510th Fighter Squadron - 1967-03-12 A2C Gary W. Cosgrave

Thursday, 03 May 2012 17:13

1967-03-12 A2C Gary W. Cosgrave

Written by David Sarvai

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A3C Gary Wayne Cosgrave May 12, 1967
FREDERICK NEWS-POST May 12, 1967
SIX AMERICAN CASUALTIES IN ROCKET ATTACK
Enemy Strikes Near Saigon - Communist gunners struck close to Saigon with big Soviet-made 140mm rockets early Friday, hitting the U.S. air base at Bein Hoa only 16 miles northeast of the capital city. The U.S. Command said six Americans were killed and 29 wounded in the 15-minute attack. These was moderate damage to the buildings, equipment and aircraft. The 140mm rocket, which is visible as it blazes in with a streak of fire, has a range of about eight miles. It was fired from maximum range in the attack on Bein Hoa, a U.S. spokesman said. The communists also used 60mm mortar and 57mm recoilless-rifle fire in the attack that was launched at 1 a.m. Communists first used the 140mm rocket, which is fired from a tube mounted in a platform, in an attack on the Da Nang air base, 380 miles, north of Saigon, last Feb. 27. Twelve Americans were killed. Subsequently, the rocket was used in another attack on Da Nang and in several attacks on Marine artillery outposts at Dong Ha and Gio Linh, just south of the demilitarized zone. In the attacks on the Marine artillery outposts, the rockets were fired from inside the zone. The 140mm is a relatively inaccurate weapon.

FREDERICK NEWS-POST May 13, 1967
G.W. COSGRAVE 9TH AREA MAN TO FALL IN VIETNAM
A3C Gary Wayne Cosgrave, son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald L. Cosgrave of 606 East Patrick Street was killed in action at the Bien Hoa Air Force Base on May 12. Cosgrave was third Frederick Soldier to die in Vietnam this year and the ninth in 15 months. Cosgrave, 19, died of multiple shrapnel wounds he suffered when the base was hit by morter and rocket fire. Born in Frederick, he was a 1965 graduate of Frederick High School where he was a member of the marching Cadets band, social studies and humanities seminars and played junior varsity baseball. He enlisted in the Air Force shortly after graduation and received his basic training at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. Cosgrave had been stationed in Vietnam for the past 10 months and was with the 510 T.F.S. He is suvived by his parents, Donald L. and Pauline McDonough Cosgrave; one brother, David Lee Cosgrave; two sisters, Susan J. Cosgrave and Donna Rae Cosgrave, all at home; paternal grandmother, Mrs. Annie O. Cosgrave, Park Mills Road, and maternal grandmother, Daisy O. McDonough of Frederick. Funeral arrangements will be announced later by the M.R. Etchison and Son Funeral Home. Other local servicemen who have died in Vietnam include John W. Charlton, husband of Helen Carlton; Ronald M. Kenney, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Kenney of Mt. Airy; James Moore Jr, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Moore, formerly of Frederick and now residing in Las Vegas, Nev; Robert E. Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Smith, Taney Ave.; Daniel S. Brittain, son of Mr. and Mrs. Warner L. Brittain, East Patrick Street; Richard W. Meehan, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Cash Smith of Woodsboro; Robert Henry Lerner, son of Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Lerner of Ijamsville; and Wilson L. Cook, son of Mr. and Mrs. O. Wilson Cook, Frederick.

FREDERICK NEWS-POST May 17, 1967
GARY W. COSGRAVE
Funeral services for A3C Gary W. Cosgrave, who died in South Viet Nam on May 12, will be held at the M.R. Etchison and Son Funeral Home on Friday at 2 p.m. Friends may call at the funeral home today and Thursday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. The Rev. Ralph M. Sharpe, pastor of Calvary Methodist Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery.

FREDERICK NEWS-POST May 20, 1967
A3C GARY COSGRAVE
Funeral services for A3C Gary W. Cosgrave, who died in South Viet Nam on Friday, May 12, 1967, were held at the M.R. Etchison and Son Funeral Home, 106 East Church Street on Friday at 2 p.m. The Rev. Ralph M. Sharpe, pastor of the Calvary Methodist Church, officiated. Military honors were accorded A3C Cosgrave by the Air Force Honor Guard from Bolling Air Force Base with Sgt. Wortman, NCOIC, pallbearers were: A1C Deiter, A1C Pagano, A1C Sanchez, A1C Sabol, A2C Ray, A1C Tinnell; Color Guard, A2C White, A2C Cebrick, A2C Burrus, A2C Robinson; Firing Squad, A2C Sheppard, A1C Smith, A1C Wigger, A2C Goehring, A2C Cook, A2C Deruawick, A2C Geleta. Burial was in Mount Olivet Cemetery.

FREDERICK NEWS-POST February 8, 1968
FAMILY GIVEN AIR VETERAN'S AWARDS
Mr. and Mrs. Donald L. Cosgrave and family of 606 East Patrick St., Frederick, were the recent recipients of awards won by their son, Airman First Class Gary W. Cosgrave, who died in action in Vietnam. Presentation of the posthumous awards were made by Colonel Bruce B. Knutson, 1106th Air Base Wing Commander at Bolling AFB, DC. Airman Cosgrave was killed in action at Bien Hoa Air Base when it was attacked by enemy artillery, mortar and rocket fire. He was the first Air Force member from Frederick to lose his life in Vietnam. The posthumous awards presented to Airman Cosgrave's family included the Purple Heart and the Air Force Commendation Medal. They was also presented Vietnam's Armed Forces Honor Medal, Second Class, which that country bestowed upon Airman Cosgrave for his gallantry in the face of hostile fire by enemy troops. Airman Cosgrave was earlier awarded the Air Force Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal.