Fallen Comrades Report – July 28, 2020

The Following information is provided by the Casualty Office of the American Legion Post 123:

*It is the sad duty of the Casualty Office to inform you that another Comrade has fallen:

Case # 20-58 Willis “Buddy” Clark Jr., U.S. Marine Corp Veteran / Korean War Veteran & recipient of the Bronze Star & Purple Heart, age 89 passed away on Monday, July 27, 2020 at his residence in Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines.

Funeral Arrangements are being scheduled for rendering of Military Honors & the Marine Corp Eulogy given by theLeathernecks Philippines with an Interment Burial on Thursday, July 30, 2020 at 10:30 AM at Clark Veterans Cemetery (CVC). ——————————————————————————
Burials at CVC, Clark Freeport Zone in Angeles City, Pampanga:The following requirements for Public Burials are required as of 6 July 2020 by ABMC and VA for all Interment & Inurnment Burials are as follows:

a.) No more than Twenty-Five (25) family members may attend.
b.) All Attendees Must Maintain the Required Social Distancing
c.) All Attendees Must Wear Face Mask

FINAL APPROVAL BY ABMC AND CFZ HAS BEEN RECEIVED FOR THE BURIAL OF THE FOLLOWING FALLEN COMRADES:All Military Honors will be held at Gate 1 Area of Clark Veterans Cemetery at Clark Freeport Zone in Angeles City.

Parking for the Services will be at Gate 2 Parking Area at Clark Veterans Cemetery at Clark Freeport Zone in Angeles City

Case # 20-51 (Time Change For ) Thomas Irwin Elliott – US Navy Veteran Korean War Veteran. Rendering of Military Honors and the 2-Bell Ceremony followed by an Inurnment Burial on Thursday July 30, 2020 at 09:00 AM at CVC.

Please note that the Military Honors & the 2-Bell Ceremony followed by an Inurnment Burial has been Changed from 10:00 AM to 09:00 AM due to another Comrade’s Burial that is being scheduled for Thursday the 30th of July at 10:30 AM at CVC.———————————————————————————
THE FOLLOWING BURIALS OR REQUESTS FOR MILITARY HONORS ARE BEING PREPARED FOR SUBMISSION for Final Approval TO ABMC and CFZ FOR THE FOLLOWING FALLEN COMRADES:

Case #20-22 Keith Arlen Kinden, U.S. Marine Corp Veteranis being scheduled for rendering of Military Honors & Marine Corp Eulogy that will be given by the Leathernecks Philippines with an Inurnment Burial for Tuesday, August 4, 2020 at 10:00 AM at CVC.

Case 20-IC-20 Mike Dela Cruz Mercado, age 82 passed away on Tuesday, March 24. 2020 at The Medical City, Clark Clark Freeport Zone in Mabalacat City. He was Directly Cremated on March 25, 2020. No date has been set for an Inurnment Burial at CVC. ———————————————————————————–

Due to the Current Travel Restrictions imposed regarding COVID-19, Repatriation has been delayed to the Philippines and will be scheduled upon the arrival of the Fallen Comrade once Travel and Local restrictions are lifted for the following:

Case # 20-IC-16 Archie (Indy) Turner, U.S. Army Veteran, Recipient of the Silver Star / Bronze Star / Purple Heart and Combat Infantry Badge, age 75 who passed away on Thursday, April 20, 2020 at the Hospice of the Valley / Eckstein Center in Scottsdale Arizona. Direct Cremation was at the Angels Crematorium and Burial in Mesa Arizona.———————————————————————————–

BURIAL IN THE UNITED STATESDue to the Current Restrictions imposed regarding COVID-19, Repatriation has been delayed to the United States for a Columbarium (Urn) Burial with Full Military Honors at Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego California and will be scheduled once VA Restrictions for Burials are lifted for the following Fallen Comrade:

Case # 20-44 Cancellation Of Military Honors in the Philippines for William Berotte Jr., Major, U.S. Marine Corp Retired, age 66. Rendering of Military Honors & Marine Corp Eulogy given by the Leathernecks Philippines that was being planned for the 29th of July at 10:00 AM or a later date has been canceled by the family. The Causality Office has closed this case.

Case # 20-IC-17 Bruce Dimitri Tunsil – CMSgt, U.S. Air Force Retired, age 66 who passed away Thursday, April 9, 2020 at Manila Doctors Hospital, in Ermita Manila, Philippines. He was laid to rest at St. Therese Columbarium (Urn) in Manila on the 6th of May 2020.

Case # 20-IC-18 David Charles Levenduskey, SSgt, U.S. Army Reserve / US Navy Retired, age 63 who passed away Friday, May 8, 2020 at The Dr. Pablo O Torre Memorial Hospital in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines. He was laid to rest under Philippine Health Guidelines with an Interment Burial at the Bacolod Roman Catholic Cemetery, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines on Wednesday the 13th of May 2020.

Case # 20-IC-19 Donald Keith Holcomb, MSgt, U.S. Air Force Retired age 87 passed away on Monday, June 26, 2020 at Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Hospital, Calanipawan Tacloban City. He was laid to rest at Leyte Memorial Park, Tacloban City, Philippines.

Case # 20-36 Alan Longno Talahuron, PO-2, U.S. Navy (Marine Corps Corpsman) Retired, age 45 who passed away on Sunday, March 29, 2020 at St Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City. He was transferred to Angeles City. Interment Burial was held at CVC on Friday, the 19th June 2020.

Case 20-IC-21 Hector G Esponilla, SSgt, U.S. Army, Retired age 80 passed away on Thursday, July 9, 2020 at Mount Carmel Medical Center in San Fernando City, Pampanga. He was laid to rest with an Interment Burial at Good Shepherd Memorial Garden in San Fernando City, Pampanga.——————————————————————————–

The Funeral Home and the Causality Office have been informed by the U.S. Embassy that families of the following Non Veteran have made the following decisions:

Case # 20-35 Robert Joseph Costa, age 59, a Homeless American who passed away at the Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center (Ospital Ning Angeles) (ONA) in Angeles City on Saturday, March 29, 2020. The Family has informed the U.S. Embassy that they are waving all responsibility for the Hospital and Burial Expense of their late Brother. The Funeral Home has sent & is awaiting the Acknowledge of the Receipt from the U.S. Embassy that they plan to bury Case # 20-35 as an Unclaimed Indigent Foreigner.

Case # 20-52 Timothy James Andrada, age 61, an American who passed away after a short illness on Thursday, July 2, 2020 at The Medical City Clark, Clark Freeport Zone in Mabalacat City. The decease’s daughter has informed the U.S. Embassy that she is waving all Responsibility for the Hospital 5.5 Million Peso Bill & the Burial Expense of her late Father. The Funeral Home has sent and is awaiting the Acknowledge of the Receipt from the U.S. Embassy that they plan to bury Case # 20-52 as an Unclaimed Indigent Foreigner.

Updates to follow.

Sincerely,
Neil J. McAuliffe, Sr.
Casualty Assistance Officer
American Legion Post 123
Burial Consultant for VFW Post 2485, VVA Chapter 887,
DAV Chapter #3, Non Veterans & Foreign Nationals