The last two Americans killed in the Vietnam War, including an Iowa man, will be memorialized at the site of the old US Embassy in Saigon.
Marines Darwin Judge and Charles McMann were guarding an airport gate during the final evacuation when their post was attacked, making them the last combat deaths of the war. Douglas Potratz is with the Fall of Saigon Marines Association, and knew the Marshalltown native Darwin Judge.
"As an organization, our main purpose is to memorialize the last two casualties, Judge and McMann. And we thought it would be fitting if we would have a plaque memorializing them since they were the last two Marines and embassy guards to give their life.”
Plans are being made for a dedication ceremony at what is now the US Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City on the 40th anniversary of the fall of Saigon next April. I’m Rick Fredericksen, Iowa Public Radio News.