Cpl. HARLAN TILPHER BILDEN

BILDEN, RUSS, TRUDO, LARSON, JOHNSON

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 11/8/2002 at 18:03:33

Cpl. Harlan Tilpher Bilden
 
Cpl. Harlan Tilpher Bilden, son of Mr. and Mrs. Tilpher Bilden, was born at Postville, Iowa, August 23, 1946. He was baptized and confirmed at the East Clermont Lutheran Church. He was an active member of the East Clermont Luther League, choir and Sunday School. He attended school through 1st grade at what is now known as the Marion Township Hall and from there he went to Elgin Public School. He graduated from Valley High in 1964. During his four years in high school he was a member of the Valley FFA and the Clayton County 4-H.

Harlan was employed at the Gunder Cheese Factory for the year prior to entering the Marine Corps. He enlisted in September, 1965. He entered the service on March 10, 1966, at Camp Pendleton, Calif. Cpl. Bilden was honor man of the 3rd Battalion of Platoon 369 for which he was awarded the dress blue uniform from the Leatherneck Magazine. He returned home on furlough in August, 1966. Upon completion of his furlough he returned to California where he took additional training in radio communications.

Cpl. Bilden arrived in Viet Nam Sept. 16, 1966. During his time there he served as a forward observer for artillery. As a radio operator he called air strikes and medi-vacs. He spent from Jan. 3 to March 4, 1967, at Okinawa for additional training and rest. After returning from Okinawa Cpl. Bilden assumed his regular duties and was involved in action around the Demilitarized Zone.

Mr. and Mrs. Bilden were notified July 2, 1967, of their son's death July 1 by sniper fire while on patrol duty near Quang Tri, Republic of Viet Nam.

At the time of his death Cpl. Bilden was 20 years, 10 months and 8 days old. He had spent most of his life around the Elgin community. He was known by everyone for his smile and sincerity. His Christian faith was very important to him.

Surviving are his parents, five sisters and two brothers: Marian (Mrs. Elmer Russ), Alexandria, Va., Ruthie (Mrs. Jerry Trudo), Cedar Rapids, Elizabeth, Erling, Brenda, Debra and James, at home. Also surviving are two grandmothers, Mrs. Helga Bilden and Mrs. Clara Larson, one great grandmother, Mrs. Martha Johnson, plus a host of relatives and friends.

Services were held Tuesday, July 11, at 1:30 p.m. at the Muehlethaler Funeral Home and at 2 p.m. at the East Clermont Church. Rev. Roger Peterson officiated.

Clarence Amundson, accompanied at the organ by Mrs. Richard Neumann, sang "Den Stor Vide Flock" and "How Great Thou Art".

Upon entering the church grounds the deceased was honored by the Elgin and Clermont Legion posts, presenting the Parade of Flags. He was given full military honors.

The flag covered coffin was carried by Marine pallbearers as follows: 1st Sgt. W. A. Bush, M-Sgt. M. E. Cribelar, Gy-Sgt. R. W. Thomas, S-Sgt. C. D. Barstad, S-Sgt. W. M. Abrams, S-Ggt. T. Parcell, Sgt. T. K. Marmon, H. M. 1 J. C. Weber, Pfc. O. J. Wahl. The body was accompanied to Elgin by Sgt. Woody T. Barnett, San Francisco, Calif.

Burial was in the family plot at the East Clermont Cemetery.

Postville Herald newspaper clipping from my mother's obituary collection.