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Sgt William Michael Copley
Monument

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Sgt William Michael Copley Veteran

Birth
Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio, USA
Death
16 Nov 1968 (aged 19)
Laos
Monument
Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, USA GPS-Latitude: 21.3135986, Longitude: -157.8470306
Plot
Courts of the Missing
Memorial ID
View Source
In Memory of ....... SSGT William Michael Copley.
*** Staff Sergeant Copley was a member of the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam Studies and Observation Group, Command and Control North. On November 16, 1968, he was the assistant to the team leader on a reconnaissance patrol 16 miles inside Laos west of Ben Het and had been wounded. He was declared Missing in Action. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial. .


You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in those who knew you. You will live on because we remember you!



WILLIAM MICHAEL COPLEY - Army - SSGT - E6
5th Special Forces
Age: 24
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth May 22, 1949
William Copley was born in Columbus, Ohio and joined the Army at age 18 in Los Angeles California.
From: NORTHRIDGE, CA
Religion: LUTHERAN & MISSOURI SYNOD
Marital Status: Single - Parents: Father, William R. Copley, Born Dec. 19, 1923 and Died Jan. 1984 at the age of 61 yrs and Mother, Monoka O. Spurgeon Copley is 93 yrs old, both of San Jose, CA, Redding, CA and Sun City, AZ.
his sister Cathy J. Copley. Chelsea I Copley.
* Maternal Grandparents: Owen G. Spurgeon, born July 21, 1882 and Died Dec. 12, 1977, FAG #134945799 and Alda Lodge Spurgeon, Born July 1, 1889 and Died April 4, 1984 FAG #134945711.

**** I'll never forget my cousin Mike's visit with my family before he went over to Viet Nam. I was just 13 at the time but even then I knew how dangerous his mission would be. We all are still so proud of you Mike! Always in my heart, your cousin Jean Anita
Jean Spurgeon-Worley
Feb. 10, 2017

***** "United States Social Security Death Index"
Given Name: William
Middle Name: M
Surname: Copley
Birth Date: 22 May 1949
Social Security Number: 549-70-1461
State: California
Event Date: 11 February 1974
Age: 25

***** United States Census, 1940
Name: Monoka D Spurgeon - THIS IS YOUR MOM....
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1940
Event Place: Ward 6, Mansfield City, Madison Township, Richland, Ohio, United States
Gender: Female
Age: 18
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
Relationship to Head of Household: Daughter
Birthplace: Ohio
Birth Year (Estimated): 1922
Last Place of Residence: Rural, Richland, Ohio
Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
Owen G Spurgeon Head M 56 West Virginia - Grandfather
Alda Spurgeon Wife F 50 West Virginia - Grandmother
Merle Spurgeon Son M 26 West Virginia
Weldon Dyer Spurgeon - Son 21 West Virginia FAG # 134945912.
Monoka D Spurgeon Daughter F 18 Ohio
Owen A Spurgeon Son M 10 Ohio
Berlen Spurgeon Son M 7 Ohio




Casualty was on Nov. 13, 1968
In LAOS
Hostile, died while missing, GROUND CASUALTY
Body was not recovered
Panel 39W - Line 72


Other Personnel In Incident: (none missing)


William Copley was born in Columbus, Ohio and joined the Army at age 18 in Los Angeles California. When he went to Vietnam, after Special Forces training, he was attached to MACV-SOG , Command & Control North.

On November 13, 1968, SP4 Copley was serving as the assistant to the team leader on a reconnaissance patrol in Laos. The patrol, together with an unspecified number of indigenous personnel, was ambushed 16 miles inside
Laos west of Ben Het prior to establishing overnight positions.

SP4 Copley was wounded in the initial burst of fire. The bullet entered his upper left shoulder and exited through the middle of his back.

A teammate, SSgt. Roger T. Loe, carried Copley on his back until he tripped after traveling a short distance, tried to administer first aid until Copley's face showed signs of death, and was forced to leave because of pursuit by hostile forces.

From November 13-15, a search team was in the area and attempted to locate Copley, but they were forced to withdraw on November 15th when they were ambushed.



**********************************
.
In Memory of ....... SSGT William Michael Copley.
*** Staff Sergeant Copley was a member of the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam Studies and Observation Group, Command and Control North. On November 16, 1968, he was the assistant to the team leader on a reconnaissance patrol 16 miles inside Laos west of Ben Het and had been wounded. He was declared Missing in Action. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial. .


You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in those who knew you. You will live on because we remember you!



WILLIAM MICHAEL COPLEY - Army - SSGT - E6
5th Special Forces
Age: 24
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth May 22, 1949
William Copley was born in Columbus, Ohio and joined the Army at age 18 in Los Angeles California.
From: NORTHRIDGE, CA
Religion: LUTHERAN & MISSOURI SYNOD
Marital Status: Single - Parents: Father, William R. Copley, Born Dec. 19, 1923 and Died Jan. 1984 at the age of 61 yrs and Mother, Monoka O. Spurgeon Copley is 93 yrs old, both of San Jose, CA, Redding, CA and Sun City, AZ.
his sister Cathy J. Copley. Chelsea I Copley.
* Maternal Grandparents: Owen G. Spurgeon, born July 21, 1882 and Died Dec. 12, 1977, FAG #134945799 and Alda Lodge Spurgeon, Born July 1, 1889 and Died April 4, 1984 FAG #134945711.

**** I'll never forget my cousin Mike's visit with my family before he went over to Viet Nam. I was just 13 at the time but even then I knew how dangerous his mission would be. We all are still so proud of you Mike! Always in my heart, your cousin Jean Anita
Jean Spurgeon-Worley
Feb. 10, 2017

***** "United States Social Security Death Index"
Given Name: William
Middle Name: M
Surname: Copley
Birth Date: 22 May 1949
Social Security Number: 549-70-1461
State: California
Event Date: 11 February 1974
Age: 25

***** United States Census, 1940
Name: Monoka D Spurgeon - THIS IS YOUR MOM....
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1940
Event Place: Ward 6, Mansfield City, Madison Township, Richland, Ohio, United States
Gender: Female
Age: 18
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
Relationship to Head of Household: Daughter
Birthplace: Ohio
Birth Year (Estimated): 1922
Last Place of Residence: Rural, Richland, Ohio
Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
Owen G Spurgeon Head M 56 West Virginia - Grandfather
Alda Spurgeon Wife F 50 West Virginia - Grandmother
Merle Spurgeon Son M 26 West Virginia
Weldon Dyer Spurgeon - Son 21 West Virginia FAG # 134945912.
Monoka D Spurgeon Daughter F 18 Ohio
Owen A Spurgeon Son M 10 Ohio
Berlen Spurgeon Son M 7 Ohio




Casualty was on Nov. 13, 1968
In LAOS
Hostile, died while missing, GROUND CASUALTY
Body was not recovered
Panel 39W - Line 72


Other Personnel In Incident: (none missing)


William Copley was born in Columbus, Ohio and joined the Army at age 18 in Los Angeles California. When he went to Vietnam, after Special Forces training, he was attached to MACV-SOG , Command & Control North.

On November 13, 1968, SP4 Copley was serving as the assistant to the team leader on a reconnaissance patrol in Laos. The patrol, together with an unspecified number of indigenous personnel, was ambushed 16 miles inside
Laos west of Ben Het prior to establishing overnight positions.

SP4 Copley was wounded in the initial burst of fire. The bullet entered his upper left shoulder and exited through the middle of his back.

A teammate, SSgt. Roger T. Loe, carried Copley on his back until he tripped after traveling a short distance, tried to administer first aid until Copley's face showed signs of death, and was forced to leave because of pursuit by hostile forces.

From November 13-15, a search team was in the area and attempted to locate Copley, but they were forced to withdraw on November 15th when they were ambushed.



**********************************
.

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