ND Veterans Affairs News: State

Marvin Clarence Briss was drafted into the United States Army via Selective Service in May 1968 and began his tour on October 7, 1968. He had the rank of Specialist 4th Class, and his military occupation or specialty was Light Weapons Infantry. He was attached to the 9th Infantry Division, 5th Battalion, 60th Infantry, E Company.

Marvin Briss was born on November 6, 1948, in Cooperstown, Griggs County, North Dakota, to Clarence Lawrence and Ella Josephine Walen Briss. 

He is buried in Sunset Memorial Gardens - Minot, ND. 

David was born on August 18, 1940, in Valley City, North Dakota, the youngest of six children of John and Gladys Bujalski. He spent the last three years of high school at St. John's High in Collegeville, Minnesota, preparing for the priesthood. During his senior year, he decided he did not have a religious vocation. For two years, he attended St. John's University, majoring in physics. One of his brothers was at West Point and another at the Air Force Academy and he became interested in attending one of the academies. In July 1960, he entered the United States Military Academy.

Richard Allen Buringrud was drafted into the United State Army via the Selective Service on November 4, 1968, and he began his tour on May 6, 1969. He had the rank of Private First Class, and his military occupation or specialty was Light Weapons Infantry. He was attached to the 1st Cavalry Division, 2nd Battalion, 12 Cavalry, A Company.

Richard Buringrud was born on November 24, 1946, in Argusville, Cass County, North Dakota, to Einar and Marion Olien Buringrud. 

Paul Charnetzki was from Valley City and was born May 25, 1936. He served in the Army's Military Assistance Command--Vietnam Advisers. Paul was 31 years old when he died on February 7, 1968. Paul left behind his wife and five sons. One son, also named Paul, said that his father loved this country and the Army. He was a professional soldier, and he respected and cared for his fellow soldiers. He spent as much time as he could with his sons, settling their fights and pretending to be tackled in their backyard football games.

He is buried in Sunset Memorial Gardens - Jamestown, ND. 

Aviation Machinist's Mate (Jet Engine Mechanic) Second Class Coons is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. 

He is buried in Section C, Site 143 in North Dakota Veterans Cemetery - Mandan, ND. 

Ralph A. Copeland was born on November 21, 1936, in Lawton, Oklahoma. He was raised in a military life and followed in his father's footsteps. His father served in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. SP4 Copeland enlisted in the Army at Minot AFB, North Dakota and had served for six years. Prior to Vietnam, he was stationed in Germany and began his Vietnam tour on September 13, 1965, assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, Company B, USARV.  His loss of life was on November 14, 1965, in South Vietnam.

He is buried in Memorial Park Cemetery - Grand Forks, ND. 

He is buried in Saint Paul's Lutheran Church Cemetery, Saint Thomas, ND.