[Source: The Napa Register, Napa, California, Wednesday, September 1, 1965]

First Known Local Victim In Asian War

A Napa soldier, Spec. 4 Jack Daniel Lanelli, 20, died in action in Viet Nam yesterday when the helicopter in which he was riding was shot down by Viet Cong small arms fire.

He was the first Napa County man known to be killed in the Viet Nam war.

A telegram received by the young soldier’s family today said he died of severe injuries to the chest, when the UH-1B helicopter in which he was crew chief, was shot down while on a combat assault mission.

There was no indication in what area of Viet Nam the action took place.

In Army

Members of the family said today Spec. 4 Lanelli, who was serving with the 118th., Paratroop Division, U.S. Army, had
signed up for one year’s duty in Viet Nam in May, after completing approximately three years service as a volunteer.

The Napa soldier’s sister, Mrs. Erma Conklin said he intended to go to flying school, and take up a career as a pilot after his intended discharge from the Army next May.

Born in Riverside, Riverside County, Spec. 4 Lanelli was the son of a career soldier Lester P. Lanelli, of El Paso, Tex., and Mrs. Alzada Karchak, of Oakland.

His father, now a warrant officer in the U.S . Army, saw World War II service as a colonel,

Local Schools
Spec. 4 Lanelli was educated in Germany, at St. Helena, at Redwood Junior High School, and Napa High School.

Surviving members in he family are his father and mother; sisters, Erma Conklin, Lois Gleason, of Napa and Ann Slayton, of Reno; brothers Joseph L. Betts and Val Wyman Betts of Napa, and Todd G. Lanelli, of St. Helena.

Funeral services are pending at the Treadway and Wigger Funeral Chapel, Coombs Street.
________



******
KIA on a helicopter that was shot down. He was a Specialist Five with the 118TH AHC, 145TH AVN BN, 12TH AVN GROUP, USARV, Army of the United States from Napa, California.

JACK D LANELLI is on the Wall at Panel 2E, Line 70.
******



---
Source: rootspoint.com

Last Name: Lanelli
First Name: Jack Daniel
Nationality: U.S.
BirthDate: 1945-04-01
BirthYear: 1945
BirthPlace: NAPA California
Town: NAPA
District: NAPA
Grade: SPECIALIST FIFTH CLASS
Military Service: DA [Department of the Army]
Date of Casualty: 1965-08-31
State of Residence: California
County of Residence: NAPA
Type Of Casualty: Hostile - Killed
Race: Caucasian
Service Component: Regular (RA, USN, USAF, USMC, USCG)
Marital Status: Single (Spouse Not Listed)
Religion code: Protestant- No Denominational Preference
Reason: Aircraft Loss/Crash Not at Sea
Post humous Promotion: Not Posthumously Promoted
Tour date in South east Asia: 1970-01-01
BodyRecoveredOrNot: Body Recovered
Casualty Type: Helicopter Air Casualty - Other Aircrew
---

[Source: The Napa Register, Napa, California, Wednesday, September 1, 1965]

First Known Local Victim In Asian War

A Napa soldier, Spec. 4 Jack Daniel Lanelli, 20, died in action in Viet Nam yesterday when the helicopter in which he was riding was shot down by Viet Cong small arms fire.

He was the first Napa County man known to be killed in the Viet Nam war.

A telegram received by the young soldier’s family today said he died of severe injuries to the chest, when the UH-1B helicopter in which he was crew chief, was shot down while on a combat assault mission.

There was no indication in what area of Viet Nam the action took place.

In Army

Members of the family said today Spec. 4 Lanelli, who was serving with the 118th., Paratroop Division, U.S. Army, had
signed up for one year’s duty in Viet Nam in May, after completing approximately three years service as a volunteer.

The Napa soldier’s sister, Mrs. Erma Conklin said he intended to go to flying school, and take up a career as a pilot after his intended discharge from the Army next May.

Born in Riverside, Riverside County, Spec. 4 Lanelli was the son of a career soldier Lester P. Lanelli, of El Paso, Tex., and Mrs. Alzada Karchak, of Oakland.

His father, now a warrant officer in the U.S . Army, saw World War II service as a colonel,

Local Schools
Spec. 4 Lanelli was educated in Germany, at St. Helena, at Redwood Junior High School, and Napa High School.

Surviving members in he family are his father and mother; sisters, Erma Conklin, Lois Gleason, of Napa and Ann Slayton, of Reno; brothers Joseph L. Betts and Val Wyman Betts of Napa, and Todd G. Lanelli, of St. Helena.

Funeral services are pending at the Treadway and Wigger Funeral Chapel, Coombs Street.
________



******
KIA on a helicopter that was shot down. He was a Specialist Five with the 118TH AHC, 145TH AVN BN, 12TH AVN GROUP, USARV, Army of the United States from Napa, California.

JACK D LANELLI is on the Wall at Panel 2E, Line 70.
******



---
Source: rootspoint.com

Last Name: Lanelli
First Name: Jack Daniel
Nationality: U.S.
BirthDate: 1945-04-01
BirthYear: 1945
BirthPlace: NAPA California
Town: NAPA
District: NAPA
Grade: SPECIALIST FIFTH CLASS
Military Service: DA [Department of the Army]
Date of Casualty: 1965-08-31
State of Residence: California
County of Residence: NAPA
Type Of Casualty: Hostile - Killed
Race: Caucasian
Service Component: Regular (RA, USN, USAF, USMC, USCG)
Marital Status: Single (Spouse Not Listed)
Religion code: Protestant- No Denominational Preference
Reason: Aircraft Loss/Crash Not at Sea
Post humous Promotion: Not Posthumously Promoted
Tour date in South east Asia: 1970-01-01
BodyRecoveredOrNot: Body Recovered
Casualty Type: Helicopter Air Casualty - Other Aircrew
---