Sorry about the formatting in my original email; had set up in table format, but email decided to revise it. * * * MARISKANISH, Charles E., 7 DEC 1948-9 MAY 1968, HM3 The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, PA, 25 MAY 1968 District Sailor, 19, Loses Life BARNESBORO--Hospitalman Charles E. Mariskanish of Barnesboro R.D. 2 has been reported killed in action in South Vietnam. The 19-year-old sailor, who was attached to the 1st Marine Division as a medical corpsman, was killed May 9, apparently near Saigon. The information was received by his mother, Mrs. Helen Mariskanish of Barnesboro R.D. 2. Penns Manor Graduate Mariskanish, the oldest of 10 children, enlisted in the Navy shortly after his graduation from Penns Manor High School, Clymer R.D. 1, Indiana County. He completed basic training in April 1967, and four months later was graduated from Hospital Corps School at the Great Lakes (Ill.) Naval Training Center. He left for Vietnam March 6. The serviceman's father, Harry Mariskanish, resides in Alverda, Indiana County. MARISKANISH--Hospitalman 3.C. Charles E., 19, Barnesboro R.D. 2, killed in action May 9 near Saigon, South Vietnam. Born Dec. 7, 1948, in Indiana, Pa., son of Harry Mariskanish of Alverda and Helen Kline Mariskanish of Barnesboro R.D. 2. Survived by parents, and these brothers and sisters: Thomas, Carl, Harry Jr., Paul, Edward, Anthony, Maria, Susan and Cathy Lou, all at home. Also survived by material grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Kline of Carrolltown R.D. Friends will be received after 3 p.m. Saturday and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Francis M. Bacha Funeral Home, Barnesboro. Rosary at 7:30 pm. Saturday at funeral home. Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. Monday at St. John the Baptist's Catholic Church, Heilwood, the Rev. Edward F. Higgins. Interment, Camerons Bottom Cemetery, Heilwood R.D. Full military rite by U.S. Naval Reserve Training Center, Altoona. (Indiana paper please copy). http://projects.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards Charles Edward Mariskanish Date of death: Killed in Action Home of record: Barnesboro Pennsylvania Status: KIA AWARDS AND CITATIONS Silver Star Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Hospitalman Third Class Charles Edward Mariskanish (NSN: B-416918), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Corpsman with Company I, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division. On 9 May 1968 while participating in Operation Houston II in Quang Nam, Petty Officer Mariskanish's unit came under intense automatic weapons and small arms fire from a well entrenched force of North Vietnamese Army Regulars, wounding three Marines who fell in an open area. Repeated attempts to evacuate the casualties failed due to the heavy enemy automatic weapons fire. Requesting his platoon to deliver covering fire, Petty Officer Mariskanish fearlessly crawled across the fire swept terrain on two separate occasions to evacuate the injured Marines. As he attempted to reach the remaining casualty, Petty Officer Mariskanish was mortally wounded by the hostile fire. By his extraordinary courage, resolute determination and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Petty Officer Mariskanish saved the lives of two comrades and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country. Action Date: 9-May-1968 Service: Navy Rank: Hospitalman Third Class Company: Corpsman (Attached), Company I Battalion: 3d Battalion Regiment: 5th Marines Division: 1st Marine Division The Star Courier, Patton, PA, 9 AUG 2004 Bridge dedicated to war hero By Kasey Miller of Mainline Newspapers The term hero is uttered loosely these days referring to everything from pop stars to political figures to athletes. Rarely does one come along who is the true definition of the word. On Thursday, July 29 the bridge on State Route 553 in Alverda was dedicated to a fallen Vietnam soldier who lost his life trying to save that of others. The friends, family and classmates of Alverda native, Charles E. (Doc) Mariskanish gathered to honor the Naval Corpsman for his acts under hostile fire in Vietnam that cost him his life but left him remembered by so many. A release from Mariskanish's sister Cate Planisky-Himes gave an account of the event so many years ago. "Mariskanish was a Naval Corpsman serving with the India and Mike Companies of the Third Battalion/Fifth Marines. He was with the Mike Company while they attempted to secure a bridge below the Haivan Pass when the unit came under intense fire at a site known as Hill 1192 during Operation Houston." She went on to quote his Silver Star citation which detailed her brother's heroic feats. "Petty Officer Mariskanish fearlessly crawled across fire swept terrain on two separate occasions to evacuate injured Marines. As he attempted to reach the remaining casualty, Petty Officer Mariskanish was mortally wounded by hostile fire. By his extraordinary courage, resolute determination and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Petty Officer Mariskanish saved the lives of two comrades and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country." These words were in one way or another echoed by Mariskanish's family and his comrades who traveled from many parts of the country to be at the dedication. Frank Pacello of Fredericksburg, Virginia said, "He was one of America's best and brightest who in only 19 years left an impression that some don't leave in a lifetime." At the dedication, Indiana County Commissioner Bernie Smith served as Master of Ceremonies and fellow commissioner Rodney D. Ruddock, on behalf of both Smith and Indiana Commissioner David Frick, read a proclamation declaring the bridge the HM3 Charles Edward "Doc" Mariskanish Bridge. State Senator Don White, of the 41st District, presented a copy of Senate Bill 913 to Mariskanish's mother Helen L. Planisky, of Indiana, who officially dedicated the bridge in honor of her son.