Today in Wheeling History: October 20—Army Sergeant Patrick Martin Grella of Wheeling, 101st Airborne Division soldier, was killed by friendly fire during night patrol in Binh Tuy Province, Vietnam (1969).
Patrick Martin Grella was born on July 3, 1947, in Wheeling, West Virginia, to Frank J. and Virginia R. Corbett Grella. He grew up in the Beech Glen neighborhood at 38 Ridgewood Avenue, one of ten children in a devout Catholic family. Patrick graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1966 and completed one year at West Liberty State College before being drafted into the Army. He was a member of St. Michael's Church and its Holy Name Society.
After completing Infantry Noncommissioned Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, Patrick was promoted to sergeant in March 1969. He served with Company B, 3rd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam beginning in May 1969. In letters home, Patrick criticized his battalion commander—a veteran of Hamburger Hill—for keeping troops in the field to get large body counts and called him a "crazy fool." Patrick wrote that he'd "just as soon go deer hunting or watch Central play football." He spoke about saying rosaries and receiving Holy Communion but also said "it is a dirty war." On October 20, 1969, during a night patrol, his unit became separated and unknowingly exchanged fire. Patrick was killed in the tragic friendly-fire incident. He was 22 years old and had 198 days remaining in his tour. His death devastated his family, particularly his mother Virginia, who grieved deeply and expressed her disillusionment with President Nixon. Patrick received the Bronze Star Medal for Merit and Purple Heart. His funeral was held at St. Michael's Church on October 30, 1969, and he was buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Wheeling. Patrick is honored on Panel 17W, Line 96 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
To learn more: Wheeling Intelligencer (https://tinyurl.com/4j5mtvwa) (https://tinyurl.com/2y5e334t) (https://tinyurl.com/2cy3hpwv), Wheeling News-Register (https://tinyurl.com/rjhzr3zb) (https://tinyurl.com/mr48y4ja) (https://tinyurl.com/479fvmfu) (https://tinyurl.com/mcm2zk2e), Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (https://tinyurl.com/4jsp98w3), Special Forces Roll of Honour (https://tinyurl.com/4ps2n3ex), West Virginia Memory Project (https://tinyurl.com/mys3299b), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/4t8wyw3w)
Photo credits: Wheeling Intelligencer, Wheeling News-Register, Find a Grave
Patrick Martin Grella was born on July 3, 1947, in Wheeling, West Virginia, to Frank J. and Virginia R. Corbett Grella. He grew up in the Beech Glen neighborhood at 38 Ridgewood Avenue, one of ten children in a devout Catholic family. Patrick graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1966 and completed one year at West Liberty State College before being drafted into the Army. He was a member of St. Michael's Church and its Holy Name Society.
After completing Infantry Noncommissioned Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, Patrick was promoted to sergeant in March 1969. He served with Company B, 3rd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam beginning in May 1969. In letters home, Patrick criticized his battalion commander—a veteran of Hamburger Hill—for keeping troops in the field to get large body counts and called him a "crazy fool." Patrick wrote that he'd "just as soon go deer hunting or watch Central play football." He spoke about saying rosaries and receiving Holy Communion but also said "it is a dirty war." On October 20, 1969, during a night patrol, his unit became separated and unknowingly exchanged fire. Patrick was killed in the tragic friendly-fire incident. He was 22 years old and had 198 days remaining in his tour. His death devastated his family, particularly his mother Virginia, who grieved deeply and expressed her disillusionment with President Nixon. Patrick received the Bronze Star Medal for Merit and Purple Heart. His funeral was held at St. Michael's Church on October 30, 1969, and he was buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Wheeling. Patrick is honored on Panel 17W, Line 96 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
To learn more: Wheeling Intelligencer (https://tinyurl.com/4j5mtvwa) (https://tinyurl.com/2y5e334t) (https://tinyurl.com/2cy3hpwv), Wheeling News-Register (https://tinyurl.com/rjhzr3zb) (https://tinyurl.com/mr48y4ja) (https://tinyurl.com/479fvmfu) (https://tinyurl.com/mcm2zk2e), Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (https://tinyurl.com/4jsp98w3), Special Forces Roll of Honour (https://tinyurl.com/4ps2n3ex), West Virginia Memory Project (https://tinyurl.com/mys3299b), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/4t8wyw3w)
Photo credits: Wheeling Intelligencer, Wheeling News-Register, Find a Grave
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