If your Corvette was built during the Vietnam era, from the mid-60s to the mid-70s, there's a unique resource you may need to use to confirm a first or early owner.
You see, many young men who were drafted into military service bought Corvettes either right before they went into the service or upon graduation from boot camp. All too often, these owners were shipped off to fight in the Vietnam war before they had much time to enjoy their Vettes. And many of these owners never returned.
How do you know if your Vette was once owned by a Vietnam era recruit? Check the owner's address information you have. If the town where the owner lived houses or is near a military base that was active during that era, there's a good chance your Vette's owner fits this profile.
One online resource that can quickly confirm whether or not your car's owner was a Vietnam casualty is The Wall web site. The search facility at this web site lets you enter a first and last name. The search results list any matches for the name you entered. If there is a match, you can view details about the individual and confirm whether the person listed on The Wall is the owner you may be looking for.
This probably isn't the information you'd like to find for a past owner of your Vette, but if the owner is listed on the wall, at least you know what happened to him.
You'll also know that owner's hometown, where you might be able to find some relatives who remember the car.
Now, PLEASE use a little common sense and compassion if you try to contact these relatives! The hurt of losing a son, brother, or husband lasts a long time. If the car you're researching was that young man's pride and joy, just hearing about it may bring back a flood of painful memories.
If you don't find a name match on the wall, but believe the past owner may be a veteran, you can use a variety of military resources to help find the owner. Note: Discharge papers are sent to the VA at the enlistment location, which is not necessarily the owner's hometown!
| In a cemetary in the rolling hills of northern
New England, nestled between the more traditional markers, you'll find a unique gravestone
that bears the name of a young man and the engraved image of a Stingray Corvette. This
marker was erected by the parents of a beloved son who died in Vietnam, and whose proudest
possession was his Corvette. I don't know what happened to the Vette. For me, it's enough to know that the brief pleasures it brought its young owner will never be forgotten. YL |
Here are some resources you may find helpful.
Online Resources |
|
| The Wall | Searchable database of Viet Nam casualties. |
| Military Locator | Searchable database of active, retiree, and veteran military personnel. |
| Air Force Locator | Information only for offline requests. |
| Army Locator | Information only for offline requests. |
Offline Resources |
|
| World Wide Locator Ft. Benjamin Harrison, IN 46216 |
For currently enlisted personnel. Send a letter stating the full name, including middle initial, and social security number. You will get a letter stating where the person is currently stationed. Fee: $2.85 |
| Army Retirees Commander ARPERCEN, Attn: DARP-PAS-EVS 9700 Page Blvd St. Louis, MO 63132-5200 |
Fee: $3.50. Make check payable to Treasurer of the US. |
| Air Force Retirees H1 AFMPC/DPMD003 Randolph AFB, TX 78150-6001 |
Fee: $3.50. |
| Marine Corps Retirees HQ USMC (MSRB-13) Washington, DC 20380 |
|
| Vietnam Veteran Memorial Info Guest Services Inc. 3055 Prosperity Ave. Fairfax, VA 22031 202-634-1568 |
Book available containing directory of names is $28. |
| How to Locate
Anyone Who Is or Has Been in the Military Lt. Col. Richard S. Johnson |
An excellent specialized reference book. Click on the title to order a copy from Amazon Books. |
All works contained herein are considered copyrighted subject matter and
cannot be reproduced without the written permission of the original author or the Yankee
Lady .
Copyright Barbara Spear 1996, 1997, January 1998