- SURNAME
McIlvain
- FORENAME
Edward Morton III
- UNIT
SF medic (503 Infantry Regiment)
- RANK
Specialist Fourth Class
- NUMBER
13834964
- DATE OF DEATH
18th October 1966
- AGE
21
- GRAVESITE
Church of the Redeemer Cemetery,Bryn Mawr,Montgomery County,Pennsylvania Section K Lot 561 Grave 7-E1/2
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Wynnewood,Pennsylvania
born 9.3.1945 Pennsylvania
son of Mrs Winifred Dodge (nee Seyburn) Cheston and stepson of George M. Cheston
resided 301 Cherry Lane,Wynnewood,Pennsylvania
his mother was the daughter of one of the founders of Dodge Motor Company
attended Episcopal Academy
graduated Darrow School
entered service 30.9.1964
medical training,Fort Sam Houston,Texas
advanced medical training,Fort Gordon,Georgia
JFK Special Warfare Center and School,Fort Bragg,North Carolina 1965-66
qualified SF medic
503 IR 1966
DOW received South Vietnam
Vietnam Veterans Memorial,Washington,D.C. Panel 11E Line 88
SP4 Edward M. McIlvain III was born in May 9, 1945. He grew up in Wynnewood, PA as a member of the founding family of the Dodge Motor Company. As a young man he was surrounded by five brothers and involved in numerous sports. He was the captain of his highschool football team, a talented musician, and a dynamic leader.
Ed joined the Army in 1965 where he trained as a Special Forces medic. He completed initial medical training at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas and advanced medical training at Ft. Gordon, Georgia. Upon graduation as a Special Forces soldier, Ed was placed on orders to South Vietnam.
On arriving at the replacement depot in Vietnam, Ed, like many Special Forces soldiers sent to Vietnam, received a change of orders and was assigned to a non-Special Forces unit. In Ed.s case that unit was the 173rd Airborne Brigade.
Three months after he arrived in country he was killed as a result of multiple fragmentation wounds to the head when the Viet Cong ambushed his platoon with a command detonated Claymore and small arms fire. There were numerous casualties, but Ed was the only soldier killed. He was 21 years old.
In his will, Ed left $15,000 each to his two best friends and fellow Special Forces Medics, Ben Roberts and Francis Murray.
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