DICKIE WAINE FINLEY

Dickie Waine Finley died in the service of his country while serving in
2nd Brigade Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol, 4th Infantry Division

Last name: Finley
First name: Dickie Waine
Home of Record (official): Sweet Springs
State (official): MO
Date of Birth: June 29, 1947
Marital Status: Married

Branch: Army
Rank: E-6
Component: Infantry
MOS (Military Occupational Specialty code): 11B40
Major Organization: 4th Infantry Division
Unit of assignment: 2nd Brigade Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol

Entered Service:
Start of Tour:
Date of Casualty: October 21, 1968
Age at time of loss: 21
Casualty type: Hostile, died
Reason: Gun, small arms fire, ground
Country: South, Vietnam
Province: Darlac

Vietnam Memorial Wall: Panel 40W, Row 11

Ranger Memorial Stone: Section B, Column 26

To the family that has had to bear the loss of Dickie, we offers our heart-felt thanks for your standing so strong. Many that enjoy real freedom have been affected by the great contribution he gave towards our freedom. He is still dearly loved and missed, even to this day.
Lord, those who knew him are so thankful you allowed them to be graced by his being among them. We his brothers of like spirit, a spirit that says all people, of all nations, should enjoy the right to live free and to choose for themselves, do also thank you. He stands out to us and the world as a symbol of the price of freedom. Your Word says; "no greater love hath a man than this, to give his life for a friend" Dickie did just that! He forsook self-preservation for others to live. He acted out of love, a love that required no contemplation but rather action. Surely it never crossed his mind at the moment he was getting his team aboard the extraction ship that he would come to be known as a "HERO". We thank you for men and women like our brother that thought it not too much, to give his life for others to live. Lord, this day give comfort to those loved ones that have been all these years without him and have still, to receive his remains. Help them to know he is at rest with you and "Warriors" of like kind. May we never forget, it was the blood of others that bought our freedoms. Lord, regardless of our belief, help us as we remember him and the many like him to consider the following words of wisdom; to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, soul, mind, and strength, and secondly to love our neighbor as our self. Truly acceptance and application of this wisdom by all people of the world, is to see war and all other atrocities against humanity end! May our hearts be charged to honor the sacrifices of such men and women with a continuous and sincere effort to promote peace on earth and good will towards all?

Dickie had proven he was capable to lead and was assigned this mission with four other men. He was only a Private First Class at the time and usually one had to be at least a Sergeant E-5 to lead a team. I have no record of how many teams he had lead before this one. Regardless he showed courage and confidence in himself to take on such responsibility. This was to be a mission gone bad and Dickie would become missing in action, Luther Ghahate would die, and three would survive. Dicke held to the creed; we leave no one behind. Rather than being concerned with self preservation, he busied himself with assisting his team members aboard the extraction ship. We of the 75th Ranger Regiment Association give honor to a “HERO”, Dickie Waine Finley that answered his country’s call at a tumultuous time in the history of our country. His personal bravery, determination, and exemplary devotion to duty reflects the highest traditions of his unit, the military, and a great credit on himself. Dickie you may be gone from our realm but you are not forgotten.
To this day, the entire story of his loss and whereabouts is still uncertain. The government’s official position as of 1976 is that Dickie died while missing.

Bob Smyers

Warren Gallion writes:
On October 21, 1968, PFC Dickie Finley was the team leader of a 5 man Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) team operating in the vicinity of Ban Me Thuot in Darlac Province, South Vietnam. The unit was based at Kontum in South Vietnam. During the evening, PFC Finley reported enemy contact and after expending their ammunition, the team withdrew to a pickup zone to await a helicopter. The enemy had previously given a false report on their position and marked their location with red smoke. Finley radioed again for a pickup. The extraction helicopter hovered over a shallow pond and began loading the team members. Finley threw his rifle on board and was helping three team members board the aircraft when it took off prematurely, leaving Finley behind. SP4 Ghahate was clinging to the skids until he fell off. In the darkness, it was not immediately known that all the team members were not aboard. One team member looked out and saw a man hanging on the helicopter-landing skid. He signaled the pilot, but when he looked again, the man was gone. The pilot circled the area in search of the 2 missing men. The search was terminated after 30 minutes because of darkness. The following day ground forces and helicopter units initiated a 3-day search. The body of Ghahate was recovered. He had been wounded and it was believed that it was he who fell from the helicopter. No sign was found of Finley. The family was told by friends of Finley's that during the searches his Lieutenant went back and found a Bible and flashlight in the fork of a tree, indicating that some sort of marker had been placed for search teams. The Army reports no evidence of this in their files. Another account, given by Finley's wife states that Finley's strobe light was found wedged in the branch of a tree. Dickie W. Finley was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant during the period he was maintained as Missing in Action.

Warren Gallion

Dear Soldier,
I am doing a Project in my APB and Consumer class and we have to write remembrances for as many Vietnam Veterans as we want. You fought in this war and gave your Supreme Sacrifice. I admire everyone that didn’t or did have the choice to fight in this war. I want to let you know that you are in my thoughts and will never be forgotten. God Bless you,

Amanda Kinney

I would like to say to the family of Dickie Finley that it is an honor to have the same surname. His bravery is a reflection of the dedicated service that Finley's of America have given to their country. He will be remembered.
A lot of time has passed but I still remember when we ran around together the "snowball incident", riding around in the cold with the top down on your 60 Chevy convertible. drinking beers together. Alot of times I wonder why I made it back and you didn't. I won't forget ya buddy.

Charles W. Finley, Aurora, Il.

You grew up with my father and hold a special place in his heart. I want you to know how much I care for you and what you gave for me. I see that man you grew up with once in a while, but most days I see the man who came home alone. I wish I could of known you. The sparkle in my father’s eyes when he talks about you tells me you were a fine man. Thank you for being his out in a bad life and a best friend in his world of madness. Rest in Peace Dickie.

Curt Roscher

I have not forgotten you. I chair the Adoption Committee for the National League of Families of Prisoners of War and Missing in Action in Southeast Asia. We will always remember the 1,889 Americans still unaccounted for in Southeast Asia and the thousands of others that lost their lives. We will not stop our efforts until all of you are home where you belong.
We need to reach the next generation so that they will carry on when our generation is no longer able. To do so, we are attempting to locate photographs of all the missing. If you are reading this remembrance and have a photo and/or memory of this missing American that you would like to share for our project.

D. Roscher

My husband, Dick Shaner, wears your name on his colors for The Chained Eagles of Ohio. You will never be forgotten. He remembers you well and speaks of you often. Rest in Peace.

Cille Shaner