A volunteer with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is seeking information on a soldier who died in the Vietnam War and who lived in Oklahoma and is buried in the Fort Smith national Cemetery.
Janna Hoehn, who lives in Maui, Hawaii, began searching for photos and stories of Vietnam veterans after visiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial — commonly referred to as The Wall — in Washington, D.C.
Two years later, Hoehn said she saw a local news story about a project by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund to collect photos representing every name on the wall. Hoehn then helped search for the fallen soldiers from Maui County and has since collected more than 5,000 photos, many through reaching out to various communities throughout the country.
She is now reaching out to this area in an attempt to get information on a Franklin Edward Moore.
Franklin Edward Moore was born in 1929 and died in 1968 in Vietnam. When he died, his mother Clara Moore lived in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. If Moore attended Sun Prairie High School, Hoehn said it would have been between 1944 and 1949.
Moore was in the military for 20 years and likely would have retired after his Vietnam Tour, Hoehn said. He is buried at Fort Smith National Cemetery though his headstone reads Wisconsin and his home of record at the time was Oklahoma.
Hoehn said he may have re-enlisted in the military in Oklahoma, which is why he may not be listed as a Wisconsin veteran. on military records.
Moore also was married to Virgie Ruth Moore of Oklahoma, Hoehn said. The couple had two sons, but Hoehn did not know their names or where they resided at the time. Virgie Ruth Moore died in 191.
Hoehn said if anyone is related to Moore as a friend, or knows his family, she would appreciate hearing from them.
“Putting a face with a name changes the whole dynamic of the Wall,” Hoehn said. “It keeps our fallen heroes’ memories alive and will honor them. Our heroes’ stories and sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
Submit any photos or information to Hoehn at neverforgotten2014@gmail.com.
