11/26/1966
SP4 Jerry Wayne Corkern was killed on 26 November 1966. SP4 Corkern was assigned to 133rd Ordnance Detachment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal). SP4 Corkern was the first U.S. Army specialist killed in the Republic of Vietnam. SP4 Corkern was killed and another Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialist was wounded when a Chinese Communist stick fragmentation grendae exploded while they were examining it.
I went to school with Jerry – he was 2 years ahead of me, an Eagle Scout. His dad taught math all 4 years of high school. The town of Ponchatoula mourned when Jerry was killed by the grenade. May his memory inspire us all to greater service. David