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Birth: Nov. 11, 1948
Death: May 25, 1972
Bien Hoa, Vietnam
Sergeant, U.S. Army
On 25 May 1972, Sergeant Francis Carl Brockman III was serving with the Recon Platoon, E Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, in Bien Hoa Province, South Vietnam.
On that day, SGT Brockman was killed in action when he sustained wounds from an explosive device. His body was recovered.
Badge and Medals
Combat Infantryman Badge
Purple Heart
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Honors
The name Francis C Brockman III is inscribed on Panel W1 Line 32 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.
Inscription:
Vietnam
Rusty, the beloved
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Linda Schaefer (Lippincott)
I lived next door to Rusty, he was going to go to Medical School after his military service. He was my first "crush", I still think of him once n awhile. His mom was planing a big welcome home party for him, I was a our kitchen sink and saw the officer and chaplin go up to her door and I knew what had happened.
Randall Brown
Rusty was killed in action on May 25, 1972 in Vietnam. He was a Sergeant.
His name is on Panel W1 Line 32 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.
Sharon Weeks (Maupin)
Rusty had packed to come home and had taken most of his stuff to the vehicle which would take him to the airplane, he went back to his barracks for one more thing and stepped on a corner of ground next to the walk and right on a land mine.
Robert (Bob) Harper
I had several classes with Rusty, but the gym classes are my best memories. We used to hang out at each at each others house after school, telling each other jokes. I remember thinking that the name Rusty fit him perfectly with that red hair.
I also served in Vietnam in 1969-1970. I just learned of his passing a few days ago. Even though It has been more than forty years ago, it was still quite a shock when I found his name on the list of classmates that didn't make it back to the world alive.
Bob Harper
Tim Carey
Thursday 1 September 2016
What a tragic ending - lost on his last day in Vietnam!
Now, having been classmates, friends, and football players together with Rusty fifty years ago at Millikan, I learn for the first time how our lives had crossed in the Vietnam War.
From his memorial, I just discovered Rusty was serving in the 7th Cavalry, Ist Cav Division in Spring 1972 when he died at Bien Hoa Air Base on his way to the Freedom Bird that would take him home.
As an Air Force Forward Air Controller, 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron, Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Saigon, I was assigned to the 1st Cav Division, directing airstrikes supporting their warfighters from my O-2A aircraft.
Neither Rusty nor I knew we were stationed within a few miles of each other, and I had worked at Bien Hoa several times as the FAC Duty Officer in his Division's Tactical Ops Center.
From my Vietnam logbook, I note that on the day Rusty died, 25 May 1972, I was flying my 59th combat mission (of 240) in the great siege of An Loc north of Saigon. Four of my Air Force Academy classmates died in that same battle.
I was barely two months into my assignment when Rusty had completed his tour, had survived an extremely hazardous mission in an Army Recon Platoon, and was on his way home when a land mine took his life.
My sincere, though belated, condolences to Rusty Brockman's family, friends, and loved ones.
Tim Carey
(Colonel, USAF, Retired)
Trudy Middler (Wolsky)
Trudy Middler Wolsky
Now this is just the saddest story I have ever heard and how unfair for this hero that went over there and worked so hard and then to have it end so tragically, almost home. I am shedding tears for Rusty right now and I hadn't heard that information before today. He was such a wonderful, nice boy and a pleasure to have in class. I add my condolences to his family also after so long ago. Everyone that went there, thank you for your service then and now. After all these years, things haven't changed much, have they!?!
Linda "Lin" Speer (Volturo)
Now and then I dated Rusty Brockman in 11th and 12th grade. I read everyone's comments but I must say that I was told a different story by a man who was in his Battalion. This gentleman told me Rusty volunteered to take this man's patrol one evening with other men in the platoon. According to him, Rusty was walking behind the men on the dirt road when he stepped on an old hidden wire under the dirt that triggered shrapmetal that hit him in the back of his head, which killed him instantly. The man had felt so guilty because Rusty had taken his assignment. I told him that just because Rusty stepped on this mine didn't mean that it was marked for this man, had he done the assignment instead of Rusty, so he shouldn't feel it was his fault. The man had really struggled with guilt over Rusty doing his assignment. Also, I was never told it was Rusty's last day in Vietnam. He was such a great guy and he truly is missed.