art gelalles mommaknows1@msn.com no physical relation, but spiritual 4419 Burlington Drive Winter Haven, FL 33880 USA Remembering 4/28/00 On the network news tonite I saw an article devoted to this last young man who died in Viet Nam, on the 25th anniversary of the end of that sad war. They showed his parents and his grave. What a shame that there is no eulogy for him on this Website. He is unique in being the last of some 58,000 of our boys that we lost over there. I myself count several of my Naval Aviation friends who went the same route in '65-'66, they were earlier though. May all of them rest in peace, there is not much more to say. Art Gelalles Friday, April 28, 2000 |
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Tom Tweed tmt@frontiernet.net spiritual I would like to comment on Darwin's death, being he was the last to die defending his country from the threat of communism. I feel so sorry for you! Thank you for your courage and volunteering to serve. Saturday, April 29, 2000 |
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Mark Catrambone IN MEMORY OF C. McMAHON Jr. & D. JUDGE Throughout his last month in-country, Potratz displayed an unerring knack for making crucial decisions on particularly ominous occasions. He married his Vietnamese girlfriend on 4 April - the same day Da Nang fell to the communsts. He then arrived at Tan Son Nhut Air Base with his wife and 4-year-old stepdaughter the same day South Vietnamese President Ngyen Van Thieu resigned from ofice on 21 April. Frustrated by red tape, endless hours of waiting and fruitless attempts at securing a flight out of the country, " I was ready to scream," Potratz recalled. " Judge came up to me and said,' Sergeant Potratz, I know the guy who fills out the plane manifest. Give me the paperwork, and I'll get your family on the next flight out.'" Displaying typical Marine resourcefulness, Judge returned a few minutes later, picked up Potratz's stepdaughter and a suitcase,and escorted the family to the plane. " That was the last time I saw Darwin Judge alive," Potratz said. " He was my hero that day."" If it weren't for the 'Darwin Judges' and the 'Charles McMahons'," he reflected, " thousands of Americans and Vietnamese would not have made it out of the country and lived a fuller life." Saturday, April 30, 2005 |
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Neil Wilson

Sunday, June 12, 2005 |
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Andrew Schwake andyschwake@bellsouth.net Friend, Fellow Marine 3176 Pilgrims Dr. Douglasville, GA 30135 USA You Are Not Forgotten On a cold, sleeting Veteran's Day, 1983, a lone U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal in full dress blues stood before Darwin's grave on the grassy hill of Rose Hill Cemetery off highway 30 in Marshalltown, Iowa. This Marine stood motionless at attention while reciting the Lord's Prayer with bowed head. While he stood, the sound of squealing tires could be heard from the highway just to the south, as cars came to a stop and observed. After placing a single red rose on this fallen Hero's final resting place, the Marine slowly saluted and reverently marched off the hill. Looking down the hill to the highway, the Marine saw half dozen vehicles pulled over off the road to witness this tribute. I know this, because I am that Marine. I had to call Henry & Ida to locate his grave, but did so hesitantly because of sentiment and actions of callous callers in the past after Darwin's sacrifice. Darwin was a close, personal friend of my brother, who encouraged me to go ahead and call when I told him of my intentions. Darwin befriended me, a 12 yr old lad, who never forgot. Darwin you are greatly missed, but never forgotten. (Fmr) Staff Sergeant Andy Schwake, U.S. Marine Corps. Marshalltown High School, circa 1979. Go With God My Brother! Friday, July 01, 2005 |
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Colin Broussard colinbroussard@cs.com Fellow Marine in Vietnam LCpl Darwin Judge USMC - KIA Vietnam http://www.fallofsaigon.org/judge.htm

We honor our fallen Marine on our web page and here. We honor his parents and home town friends. He was a fine young Marine who died at 19 years old. Darwin Judge and Cpl Charles McMahon both died together due to a rocket attack. He is not far from any of our minds. May he rest in peace. Friday, October 12, 2001 |
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Grateful American Wilmington, Delaware USA One of the last to die in Vietnam. Rest in peace, brave soldier. You are not forgotten. Wednesday, April 28, 2004 |
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SEMPER FI BEAUMONT, TEXAS I first read about LCpl Judge about four days ago. I have visisted this page at least once every day afterwards trying to find the appropriate words to say. I was brought to tears by the different stories I resd sbout him. From what I have read about LCpl Judge, he represented everything the Boy Scouts, the Marine Corps, and America stands for. I am thankful that our country had brave young men like LCpl Judge to fight, and in some cases, die for what they believed. Thank you my fellow Eagle, Marine, and American. Semper Fi, and rest in peace my young hero. Saturday, September 04, 2004 |
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