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In Memory of U.S. Marine Corporal

Mark Ernest Stoltenburg

Watertown, South Dakota, Codington County

October 29, 1945 -- July 21, 1966

Died of Wounds Received in Action in Vietnam

Mark Ernest Stoltenburg was born October 29, 1945, in Mankato, Minnesota, to Ernest and Florene Stoltenburg. He had two brothers, John and Ned, and two sisters, Nancy and Marcia. Mark lived in both Ortonville, Minnesota, and Watertown, South Dakota. He graduated from Watertown High School in 1963. Mark liked horses, so he and John bought a horse, Lightning, but later traded it for another horse, Queenie. Mark also liked to hunt and ride motorcycles, especially his Harley which he rode to work after school even during the winter. Mark had hopes of becoming a law enforcement officer after his military service.

Mark Stoltenburg enlisted in the Marine Corps and did his basic training at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, California and was stationed in Paris Island in South Carolina and Okinawa, Japan for thirteen months before his re-enlistment. He was sent to Vietnam in January of 1966 a member of the 3rd Battalion, 4th Regiment, 3rd Marine Division.

Corporal Mark Ernest Stoltenburg was killed in the vicinity of Quang Tri Province in Vietnam “as the result of gunshot wounds sustained while participating in an operation against hostile forces” on July 21, 1966. His body was recovered and sent back to the United States and he was buried with military honors at the Mount Hope Cemetery in Watertown. Among his awards was the Purple Heart.

Currently Mark is survived by his parents of New Ulm, Minnesota; sisters: Nancy Schumann, Waukesha, Wisconsin and Marcia Hutchins, Prior Lake, Minnesota, and brothers: John Stoltenburg, Cottage Grove, Minnesota, and Ned Stoltenburg, West Burlington, Iowa.

This entry was respectfully submitted by Ashley Steele, 8th grade student, Spearfish Middle School, March 22nd, 2006. Information for this entry was provided by Watertown Public Opinion issues July 25th, 1966 and August 3rd, 1966, and Roxy Everson, cousin. Additional information and profile approval by the Stoltenburg family via John Stoltenburg.