DOUGLAS R. MOHRMANN KILLED IN ACTION IN VIETNAM

REMEMBER THE FALLEN

Vietnam Claims Third Middleboro Man

Douglas R. Mohrmann  Killed In Action.

By Bob Lessard

Historian Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64 American Legion

(Periodically, the Gazette will publish biographical sketches of Middleboro’s war casualties. This is intended to remember the sacrifices of all veterans and those who gave their lives to our country. A slogan worth repeating states: “ALL GAVE SOME, SOME GAVE ALL.”

Reports of the death of twenty-one-year-old Douglas Robert Mohrmann in Vietnam were received by family members. Military authorities, as reported in the March 21, 1968 edition of the Gazette, contacted his mother Mrs. Marion Jean Mohrmann of 181 North Main Street earlier in the week. His death was that of the third Middleboro man in this war.

A Marine Lance Corporal (E-3), Douglas was involved in a battle in the vicinity of Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam, when he was killed in action on March 15, 1968 by hostile small arms gunfire, according to military records. His body was recovered and is being sent home. 

Born on August 28, 1946, he was the son of Robert J. Mohrmann of Buzzards Bay and Mrs. Jean Morhmann. Douglas was a graduate of Bourne High School, Class of 1966.  Mr. Charles Richardson of Bourne High School assisted with information about Douglas for this article.

Lance Corporal Morhmann had enlisted in the Marine Corps in August of 1966. His family had moved to Middleboro about 18 months before his death. As stated earlier, his mother lived at 181 North Main Street. His father resided in Buzzards Bay.

Douglas received his Marine Corps basic training at Parris Island from August through December of 1966. According to the news article, Douglas began his tour of duty in Viet Nam on April 18, 1967. He had been serving in Viet Nam for the past 17 months. And, according to the news article, he had been due home around the first of May. 

Besides his parents he was survived by a sister, Judy, 19, a student at Brigham Young University, two brothers Eric, 15, a student at Middleboro’s Memorial High School and Terry, 5 years old. Also his grandmother, Mrs. Harry C. Mohrmann of Michigan.

Douglass’ name can be found on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in Washington D.C., Panel 44E-Line 64. In Middleboro his name is located in the Vietnam section on the Central Casualty stone in the Middleboro Veterans Memorial Park. Also, his name is engraved on the dedicated black Vietnam memorial stone in the park.

Readers of the Gazette are reminded that tribute bricks are still available for placement in the Memorial Park. Brick applications are available at the office of the Veterans Service Officer, third floor of the bank building; and, at the brick locator in the Veterans Memorial Park. 

(Author’s note: In the “Remember The Fallen” article of April 19 about William Hitchcock, we failed to list the memorial bridge at Nemasket Street near Oliver Park, which is dedicated to him. There is a sign on each end of the bridge, which was named in his memory by the state legislature.)(Published 4/26/18)