Copy and Paste the following http://virtualwall.org/da/AllenMR01a.htm
into your address line for more information on LCPL Merlin Raye Allen
Home to the bucolic place where he grew up, played basketball, swam in Lake Superior, decided to enlist in the Marines and left to go to war.
For 46 years Allen has been gone, one of many American troops missing in action from the Vietnam War. A joint U.S. and Vietnamese recovery team last year found remains at a helicopter crash site in Thua Thien-Hue province that in February were positively identified as Allen's.
In the Bayfield High School gym where Allen played basketball for the Trollers, his family, friends, Class of '65 classmates, veterans and townsfolk turned out to honor a warrior who loved being a Marine.
Allen's father bought York Island in the late 1930s, and the family was forced to sell it to the federal government when the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore was created in the early '70s. But before they sold the island, they gave a few acres to the Town of Russell where Allen's parents are buried and a small memorial for Allen was installed. Merl Allen was home at last. ∼
Burial on Apostle Islands on Lake Superior.
LCpl Merlin (Merl) Raye Allen, born October 22, 1946 in Madison Wisconsin and listed as KIA/BNR since June 30, 1967 from a helicopter crash in Thua Thien-Hue Province, Vietnam, will be making his long-awaited return home to be laid to rest with his parents Alden and Eleanor Allen on York Island, Lake Superior.
Merl was second oldest of 6 children. He was best friend and confidant to his sister Marilyn, closest in age and considered his 'Irish Twin'. He was also big brother to Cindy, Casey, Sheila, and Sean by always looking out for them and sharing his big brother wisdom. Merl made life-long friends as the family moved from Madison to Winneconne, Omro and finally to Bayfield, where he graduated in 1965. Anyone who met Merl felt the loyalty of his friendship. He loved to play practical jokes, and if you found yourself a victim, you could not stay mad for very long when he flashed you one of his signature wide grins. To his parents, he was a source of fun and laughter and most assuredly their bigger challenge. As frustrating as it may have been to find him on the wrong side of right, it was equally difficult to stay mad at such a fun loving and kind person. He was 18 and he loved cars, nice clothes, pretty girls, basketball and rock and roll.
Upon graduating from high school and before enlisting in the US Marine Corp, Merl sailed on the William G. Mather of the Interlake Steamship Company and also worked at his uncle's machine shop, Shamrock Machine and Tool in Ashippun, Wisconsin. It was late October of 1965 and before their induction that Merl and his friend and classmate John Powers (Washburn) loaded up a case of oil for John's thirsty 1957 Ford station wagon and 50 pounds of potatoes, squash and other canned goods for themselves and headed to Alaska for a quick vacation. Upon reaching Fairbanks in 40 below temperatures, they turned around and returned via Sacramento California and Reno. While in Reno, they gambled and won $24 at a nickel slot machine which was enough to buy gas to get them home. When he returned home, Merl told Skip how much he loved Alaska and that the family needed to see it. It was on the summer vacation to Alaska in 1967 the family was notified by Royal Canadian Mounted Police to contact the Marines in Minneapolis regarding a fatality.
Merl loved being a Marine and Reconner. Trained as a radio operator, he served in Danang, Khe Sanh, and Phu Bai. His letters home were filled with stories of friends and experiences, but he was most proud of his decision to join Team Striker of the 3rd Recon Bn, 3rd Marine Division early in 1967. After the family learned of Merl's helicopter crash and being told there were no survivors, the family was left with few answers and kept unvoiced hope that he would be found alive. Over the years the family survived through the collective memory of Merl's many antics which either resulted in tears or side-splitting laughter. Answers finally came 16 years later when Skip and Eleanor answered a knock on their door and met Merl's best friend in Vietnam and survivor of the helicopter crash, Jeff Savelkoul. Through survivors Jeff and Mariano (Junior) Guy, the family finally learned the circumstances of Merl's death and they could begin to heal. It was always hoped that someday Merl might be found and returned home.
In February 2013 the family was notified that a Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command recovery team in 2012 recovered and later identified Merl's remains. Merl will be escorted home by a USMC honor guard that will include Team Striker brothers Jeff Savelkoul who will escort Merl from Hawaii to Wisconsin and Junior Guy who will escort Merl to his final rest on York Island. Awaiting his return home are his surviving brothers and sisters, Marilyn (Ralph) Neff of Saynor, Wisconsin, Cindy (Bart) Hawkins of Anchorage, Alaska, Casey (Kathy) Allen of Denham Springs, Louisiana, Sheila (Rick) Kelly of Washburn, Wisconsin, Sean (Cheri) Allen of Cambridge, Minnesota. In addition to his brothers and sisters, Merl is an uncle 10 times over and a great uncle 12 times. Merl's aunts, uncles and cousins stretch from Wyoming to Wisconsin to Florida.
The family invites everyone to join them to celebrate Merl's life and honor his sacrifice at his funeral that will be held 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, June 29, 2013 at the Bayfield High School Gymnasium. Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. on Friday, June 28, 2013 at the Bratley Funeral Home, in Washburn and continue one hour prior to the service on Saturday, at the Bayfield High School Gymnasium. The military honors will be held immediately following the service at Little Sand Bay. We look forward to hearing more of Merl's stories from those who knew him. Private burial will take place on York Island.
Arrangements are by the Bratley Funeral Home, in Washburn.
......................................................
Dad, Alden 1914-2001 and mom Eleanor (Dover) Allen 1924-1999 are beside him.
into your address line for more information on LCPL Merlin Raye Allen
Home to the bucolic place where he grew up, played basketball, swam in Lake Superior, decided to enlist in the Marines and left to go to war.
For 46 years Allen has been gone, one of many American troops missing in action from the Vietnam War. A joint U.S. and Vietnamese recovery team last year found remains at a helicopter crash site in Thua Thien-Hue province that in February were positively identified as Allen's.
In the Bayfield High School gym where Allen played basketball for the Trollers, his family, friends, Class of '65 classmates, veterans and townsfolk turned out to honor a warrior who loved being a Marine.
Allen's father bought York Island in the late 1930s, and the family was forced to sell it to the federal government when the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore was created in the early '70s. But before they sold the island, they gave a few acres to the Town of Russell where Allen's parents are buried and a small memorial for Allen was installed. Merl Allen was home at last. ∼
Burial on Apostle Islands on Lake Superior.
LCpl Merlin (Merl) Raye Allen, born October 22, 1946 in Madison Wisconsin and listed as KIA/BNR since June 30, 1967 from a helicopter crash in Thua Thien-Hue Province, Vietnam, will be making his long-awaited return home to be laid to rest with his parents Alden and Eleanor Allen on York Island, Lake Superior.
Merl was second oldest of 6 children. He was best friend and confidant to his sister Marilyn, closest in age and considered his 'Irish Twin'. He was also big brother to Cindy, Casey, Sheila, and Sean by always looking out for them and sharing his big brother wisdom. Merl made life-long friends as the family moved from Madison to Winneconne, Omro and finally to Bayfield, where he graduated in 1965. Anyone who met Merl felt the loyalty of his friendship. He loved to play practical jokes, and if you found yourself a victim, you could not stay mad for very long when he flashed you one of his signature wide grins. To his parents, he was a source of fun and laughter and most assuredly their bigger challenge. As frustrating as it may have been to find him on the wrong side of right, it was equally difficult to stay mad at such a fun loving and kind person. He was 18 and he loved cars, nice clothes, pretty girls, basketball and rock and roll.
Upon graduating from high school and before enlisting in the US Marine Corp, Merl sailed on the William G. Mather of the Interlake Steamship Company and also worked at his uncle's machine shop, Shamrock Machine and Tool in Ashippun, Wisconsin. It was late October of 1965 and before their induction that Merl and his friend and classmate John Powers (Washburn) loaded up a case of oil for John's thirsty 1957 Ford station wagon and 50 pounds of potatoes, squash and other canned goods for themselves and headed to Alaska for a quick vacation. Upon reaching Fairbanks in 40 below temperatures, they turned around and returned via Sacramento California and Reno. While in Reno, they gambled and won $24 at a nickel slot machine which was enough to buy gas to get them home. When he returned home, Merl told Skip how much he loved Alaska and that the family needed to see it. It was on the summer vacation to Alaska in 1967 the family was notified by Royal Canadian Mounted Police to contact the Marines in Minneapolis regarding a fatality.
Merl loved being a Marine and Reconner. Trained as a radio operator, he served in Danang, Khe Sanh, and Phu Bai. His letters home were filled with stories of friends and experiences, but he was most proud of his decision to join Team Striker of the 3rd Recon Bn, 3rd Marine Division early in 1967. After the family learned of Merl's helicopter crash and being told there were no survivors, the family was left with few answers and kept unvoiced hope that he would be found alive. Over the years the family survived through the collective memory of Merl's many antics which either resulted in tears or side-splitting laughter. Answers finally came 16 years later when Skip and Eleanor answered a knock on their door and met Merl's best friend in Vietnam and survivor of the helicopter crash, Jeff Savelkoul. Through survivors Jeff and Mariano (Junior) Guy, the family finally learned the circumstances of Merl's death and they could begin to heal. It was always hoped that someday Merl might be found and returned home.
In February 2013 the family was notified that a Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command recovery team in 2012 recovered and later identified Merl's remains. Merl will be escorted home by a USMC honor guard that will include Team Striker brothers Jeff Savelkoul who will escort Merl from Hawaii to Wisconsin and Junior Guy who will escort Merl to his final rest on York Island. Awaiting his return home are his surviving brothers and sisters, Marilyn (Ralph) Neff of Saynor, Wisconsin, Cindy (Bart) Hawkins of Anchorage, Alaska, Casey (Kathy) Allen of Denham Springs, Louisiana, Sheila (Rick) Kelly of Washburn, Wisconsin, Sean (Cheri) Allen of Cambridge, Minnesota. In addition to his brothers and sisters, Merl is an uncle 10 times over and a great uncle 12 times. Merl's aunts, uncles and cousins stretch from Wyoming to Wisconsin to Florida.
The family invites everyone to join them to celebrate Merl's life and honor his sacrifice at his funeral that will be held 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, June 29, 2013 at the Bayfield High School Gymnasium. Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. on Friday, June 28, 2013 at the Bratley Funeral Home, in Washburn and continue one hour prior to the service on Saturday, at the Bayfield High School Gymnasium. The military honors will be held immediately following the service at Little Sand Bay. We look forward to hearing more of Merl's stories from those who knew him. Private burial will take place on York Island.
Arrangements are by the Bratley Funeral Home, in Washburn.
......................................................
Dad, Alden 1914-2001 and mom Eleanor (Dover) Allen 1924-1999 are beside him.
Copy and Paste the following http://virtualwall.org/da/AllenMR01a.htm
into your address line for more information on LCPL Merlin Raye Allen
Home to the bucolic place where he grew up, played basketball, swam in Lake Superior, decided to enlist in the Marines and left to go to war.
For 46 years Allen has been gone, one of many American troops missing in action from the Vietnam War. A joint U.S. and Vietnamese recovery team last year found remains at a helicopter crash site in Thua Thien-Hue province that in February were positively identified as Allen's.
In the Bayfield High School gym where Allen played basketball for the Trollers, his family, friends, Class of '65 classmates, veterans and townsfolk turned out to honor a warrior who loved being a Marine.
Allen's father bought York Island in the late 1930s, and the family was forced to sell it to the federal government when the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore was created in the early '70s. But before they sold the island, they gave a few acres to the Town of Russell where Allen's parents are buried and a small memorial for Allen was installed. Merl Allen was home at last. ∼
Burial on Apostle Islands on Lake Superior.
LCpl Merlin (Merl) Raye Allen, born October 22, 1946 in Madison Wisconsin and listed as KIA/BNR since June 30, 1967 from a helicopter crash in Thua Thien-Hue Province, Vietnam, will be making his long-awaited return home to be laid to rest with his parents Alden and Eleanor Allen on York Island, Lake Superior.
Merl was second oldest of 6 children. He was best friend and confidant to his sister Marilyn, closest in age and considered his 'Irish Twin'. He was also big brother to Cindy, Casey, Sheila, and Sean by always looking out for them and sharing his big brother wisdom. Merl made life-long friends as the family moved from Madison to Winneconne, Omro and finally to Bayfield, where he graduated in 1965. Anyone who met Merl felt the loyalty of his friendship. He loved to play practical jokes, and if you found yourself a victim, you could not stay mad for very long when he flashed you one of his signature wide grins. To his parents, he was a source of fun and laughter and most assuredly their bigger challenge. As frustrating as it may have been to find him on the wrong side of right, it was equally difficult to stay mad at such a fun loving and kind person. He was 18 and he loved cars, nice clothes, pretty girls, basketball and rock and roll.
Upon graduating from high school and before enlisting in the US Marine Corp, Merl sailed on the William G. Mather of the Interlake Steamship Company and also worked at his uncle's machine shop, Shamrock Machine and Tool in Ashippun, Wisconsin. It was late October of 1965 and before their induction that Merl and his friend and classmate John Powers (Washburn) loaded up a case of oil for John's thirsty 1957 Ford station wagon and 50 pounds of potatoes, squash and other canned goods for themselves and headed to Alaska for a quick vacation. Upon reaching Fairbanks in 40 below temperatures, they turned around and returned via Sacramento California and Reno. While in Reno, they gambled and won $24 at a nickel slot machine which was enough to buy gas to get them home. When he returned home, Merl told Skip how much he loved Alaska and that the family needed to see it. It was on the summer vacation to Alaska in 1967 the family was notified by Royal Canadian Mounted Police to contact the Marines in Minneapolis regarding a fatality.
Merl loved being a Marine and Reconner. Trained as a radio operator, he served in Danang, Khe Sanh, and Phu Bai. His letters home were filled with stories of friends and experiences, but he was most proud of his decision to join Team Striker of the 3rd Recon Bn, 3rd Marine Division early in 1967. After the family learned of Merl's helicopter crash and being told there were no survivors, the family was left with few answers and kept unvoiced hope that he would be found alive. Over the years the family survived through the collective memory of Merl's many antics which either resulted in tears or side-splitting laughter. Answers finally came 16 years later when Skip and Eleanor answered a knock on their door and met Merl's best friend in Vietnam and survivor of the helicopter crash, Jeff Savelkoul. Through survivors Jeff and Mariano (Junior) Guy, the family finally learned the circumstances of Merl's death and they could begin to heal. It was always hoped that someday Merl might be found and returned home.
In February 2013 the family was notified that a Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command recovery team in 2012 recovered and later identified Merl's remains. Merl will be escorted home by a USMC honor guard that will include Team Striker brothers Jeff Savelkoul who will escort Merl from Hawaii to Wisconsin and Junior Guy who will escort Merl to his final rest on York Island. Awaiting his return home are his surviving brothers and sisters, Marilyn (Ralph) Neff of Saynor, Wisconsin, Cindy (Bart) Hawkins of Anchorage, Alaska, Casey (Kathy) Allen of Denham Springs, Louisiana, Sheila (Rick) Kelly of Washburn, Wisconsin, Sean (Cheri) Allen of Cambridge, Minnesota. In addition to his brothers and sisters, Merl is an uncle 10 times over and a great uncle 12 times. Merl's aunts, uncles and cousins stretch from Wyoming to Wisconsin to Florida.
The family invites everyone to join them to celebrate Merl's life and honor his sacrifice at his funeral that will be held 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, June 29, 2013 at the Bayfield High School Gymnasium. Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. on Friday, June 28, 2013 at the Bratley Funeral Home, in Washburn and continue one hour prior to the service on Saturday, at the Bayfield High School Gymnasium. The military honors will be held immediately following the service at Little Sand Bay. We look forward to hearing more of Merl's stories from those who knew him. Private burial will take place on York Island.
Arrangements are by the Bratley Funeral Home, in Washburn.
......................................................
Dad, Alden 1914-2001 and mom Eleanor (Dover) Allen 1924-1999 are beside him.
into your address line for more information on LCPL Merlin Raye Allen
Home to the bucolic place where he grew up, played basketball, swam in Lake Superior, decided to enlist in the Marines and left to go to war.
For 46 years Allen has been gone, one of many American troops missing in action from the Vietnam War. A joint U.S. and Vietnamese recovery team last year found remains at a helicopter crash site in Thua Thien-Hue province that in February were positively identified as Allen's.
In the Bayfield High School gym where Allen played basketball for the Trollers, his family, friends, Class of '65 classmates, veterans and townsfolk turned out to honor a warrior who loved being a Marine.
Allen's father bought York Island in the late 1930s, and the family was forced to sell it to the federal government when the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore was created in the early '70s. But before they sold the island, they gave a few acres to the Town of Russell where Allen's parents are buried and a small memorial for Allen was installed. Merl Allen was home at last. ∼
Burial on Apostle Islands on Lake Superior.
LCpl Merlin (Merl) Raye Allen, born October 22, 1946 in Madison Wisconsin and listed as KIA/BNR since June 30, 1967 from a helicopter crash in Thua Thien-Hue Province, Vietnam, will be making his long-awaited return home to be laid to rest with his parents Alden and Eleanor Allen on York Island, Lake Superior.
Merl was second oldest of 6 children. He was best friend and confidant to his sister Marilyn, closest in age and considered his 'Irish Twin'. He was also big brother to Cindy, Casey, Sheila, and Sean by always looking out for them and sharing his big brother wisdom. Merl made life-long friends as the family moved from Madison to Winneconne, Omro and finally to Bayfield, where he graduated in 1965. Anyone who met Merl felt the loyalty of his friendship. He loved to play practical jokes, and if you found yourself a victim, you could not stay mad for very long when he flashed you one of his signature wide grins. To his parents, he was a source of fun and laughter and most assuredly their bigger challenge. As frustrating as it may have been to find him on the wrong side of right, it was equally difficult to stay mad at such a fun loving and kind person. He was 18 and he loved cars, nice clothes, pretty girls, basketball and rock and roll.
Upon graduating from high school and before enlisting in the US Marine Corp, Merl sailed on the William G. Mather of the Interlake Steamship Company and also worked at his uncle's machine shop, Shamrock Machine and Tool in Ashippun, Wisconsin. It was late October of 1965 and before their induction that Merl and his friend and classmate John Powers (Washburn) loaded up a case of oil for John's thirsty 1957 Ford station wagon and 50 pounds of potatoes, squash and other canned goods for themselves and headed to Alaska for a quick vacation. Upon reaching Fairbanks in 40 below temperatures, they turned around and returned via Sacramento California and Reno. While in Reno, they gambled and won $24 at a nickel slot machine which was enough to buy gas to get them home. When he returned home, Merl told Skip how much he loved Alaska and that the family needed to see it. It was on the summer vacation to Alaska in 1967 the family was notified by Royal Canadian Mounted Police to contact the Marines in Minneapolis regarding a fatality.
Merl loved being a Marine and Reconner. Trained as a radio operator, he served in Danang, Khe Sanh, and Phu Bai. His letters home were filled with stories of friends and experiences, but he was most proud of his decision to join Team Striker of the 3rd Recon Bn, 3rd Marine Division early in 1967. After the family learned of Merl's helicopter crash and being told there were no survivors, the family was left with few answers and kept unvoiced hope that he would be found alive. Over the years the family survived through the collective memory of Merl's many antics which either resulted in tears or side-splitting laughter. Answers finally came 16 years later when Skip and Eleanor answered a knock on their door and met Merl's best friend in Vietnam and survivor of the helicopter crash, Jeff Savelkoul. Through survivors Jeff and Mariano (Junior) Guy, the family finally learned the circumstances of Merl's death and they could begin to heal. It was always hoped that someday Merl might be found and returned home.
In February 2013 the family was notified that a Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command recovery team in 2012 recovered and later identified Merl's remains. Merl will be escorted home by a USMC honor guard that will include Team Striker brothers Jeff Savelkoul who will escort Merl from Hawaii to Wisconsin and Junior Guy who will escort Merl to his final rest on York Island. Awaiting his return home are his surviving brothers and sisters, Marilyn (Ralph) Neff of Saynor, Wisconsin, Cindy (Bart) Hawkins of Anchorage, Alaska, Casey (Kathy) Allen of Denham Springs, Louisiana, Sheila (Rick) Kelly of Washburn, Wisconsin, Sean (Cheri) Allen of Cambridge, Minnesota. In addition to his brothers and sisters, Merl is an uncle 10 times over and a great uncle 12 times. Merl's aunts, uncles and cousins stretch from Wyoming to Wisconsin to Florida.
The family invites everyone to join them to celebrate Merl's life and honor his sacrifice at his funeral that will be held 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, June 29, 2013 at the Bayfield High School Gymnasium. Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. on Friday, June 28, 2013 at the Bratley Funeral Home, in Washburn and continue one hour prior to the service on Saturday, at the Bayfield High School Gymnasium. The military honors will be held immediately following the service at Little Sand Bay. We look forward to hearing more of Merl's stories from those who knew him. Private burial will take place on York Island.
Arrangements are by the Bratley Funeral Home, in Washburn.
......................................................
Dad, Alden 1914-2001 and mom Eleanor (Dover) Allen 1924-1999 are beside him.
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