James H. Pence

No Photo
Available
Please Contact
The County
Coordinator
If You Have One
To Share

Military Service
War: Vietnam
Branch: U.S. Marines

Personal Details
Born: 25 August 1948
Died: 28 December 1969
Parents: Howard and Alice (Emmert) Pence

Buried: Conrad Cemetery
Conrad, Iowa

L. Cpl. Pence Dies In Copter Crash

Conrad Marine Becomes Co's. First Casualty Of Vietnam War

Grundy county's first casualty of the Vietnam war is a 21-year-old Conrad marine, Lance Corporal James H. Pence, who was killed December 28 in a helicopter crash near DaNang.

Corporal Pence, a 1967 graduate of Beaman-Conrad Community School, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Pence of Conrad.

Another victim of the war, 2nd Lt. John E. Slater, son of the Irvin Slaters of rural Marshalltown is buried at Grundy Center though he is not considered a county casualty. Lt. Slater was killed December 15, 1968, in Quang Nam.

Corporal Pence was killed when a helicopter on which he was a courier crashed into a mountain near DaNang while carrying materials to the battle lines.

He was born August 25, 1948, in Eldora. Following his graduation from Beaman-Conrad Community School, he attended a trade school in Des Moines and was later employed in that city.

Corporal Pence enlisted in the Marine Corps May 31, 1968, received his basic training at Camp Pendleton and San Diego, Calif., and was stationed briefly at Twentynine Palms, Calif.

Last May he was transferred to Okinawa, where he volunteered for duty in Vietnam. He had arrived in Vietnam on Thanksgiving Day.

Survivors include his parents and three sisters, Mrs. Robert (Jane) Kruse, Conrad; Mrs. Stephen (Bonnie) Mugge, St. Joseph, Mo.; and Susan at home.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 8 January 1970, pg 1

Cpl. Pence Services Held Monday

Services for Marine Lance Cpl. James H. Pence, 21, of Conrad, killed December 28th in a helicopter crash near DaNang, South Vietnam were held Monday, January 12 at the Ivester Church of the Brethren. Rev. John Ditmars and Rev. Charles Albin officiated. Burial was in the Conrad cemetery. Johnston's Service was in charge.

Honors and ceremonies were provided by the United States Marine Corps. Russell Kruse sang "God Understands." Accompanist was Mrs. LeRoy Cakerice. Casket bearers were members of the Marine Corps. Flower bearers were Mrs. Victor Davidson and Mrs. Jay Miller.

James Howard Pence, son of Howard and Alice Emmert Pence was born August 25, 1948 at Eldora.

He graduated from Beaman-Conrad High School in May 1967. He attended a Trade School in Des Moines and was later employed in Des Moines.

He joined the Marines May 21, 1968, and received his basic training at Camp Pendleton and San Diego, California. He was then stationed at 29 Palms, California until going to Okinawa in May 1969. He arrived in Viet Nam on Thanksgiving Day 1969.

He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Pence, Conrad, 2 sisters, Mrs. Robert (Jane) Kruse, Conrad, Mrs. Stephen (Bonnie) Mugge of St. Joseph, Missouri, and Susan at home.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 15 January 1970, pg 12