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Sgt John Francis Plunkard

United States Army

w/ Oak Leaf Cluster w/Oak Leaf Cluster
Sgt. John Francis Plunkard April 08, 1968
FREDERICK NEWS-POST May 25, 1966
PROFILES OF BRAVERY:LOCAL FAMILIES WITH SERVICEMEN IN VIET NAM
Bravery is shown in many ways by different people. For Mr. and Mrs. John L. Plunkard of RFD 2 Frederick, bravery means hopefully waiting for news of their 19-year-old son, John, who was reported wounded in action in Viet Nam, Saturday. The strain was obvious as Mr. and Mrs. Plunkard sat drinking punch at the Red Cross gathering Monday night for families with relatives in Viet Nam. Mrs. Plunkard quietly said she received the telegram Monday afternoon reporting that "John was hit in the arms, legs and back of the neck by grenade fragments." John who is with the 173rd Airborne Division, wrote his parents that he was leaving last Tuesday for 32 days of combat. "He operated an M-60 machine gun", Plunkard said, "the kind the Viet Cong are so afraid of." "He played football at Frederick High School - they called him the boy with the golden foot because out of 23 kicks, (for points after touchdowns) he only missed one," Plunkard added. The Plunkard's were one of 18 families who met at the Amvets headquarters last night to exchange news and pictures from their boys. During the evening, three service men recently returned from Viet Nam, answered questions ranging from the weather to the number of crocodiles in the water and to how to send cookies that stay fresh. A medic, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Charles Nicholls who was stationed in Saigon, said, "The worst type of malaria is found in Viet Nam. It is not as susceptible to treatment as the other two types." U.S. Army Spec. 5 Donald Butterfield, stationed in Saigon for 10 months, and U.S. Army Capt. Marvin D. Brailsford, who spent a year in the central highlands a father asked "How do you tell friend from foe, that's what I want to know?" "That's the problem. It would be over real quick if we could solve that one," Capt. Brailsford said. After the questions, Capt. Brailsford told a reporter that he had been an advisor to the Vietnamese. "My Vietnamese counterpart and I established a definite rapport. There have been instances of the peasants working in rice paddies during the day and fighting with the Cong at night, but I went out on every operation with the Vietnamese and saw no instance of treachery. You have to believe in them until something happens," he said. Everyone at the gathering had something to add to the conversation. A smiling dark haired girl, Mrs. Bruce Rhoderick of Braddock Heights, said her baby is due in about three weeks. U.S. Army Spec 4 Rhoderick, who left Frederick Jan. 3, is stationed at Qui Nhom. "He doesn't write about the war very much," she said. "He's as excited about the baby as I am," she beamed. Joseph Rhoderick of Braddock Heights, Bruce's father, said "The boys are just waiting for the cigars, but they can't have them until the baby is born." As slides of Viet Nam sent from Nha Trang by U.S. Air Force Lt. Donald Brown of Point of Rocks, flashed across the screen, families watched intently. They were here in Frederick yet their hopes and prayers were with their loved ones 8,000 miles away in that puzzling land called Viet Nam.
(PHOTO CAPTION) Their Son Injured- Mr. and Mrs. John L. Plunkard of RFD 2 Frederick intently watch the slides at the Red Cross get-together for families with men serving in Viet Nam. The Plunkards received a telegram Monday afternoon reporting that their son, Pfc. John Plunkard of the 173rd Airborne Division, was injured by grenade fragments.

FREDERICK NEWS-POST June 08, 1966
"THIS WAR IS HELL" - A LETTER FROM VIET NAM
"This is the craziest war I believe any country could get in. The only word I can say to even come close, (to what the war is like) is the word HELL because that's just what it is .... the things you go through and see just drives you to hate with a passion." These are the words contained in a letter from Pfc. John F. Plunkard of Frederick, now serving with the 173rd Airborne Division in Viet Nam. The letter from Plunkard, 19-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Plunkard, was written to the local Army recruiter, Sfc. William (Reds) Irving, while the young soldier was recuperating from wounds received by grenade fragments in Combat in late May. "If we would only declare war I think every American over here would put more effort in it." "The way everybody thinks," the 1965 Frederick High School graduate writes, "is - 'Why should we fight when nobody has even declared war?' I think the reason we're still here is to save our face. We're in it too deep to pull out now." "I don't think people back in Frederick understand just what its like over here. They don't know a one-sixteenth of what its like, " Plunkard writes. "You know, when I came over here I had pity on these people but now that's all gone. After I've seen my best friends get all shot-up and killed I've changed tactics," the young soldier says. "They tell us to hold your fire until fired upon, but now I'm gonna drop the first person I see in black P.J.'s whether it be man woman or beast." "I hate to talk like this, but if you could go through what I've seen in the past two months you would agree, I'm sure." Signed ....... Pfc. John L. Plunkard, a fellow soldier.

FREDERICK NEWS-POST August 11, 1966
HEROISM IN VIET NAM: LOCAL SOLDIER WINS BRONZE STAR
A 19-year old Frederick County soldier has been awarded the bronze star for heroism in Viet Nam. Pfc. John F. Plunkard, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Plunkard, RFD 2, Frederick, was awarded the medal with "V" Device on Aug. 3 for saving a fellow soldier who fell wounded on top of a Viet Cong position. The citation honoring Plunkard tells the story. On May 19, Plunkard, a member of Co. A, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry, was engaged with his unit in a fire fight with the Viet Cong on the outskirts of the village of Xa Long Phouc in Phunc Tuy Province. His platoon, the citation says, suffered heavy casualties. As they moved to drive out entrenched Viet Cong on the edge of the village, one of Plunkard's comrades fell wounded within arm's reach of the Viet Cong. Plunkard saw the soldier fall and went after him, firing his rifle to keep the Viet Cong from dragging the wounded man into the trench. In making the rescue Plunkard killed two of the enemy and routed the remainder in the trench. Plunkard then dragged the unconcious soldier back to his own lines before rejoining the assault that overran the Viet Cong. The concluding sentence of the citation pays tribute to Plunkard as follows "Private First Class Plunkard's outstanding display of aggressiveness, devotion to duty and personal bravery is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army." Two days later, May 21, Plunkard was wounded in action and along with the bronze star he was awarded the Purple Heart for "wounds received in connection with military operations against a hostile force." Today, Pfc. John Plunkard, after a two months stay in a hospital recovering from his wounds, is once again on duty in Viet Nam, continuing what he started when he enlisted in the army in September 1965.

FREDERICK NEW-POST April 26, 1967
HONORED BY DAV {PHOTO}
The Washington and Lee Post 5 of the Disabled American Veterans honored two Frederick servicemen, John Plunkard Jr., right, and Ronald Weddle, who were wounded in Viet Nam by inducting them into the local post and by presenting them with civilian medals commemorating their military purple hearts. The medals were in the form of lapel pins marking the two as servicemen wounded by hostile forces. The induction and presentation was made by Harvey I. Showe, Jr., new elected commander of the post.

FREDERICK NEWS-POST April 16, 1968
FREDERICK ATHLETE, PARATROOPER IS KILLED IN VIETNAM FIGHTING
A 21-year old Frederick man, serving his second tour in Vietnam, died of gunshot wounds last week, while his unit, which was engaged in a combat operation, came under hostile rocket attack. Sgt. John Francis Plunkard, son of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Plunkard of RFD 2, Frederick, was serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 505 Infantry, 82nd Airborne Division. He had been assigned to them since April 3, 1967. A 1965 graduate of Frederick High School, Plunkard entered the Army, Sept. 20, 1965. Surviving in addition to his parents are two sisters, Carol, 13, at home, and Mrs. Ann Plunkard Fritz of East Patrick Street; and his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Beatrice Tyler of South Jefferson Street. Prior to his military induction, Plunkard was a member of the Frederick Order of DeMolay Chapter, Francis Scott Key Boy Scout Troop, Frederick Lions midget football team, and the Araby and Linden Hills softball teams. During high school he participated in varsity and junior varsity football, junior varsity and varsity track, and the Recreation Council. The paratrooper was a member of the Disabled Veterans, and was previoulsy employed by Frederick Lumber and Supply Company. Prior to notification of their son's death, Mr. and Mrs. Plunkard had received word that John was missing in action.

FREDERICK NEWS-POST April 25, 1968
SGT. PLUNKARD RITES SATURDAY
Funeral services for Sgt. John Francis Plunkard, 21, of Rt. 2 Frederick, who was killed in action against the enemy in South Vietnam, will be held Saturday morning at the M.R. Etchison & Son Funeral Home. "Johnny" Plunkard was a well known athlete at Frederick High School where he specialized in kicking extra points. He was dubbed the "Golden Toe." He was born in Frederick the son of John L. and Frances Everhart Plunkard who survive. Also surviving are one brother, Carroll L (Joe) Plunkard, at home; one sister, Mrs. Ann Plunkard Fritz, Frederick; his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Beatrice Taylor and maternal great-grandmother, Mrs. Susie Goode of Frederick. Sgt. Plunkard was a member of the United Presbyterian Church. Prior to his military induction he was a member of the Frederick Order of DeMolay Chapter, Francis Scott Key Boy Scout Troop, the Frederick Lions Midget Football team, and the Araby and Linden Hills softball teams, the Disabled Veterans and a former employee of the Frederick Lumber Company. Friends may call at the M.R. Etchison & Son Funeral Home, 106 East Church Street, on Thursday and Friday evenings from 7 to 9. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home Saturday morning at 11. The Rev. Donald W. Bracken, pastor of the United Presbyterian Church, and the Rev. W. Merval Weaver, pastor emeritus of the United Prebyterian Church, will officiate. Interment will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery.

FREDERICK NEWS-POST April 29, 1968
SGT. JOHN F. PLUNKARD
The funeral of Sgt. John Francis Plunkard, who died in Viet Nam, took place from the M.R. Etchison & Son Funeral Home, 106 E. Church Street, Saturady at 11 a.m. The Rev. Donald W. Bracken, pastor and the Rev. W. Merval Weaver, pastor emeritus of the United Presbyterian Church, officiated. Pallbearers were Sgt. Blaine Smith, Sgt. Gerald Green, Randy Weddle, Cpl. Darrell Taylor, S-Sgt. Al Duncan and Cpl. Craig Roderick. Military honors were accorded Sgt. Plunkard by Fort Detrick Post Honor Guard in charge of N.C.O.I.C.- Sp5 Richard A. Fugarino. Bugler was Sp4 Charles Mollick. Flag Detail Sp5 Robert A. Uhrin, Sp5 Richard A. Fugarino. Honor guard Sp5 Donald R. Mengel, Sp5 Robert G. Cuba, Sp4 Broc G. Zoller, Sp4 Gary L. Williams, Sp4 Charles L. Warnick, Pfc. Henricksen and Pvt. William O. Schalla. Interment was in Mount Olivet Cemetery.

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