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In Memory of Army Captain

Verlyn Gwen Meyer

Lennox, South Dakota, Lincoln County

September 20, 1942 - August 22, 1968

Gun platoon leader of a military aircraft hit by small arms fire near Bao Lac in Lam Dong Province, South Vietnam

   

Verlyn Gwen Meyer was born in Lennox, South Dakota, on September 20, 1942, to Elmer J. and Dena (Oltmanns) Meyer. He had one sister, Marlene, and one brother, Delwin. He grew up in Lennox and graduated from high school there in 1960. Verlyn graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1964. He was awarded an Army Reserve Commission upon graduation from college and reported for active duty. Verlyn was married on June 8, 1962 to Muriel Maye Sherard. Two daughters, Pamela and Cheryl, were born to this union.

Verlyn Meyer entered the Army on August 6, 1964, and trained at Fort Benning, Georgia. He served his first tour of duty in Vietnam until late August 1966, attached to the 101st Airborne Division. After a year in Fort Carson, Colorado, he was again assigned to Vietnam for his second tour of duty on November 2, 1967, as a member of the 92nd Assault Helicopter Company.

On August 22, 1968 Captain Verlyn G. Meyer was flying a night mission in support of Task Force South when his UH-IC gunship came under small arms fire near Bao Lac in Lam Dong Province, South Vietnam. The helicopter was gunned down, and all four crewmembers were killed on impact.

Captain Verlyn Meyer loved to fly helicopters, and was a very accomplished pilot. He flew innumerable missions, having spent several hundred hours in combat flight. During his two tours of duty in Vietnam, Captain Meyer was twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Purple Heart with First through Third Oak Leaf Clusters, the Silver Star, the Air Medal with First through Thirteenth Oak Leaf Clusters, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, and the Army Aviator Badge.

Captain Verlyn Gwen Meyer is buried in the Lennox Cemetery, in Lennox, South Dakota. His name can be found on Panel 47W, Line 029 of the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. Captain Meyer is survived by all of his immediate family members, now to include grandchildren and great-grandchildren. All who knew and loved him remember him often and dearly.

This entry was respectfully submitted by Levi William Meyer, 8th Grade, Stanley County Middle School, Fort Pierre, South Dakota, February 23, 2006. Marlene Castle, Desoto, Missouri, sister to Captain Verlyn Meyer, his daughter, Pam Allison, Manassas, Virginia, and TJ Bynum via the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund website at http://www.vvmf.org/ provided the information.