In Memory of John Platt

Killed in Vietnam

— May 24, 1969 —

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 30, 2021

1. In Memory of John Platt Marker

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John Herbert Platt, (U.S. Army, Private First Class PFC [E-3]), was raised in the rural town of Early in Sac County. He originally joined the Iowa Army National Guard but was mobilized in 1968 along with others from the 133rd Infantry Regiment and assigned to the 1st Infantry Division, nicknamed “The Big Red 1.” PFC Platt was sent to Vietnam in February 1969 serving as an infantryman. He was killed by small arms fire on May 24, 1969 in an engagement with the enemy southwest of An Loc. PFC Platt was 20 years old at the time of his death. His body was returned to Iowa and buried at the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Early. Platt was featured in the infamous 1969 LIFE magazine cover article entitled "The Faces of the American Dead in Vietnam: One Week's Toll."

Birth Date: July 7, 1948
Casualty Date: May 24, 1969
War: Vietnam War
Service Branch: Army
Rank: Private First Class
Specialty: Light Weapons Infantry
Unit/Group: 1st Infantry Division, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry, A Company
Casualty Type: Died through hostile action... small arms fire
Location: South Vietnam, Binh

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 30, 2021

2. In Memory of John Platt Memorial

Long Province
Notable Awards: ★ Purple Heart

Honored on panel 24W, line 97 of The Wall.

A reunion of former members and families of the 2nd Battalion, 133rd Infantry (2-133rd Inf. aka "2nd Mech") will be held Sat., Sept. 14, 2013. The event will commemorate the 45th anniversary of the unit’s mobilization for the Vietnam War in 1968, and the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Vietnam War in 1963. On March 3, 1966, Major General Junior F. Miller, the adjutant general of Iowa, announced that the Iowa National Guard had three units, to include the “2nd Mech,” that were in a high-priority category in the event combat operations in Vietnam escalated. That same month, the unit began conducting combat maneuvers in the Loess Hills of Western Iowa, 18 miles north of Sioux City. After receiving the message from the battalion executive officer “to have their personal affairs in order so they could be ready to go in 7 days,” the 863 soldiers of the “2nd Mech” were mobilized

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 30, 2021

3. In Memory of John Platt Memorial

Looking northeast from Main Street, Early City Hall & Public library in background.

for federal service on May 13, 1968 and stationed at Camp Carson, Colo. Selected unit members were later deployed from Camp Carson to Vietnam for combat duty.

After spending nearly 20 months on active duty in 1968-69, 851 of the original 863 unit members returned to state control on December 31, 1969. Of the original 863 soldiers, 385 saw combat in Vietnam with active duty U.S. Army units, 63 were wounded in action (WIA), and 12 were killed in action (KIA).