My father recently told me about a family member who died in Vietnam, so on this Memorial Day, we are celebrating him: Private Roger Allen Kros.
Roger is the son of Cornelius and Hilda (Boersema) Kros. Cornelius and my paternal great-grandfather, John, are brothers.
On the website Honor States, it says that Roger was a private in the U.S. Army and killed in action during Operation MacArthur/Binh Tay at Dak To on November 19, 1967, while serving as a Light Vehicle Driver with the HHC of the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Division. He enlisted in the Army on September 20, 1966 and started his tour on March 3, 1967. He was only 19 years old.
Roger was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and is honored on the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington DC.
No matter how anyone feels about the Vietnam War, we thank Roger for serving and giving his life on behalf of our country on this Memorial Day.
