Radford man among those memorialized
Dr. Marion Gilmer Runion died on February 2, 1967 along with all members in his helicopter. He volunteered to go on a MEDCAP mission as a dentist, something he should not have done, brought wounded back to the helicopter which then crashed killing all aboard.
He was awarded a Silver Star for his actions in addition to purple heart. There are 5 dentists who died in Viet Nam, most due to accidents. He is one of 2 who died in combat.
December 7, 2021
The original memorial honoring those killed in action (KIA) during the Vietnam War was dedicated in 1973. A UH-1 (Huey) helicopter was dedicated as the memorial to the 214 crew members** who were KIA during the Vietnam War. That memorial was dedicated & placed on the grounds of the U.S. Army Medical Department Center & School on Fort Sam Houston (TX). Present that day & officiating at the ceremony were MG Spurgeon Neel & MG (then LTC) Patrick Brady.
After the formation of the DUSTOFF Association a set of large memorial board was built to honor those KIA during the Vietnam War & a 2nd large memorial board was built to honor those KIA in the Post-Vietnam era. This 2nd board has the names of those killed during peacetime missions, Desert Shield/Desert Storm, & the post-9/11 Global War on Terror. Currently, the total number of names on the memorial boards is 264.
Currently, a new plan to honor our KIAs has resulted in a program to install five (5) granite monuments (above) to honor these heroes. These monuments are to be placed under the large pergola on the grounds of the Army Medical Department Museum. This pergola houses three (3) legacy helicopters used in Army aero-medical Evacuation units (DUSTOFF & Solo-Pilots from the Korean War). The location is highly visible to visitors to the Museum & open to the public once the Army Medical Department Museum finishes the access portal. This access portal allows the public to enter the Museum grounds w/out having to go thru the security process for access to the rest of the Fort Sam Houston Installation.
