Jim Matchin, a Vietnam War veteran, lives in Vicenza, Italy, and is working on memorials for 173rd Airborne Brigade soldiers killed in the war. (Rebecca Holland/Stars and Stripes)
VICENZA, Italy — When Jim Matchin visits the home of his former unit, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, he sees memorials to fallen soldiers from World War II and conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Matchin, who served with the unit during the Vietnam War, is now working to honor those from his generation.
With the blessing of brigade commander Col. Joshua Gaspard and help from other soldiers in the unit, Matchin, 77, is trying to create memorials that would be placed inside company headquarters on Caserma Ederle and Del Din in Vicenza as well as Grafenwoehr in Germany.
Matchin already has a complete list of the fallen and has been gathering photos and information. The brigade is funding the effort.
Almost 1,800 Sky Soldiers were killed during a war that saw the deaths of more than 58,000 Americans.
“There are 1,790 people who know their son, cousin, uncle got killed over there, but don’t really have any tie to the 173rd,” he said.
Matchin’s goal is not only to create places where relatives could visit and perhaps enjoy stronger ties to the unit their fallen soldier belonged to, but to ensure that current Sky Soldiers get a constant reminder of those who served before them.
The brigade was deactivated before the war came to a close and reactivated in Vicenza in 2000. Matchin said today’s soldiers don’t always know the full history or realize that the brigade suffered heavy casualties during Vietnam.
1st Lt. James Matchin during his service in the Vietnam War. ( Jim Matchin )
Thirteen Sky Soldiers earned the Medal of Honor during the conflict and soldiers in the brigade received more than 6,000 Purple Hearts.
The plan is to have memorials located inside company headquarters listing the names of every soldier killed during the conflict, along with a photo, the date they were killed and where they were from.
Because the brigade is configured differently now than it was during Vietnam, some adjustments will have to be made. Some fallen soldiers would likely be honored at the brigade headquarters.
The idea has been welcomed by the brigade’s commander and his staff members, some of whom are assisting with the project.
“I think it’s powerful,” Gaspard said. “When people come and touch a star or a name, they touch a feeling.”
Matchin hopes to complete the memorials by June, when the 173rd Airborne Brigade Association has a reunion in New Orleans.
“By getting the word out, families in the U.S. may want to come to Vicenza and see a picture of their dad or grandfather or uncle with the company,” Matchin said. “That’s why I’m here. If we can get even two or three families, that would be great.”
Dog tags at Caserma Del Din commemorate soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade. (Rebecca Holland/Stars and Stripes)
