Vietnam Memorial Names – Patrick Quinn, Stephen Burlingame, Robert Chapp

This continues our review of the lives of the men on Montrose’s Vietnam Memorial.

Patrick Owen Quinn, Nov. 25, 1966 – Patrick Quinn was well known in the community. Two people have already contacted me who knew him personally. Patrick attended La Crescenta Elementary School, Clark Junior High and CV High School where he was a member of the first graduating class. He was active in his church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While working at Hal’s Towing in Montrose, he continued his education at Glendale College. Patrick’s mom was a teacher at Dunsmore Elementary.

Patrick joined the Marines in early 1966 and after training was shipped to Vietnam. He was heavily involved in combat and rose to the rank of corporal. In one action his helicopter was shot down. The surviving Marines were surrounded by Viet Cong but were rescued by air support.

Although newspaper accounts say he was shot by the enemy, he was in reality shot by a fellow Marine. The military records are brief, saying only that while at Chu Lai Airfield, Patrick was shot by “another marine who was running around with a pistol.” Patrick died from a chest wound. The other Marine turned himself in to authorities a while later. Patrick was 21.

Stephen Frank Burlingame, March 12, 1967 – Frank stands out because he was so highly decorated for his service, winning a Bronze Star and a Silver Star, the third highest decoration for valor.

Frank grew up in the Verdugo Woodlands. He graduated from Glendale High in 1960 where he played varsity football. He then went on to Glendale College, UCLA and UC Berkeley, but was drafted into the Army in 1965.

He was just two months from coming home when, leading a machine gun team on patrol, they walked into an ambush. Frank got his machine gun team placed and firing then he moved to the flank to give covering fire. After several minutes of an intense exchange of fire, it became obvious that the enemy was too well placed to dislodge. Frank stood up and charged the enemy machine gun, firing accurately as he ran. He reached the enemy emplacement but was shot as he stood over them. Frank’s team saw his gallant charge, and they charged behind him, overrunning the enemy position. Pfc. Burlingame was awarded the Silver Star for this brave action.

One of his college friends, who described Frank as a “Kerouacian figure,” left this message on one of the many remembrance websites out there: “Sleep well my friend. I’ll always remember you as that rugged tough guy with the big heart and that wry grin, ready to fight or love at the drop of a hat.”

Robert Anthony Chapp, April 14, 1967 – Robert grew up in Montrose in the ’50s, attending Clark Junior High and Glendale High. He had joined the Marines in 1956. Robert had gotten married and had two boys, and then divorced. He had remarried and just before his deployment to Vietnam and his new wife had given birth to a son.

In 1966 he was assigned to shipboard duty and they trained heavily in amphibious landings. They performed several beach assaults in Vietnam, and were engaged in heavy combat. In 1967 they were assigned to Khe Sanh Airbase. A nearby patrol had been ambushed and while retreating lost several of their weapons. Sgt. Chapp’s company was assigned to retrieve those lost weapons. While searching the jungle they stumbled onto a large North Vietnamese Army unit setting up for a surprise assault on Khe Sanh. A heavy firefight ensued in confusing dense jungle. Calling in airpower they were able to rout the enemy and foiled the surprise attack. Robert and another man were killed and nine others wounded, a 50% casualty rate for their small unit. Robert sustained three “through-and-through” wounds to the abdomen. He suffered two months of agony in the hospital in the Philippines before he finally died of massive infections.

On the remembrance websites, all three sons have all left messages of love for their father and to say “semper fi” to all Marines.

  mike lawler