Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Monday, December 11
    Trending
    • This Day in History on December 11th
    • History Short: What is the Greatest Video Game?
    • This Day in History on December 10th
    • History Short: The Biggest Heist, Japan Edition
    • This Day in History on December 9th
    • History Short: Midwest Murder Mayhem!
    • This Day in History on December 8th
    • History Short: When Russia Guaranteed Ukraine Territory Integrity
    History and Headlines
    • Arts & Entertainment
      • Cinema & TV
      • Games
      • Literature
      • Music
      • Sports
      • Video Games
    • Bizarre Bulletin
      • Misconceptions
      • The Bizarre
      • The Paranormal
      • The Unexplained
    • Lifestyle
      • Animals/Pets
      • Fashion
      • Food
      • Health/Medicine
      • Home Improvement
      • Horoscopes
      • Travel
    • Science & Tech
      • Inventions
      • Nature
      • Vehicles
    • Society
      • Business and Economics
      • Crime
      • Military
      • Politics
      • Religion
      • Society
    • About
      • Welcome to Our Site!
      • This Day in History (articles)
      • This Day in History (categories)
      • Table of Contents: A History of the World
      • Online History Textbooks
      • A Guide to Some of Our Favorite Scholars and Educators
      • Advance Screenings and Movie Reviews Archive
      • Schedule of Video Adaptations of Our Articles
    • Friends
      • Armchair History TV
      • Fact Fiend
      • RealClearHistory
      • Simply Charly
      • TopTenz
      • ​Unique Interpretations
    History and Headlines
    You are at:Home»January»January 27»January 27, 1973: The Last American Combat Casualty of the Vietnam War
    January 27

    January 27, 1973: The Last American Combat Casualty of the Vietnam War

    Major DanBy Major DanJanuary 27, 2017Updated:January 24, 202029 Comments3 Mins Read
    Email Facebook LinkedIn Pinterest Reddit Telegram Tumblr Twitter VKontakte WhatsApp

    A Brief History

    On January 27, 1973, about 11 hours before the cease fire marking the official end of American involvement in the Vietnam War, Colonel William Nolde, US Army, age 43, was killed by artillery fire at An Loc, South Vietnam.  Nolde thus became the last official US combat casualty of that war, and a footnote in history.

    Digging Deeper

    William Nolde was more than an historical footnote, however, a real life person and patriot, a husband, and a decorated soldier (veteran of the Korean War as well as Vietnam War), and had worked as a college professor at Central Michigan University prior to his military career.

    Former Senator and Secretary of State, John Kerry, pointedly asked “How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?”

    Kerry asked that question while testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 1971, appearing as a decorated Vietnam War veteran with 3 Purple Heart medals.  Americans other than Nolde did indeed die in and around Vietnam after the Paris Peace Accords took effect hours after Nolde’s death, but those deaths are not considered “combat” deaths.  (Note: Those Americans are just as dead and still deserve to be honored.)

    William Nolde was born in Michigan in 1929 and was drafted during the Korean War.  Commissioned as an officer after attending Officer Candidate School, he served in Korea and did a tour in Vietnam in 1965-1966.  Nolde returned to Vietnam in 1972 at the request of Army Chief of Staff General William Westmoreland to serve as an advisor to the Army of South Vietnam.  Nolde’s military awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Air Medal, and Purple Heart.  He is remembered as a member of the Field Artillery Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame and in a lecture series in his name at Central Michigan University’s Military Science Department.  The family, friends, and students of William Nolde have established a scholarship at Central Michigan in Nolde’s name as another testament to this patriot.

    The death of William Nolde was treated as a national event, with President Nixon and General Alexander Haig in attendance at the burial at Arlington National Cemetery, an event aired on national television.

    In answer to John Kerry’s question, if you are asking a true patriot, you simply ask and he follows to serve as needed.  Vietnam was a mistake, the American people were misled by politicians throughout the war, those same politicians did a terrible disservice to the military, but the men and women that died serving the country deserve credit and our thanks for their sacrifice.  Question for students (and subscribers): If you have any thoughts or opinions about the Vietnam War or America’s wars in general, please share them with your fellow readers in the comments section below this article.

    If you liked this article and would like to receive notification of new articles, please feel welcome to subscribe to History and Headlines by liking us on Facebook and becoming one of our patrons!

    Your readership is much appreciated!

    Historical Evidence

    For more information, please see this article.

    Share. Email Facebook LinkedIn Pinterest Reddit Telegram Twitter Tumblr
    Previous ArticleJanuary 26, 1945: Audie Murphy, Bravest American Ever!
    Next Article January 28, 1915: US Coast Guard is Formed By an Act of Congress
    Major Dan
    Major Dan

      Major Dan is a retired veteran of the United States Marine Corps. He served during the Cold War and has traveled to many countries around the world. Prior to his military service, he graduated from Cleveland State University, having majored in sociology. Following his military service, he worked as a police officer eventually earning the rank of captain prior to his retirement.

      Related Posts

      History Short: When Russia Guaranteed Ukraine Territory Integrity

      December 8, 2023

      History Short: Chuck Yeager, American Hero

      December 7, 2023

      Animated Map of the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine (through December 6th, 2023)

      December 6, 2023

      <span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="15187 https://www.historyandheadlines.com/?p=15187">29 Comments

      1. Avatar
        Jared A. Hutt on February 11, 2017 4:45 pm

        “…if you are asking a true patriot, you simply ask and he follows to serve as needed” Very well said

        Reply
      2. Avatar
        Kay McCargish on February 13, 2017 6:12 pm

        Sad that so many lost their lives in a war that mislead so many.

        Reply
      3. Avatar
        Dan Sumpter on February 13, 2017 9:56 pm

        This man did not die for a mistake but rather he fought for the man next to him.

        Reply
      4. Avatar
        Cara Zang on February 15, 2017 2:29 pm

        This man died fighting for the rights of everyone living in this country today. To call it a mistake is to bring your own views into play.

        Reply
      5. Avatar
        Christie Benton on February 16, 2017 2:25 pm

        What a sad day. It reminds me of the Jews who died moments after World War II concluded. It was not a mistake though, he died defending his country, and that is as noble as any a cause.

        Reply
      6. Avatar
        Luke Lyden on February 16, 2017 9:37 pm

        Man how terrible this man lost his life right before the war ended.

        Reply
      7. Avatar
        Bailey Cleary on February 16, 2017 10:28 pm

        It is such a shame that he passed away right before the war was over.

        Reply
      8. Avatar
        Jason Orellano on February 17, 2017 8:42 pm

        It does not matter whether you are the first or the last killed in war, “ALL LIVES MATTER!” Its sad that the war was almost over but how about the guy that was first killed. I can only guess he was only there a short time before being killed.

        Reply
      9. Avatar
        Mackenzie H on February 17, 2017 10:42 pm

        I wonder what would happen if he hadn’t had died before the war?

        Reply
      10. Avatar
        Dan Fidoe on February 18, 2017 10:58 am

        So politicians are still as corrupt as always like they were during Vietnam. You also do not ask military members to do anything. They follow orders and do as they are told. Whether the they agree with the the rights or wrongs of the situation, service abide by following orders.

        Reply
      11. Avatar
        Jeffrey Keenan on February 18, 2017 2:01 pm

        I feel horrible for the family of Colonel William Nolde. However I feel horrible for all of the men that lost their lives during the Vietnam war. The Vietnam war should have never happened, I thank all of the brave American soldiers that fought for this country in the Vietnam war (Both the volunteers and those whom were drafted into the war).

        Reply
      12. Avatar
        Juan Rodriguez on February 18, 2017 9:08 pm

        Men and women of the military branches do not worry about politics, they just follow orders. Sometimes they pay the ultimate price by dying in combat, but they don’t do it for the glory or to get awards, they do it for the person to the right and left of them (Comrades in arms).

        Reply
      13. Avatar
        Kacey Kovac on February 18, 2017 9:20 pm

        My grandfather fought in the Vietnam war and tells me all about his time in combat. I have so much respect for all of those who lost there lives and served our country to defend our freedom.

        Reply
      14. Avatar
        John Milton on February 18, 2017 11:44 pm

        The Vietnam War should never of happened and those who lost their lives should be remembered as heros because they were doing a duty by following orders.

        Reply
      15. Avatar
        Jared Good on February 19, 2017 11:40 am

        Vietnam war was a bad time and we lost a lot of soldiers plus the ones that came home had a rough time with the war.

        Reply
      16. Avatar
        Shaun Emerick on February 19, 2017 10:02 pm

        It is sad to loose any soldier, but especially sad when a soldier dies who has given so many years to his country and had such an impressive military record. At least he is remembered for more than just been gate last combat causality of the Vietnam War, that scholarship the is set up in his name at Central Michigan will at least educate people more about the kind of person he was.

        Reply
      17. Avatar
        Jeremiah Linden on February 21, 2017 10:12 pm

        It is nice to see a veteran noticed by the president.

        Reply
      18. Avatar
        Angela Kessinger on April 17, 2017 9:20 am

        I agree with this article. Every man and woman that serves in the military should be recognized for their service. It should not matter how you feel about the war, like Vietnam war, people gave up their lives and they should be treated as a hero.

        Reply
      19. Avatar
        Misty Prosser on April 17, 2017 2:06 pm

        Every member of the military should be honored for their services, these men and women put their lives on the line for our country.

        Reply
      20. Avatar
        Adrian Lewers on April 19, 2017 12:07 am

        My father was in the army at the time of the Vietnam War. There he, like many others, was introduced to opium. When the soldiers returned, many of them suffered withdrawal symptoms along with other serious illness caused by exposure during this war.

        Reply
      21. Avatar
        Michael Tovissi on April 20, 2017 2:15 pm

        I agree that the Vietnam War should never have happened. But I do believe that everyone in the military deserves our gratitude and our respect.

        Reply
      22. Avatar
        Michelle on April 21, 2017 8:15 pm

        I feel like junk when a Vietnam War Veteran thanks me for my service, my 8 tiny months I spent on a ship with little to no danger around me in my four years. If I see a Vietnam veteran, I do my best to go out of my way to thank them for their service because Lord knows, they didn’t receive proper thanks on their homecoming. No one wanted to fight in that war, but they did, and they did because it was their duty, I have the utmost respect for Vietnam War Veterans.

        Reply
      23. Avatar
        Nakia Bridges on April 24, 2017 5:09 pm

        I am really excited that the President recognized the veterans, my grandfather was in the Vietnam War and I think that war should had never happened.

        Reply
      24. Avatar
        MIA on April 28, 2017 11:10 am

        I love the Vietnam War. It’s my favorite war to learn about. I always make sure I go out my way to tell a soldier my appreciation for what they do for our country.

        Reply
      25. Avatar
        Amanda Miller on April 28, 2017 8:27 pm

        What is sad is I remember, before my grandparents passed away, when I was in high school we learned about the Vietnam War and I brought it up to my grandparents. I remember them saying that when our troops came back home they didn’t get the acknowledgement that they deserved. When our troops came home from WWII and the Korean War they got more of an acknowledgement than those that served in the Vietnam War.

        Reply
      26. Avatar
        Yang Shao on May 1, 2017 12:40 am

        It is an interesting article by showing William Nolde was treated as a national event. Men and women should be putting in the same level of being trust .

        Reply
      27. Avatar
        Payton Brown on May 2, 2017 10:09 pm

        I don’t really know a tremendous amount about the Vietnam War but my great uncle is a veteran of it. He never will talk about his experience though.

        Reply
      28. Avatar
        Robin Crandel on May 7, 2017 2:39 pm

        The media exploited his death. Everyone should get credit, however the media exploited him forward their agenda.
        P.S. Discus is really hard to comment on because it lags incredibly, maybe because of all the ads.

        Reply
        • Major Dan
          Major Dan on May 8, 2017 12:49 pm

          Hello! We removed some of the ads. Please see if it loads better for you now and let us know. Thanks!

          Reply

      Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

      Follow Us!
      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • YouTube
      • Patreon
      Sign Up For Our Newsletter!
      Most Recent

      This Day in History on December 11th

      December 11, 2023

      History Short: What is the Greatest Video Game?

      December 11, 2023

      This Day in History on December 10th

      December 10, 2023

      History Short: The Biggest Heist, Japan Edition

      December 10, 2023

      This Day in History on December 9th

      December 9, 2023
      This Day in History Video

      Advertisements




      Amazon Affiliate Disclosure Statement

      As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases via links in the “Historical Evidence” sections of articles.

      About HistoryAndHeadlines.com

      Thanks for visiting History and Headlines!  This site exists primarily for educational purposes and is intended as a resource for Dr. Zar’s students.  Articles are mostly written by either Dr. Zar or his dad (Major Dan).  To any guest readers, please keep that in mind when commenting on articles.   Thank you!

      We try to present our students with historical topics that are both diverse and a bit out of the ordinary.  Our motto is “We try until we succeed!”

      Contact us at admin@historyandheadlines.com

      Guidelines and Policies for Images used on This Site, as well as for Guest and Sponsored Articles, and Other Terms of Use

      Privacy Statement

      © 2023 History and Headlines

      All-Time Most Commented

      July 28, 1866: 18 Year Old Girl Wins Commission to Sculpt Statue of Lincoln (A Truly Great American Woman)

      July 28, 2014

      December 24, 1865: Birth of the Ku Klux Klan

      December 24, 2015

      December 25, 1868: President Johnson Pardons all Confederate Veterans

      December 25, 2015

      February 5, 1909: First Plastic Invented was called Bakelite!

      February 5, 2014

      November 23, 1876: “Boss” Tweed Turned Over to Authorities

      November 23, 2013
      Recommended Book
      © 2023 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

      Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

      We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

      You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in .

      History and Headlines
      Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
      Privacy Overview

      This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

      Strictly Necessary Cookies

      Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

      If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.