale Kurk Vogler, and extend our sincere condolences
18to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be
19it further
 
20    RESOLVED, That we honor Specialist Vogler for making the
21ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country; and be it further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
2presented to the family of Specialist Vogler as an expression
3of our deepest sympathy and thanks.