In Memory of U.S.
Army Sergeant First Class
Raymond Alvin Adam was born in Hosmer, South Dakota on
October 19, 1934, to Mr. Gottlieb and Mrs. Emma Adam. His
hometown was Leola, McPherson County, South Dakota. He had six
siblings: Elmer, Helmuth, Esther, Milbert, Milton, and Harry.
Raymond went to school in Hosmer and graduated from Hosmer High
School in 1954.
He enlisted in the Army as a private in November of 1954,
during the Korean War. He went on to serve in the Army for
twelve years. During his service, he completed such courses as
Combat Arms Advanced NCO Course, Non-Commissioned Officer
Academy, Survival Training, Projectionist Course, and Cold
Weather Operations& Ski Instructors Course in Alaska. When 29,
in May of 1963, Raymond married his wife Rosa, in Colorado
Springs, Colorado, while he was stationed near there. Sergeant
Adam was later sent across the seas to Viet Nam. In January,
while he was stationed over seas, his wife gave birth to baby
girl whom they named Jennie Lynn. He was never able to see his
baby.
In his last letter home to his parents, dated April 11,
Raymond wrote: “Well only got 3 ½ months to go, and I know for
sure now that I’m going back to Ft. Carson, Colo again. I’m sure
glad about that, no worries about having to move. I’ll sure be
glad when this is over with.” At the bottom of his letter, he
signed off with “105 days to go.”
Sergeant First Class Raymond A. Adam died April 21, 1964,
when Raymond, his captain, their Vietnamese interpreter, and two
armed guards were driving an army jeep from the Cai Son Self
Defense Corps Training Center to Can Tho. Suddenly their jeep
hit an enemy land mine, which exploded, killing all 5 men
instantly.
In a letter to Raymond’s parents,
Robert S. McGowan wrote, providing further details:
Your son died as he lived, superbly
performing his duties as training advisor of our Cai Son
Self Defense Corps Training Center. He was on his way from
the training center to Can Tho when a mine was electrically
exploded under his jeep. Sergeant Adam died instantly—he
felt no pain. I was at the scene a short time later and
supervised his final departure from Cai Son. An impromptu
honor guard of the local SDC soldiers who knew your son,
were trained by him, and loved him as we, his comrades, in
arms do, lent heartfelt military dignity to Sergeant Adam’s
farewell from his place of duty. Some of them were without
shoes, others had only partial uniforms, but they were rigid
in their salute, and their eyes were moist—they had lost a
friend. Vinh Long, and the Republic of Vietnam, are better
today because of your son’s being here.
His body was returned to the United States and funeral
services were held on April 30, 1964, in Colorado Springs,
Colorado. There he was buried and remains at rest. Soon after
his widow Rosa accepted his Purple Heart award from Colonel H.
R. Hurst.
Besides the Purple Heart, Raymond Adam was awarded the
Bronze Star Medal, the Good Conduct Medal (2), the National
Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal with two bronze
service stars, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with one bronze
service star, the Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze service
star, United Nations Service Medal, Expert Badge with Rifle Bar,
and the Combat Infantryman Badge (2).
I will always remember the service Sergeant Raymond A. Adam
contributed to the Vietnam War as well as to the United States
of America.
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Dedication Promotional Video
