enlisted.com Casualties of Peace| Sergeant (E-5) Kenneth D. Van Riper, Jr. died Sept. 18, 1978, as a result
of injuries sustained in a military vehicle accident while on maneuvers in
Fort Campbell, KY. He was the husband of Bonnie M. (Reuter) Van Riper, who
gave birth to a son, Matthew D. Van Riper, on Sept. 29, 1978. SGT Van Riper was a passenger in a "gamagoat" vehicle, which overturned on the Fort Campbell reservation. At the time of the accident, SGT Van Riper was a ground surveyor with the 101st "Screaming Eagles" Divison of the regular U.S. Army, and Airborne qualified. SGT Van Riper was born Oct. 7, 1953, in LaCrosse, WI, a son of Kenneth D. and Carol J. (Mattie) Van Riper. Like his bride a 1971 graduate of Onalaska (WI) High School, SGT Van Riper was married in October 1976. SGT Van Rider enlisted in the military in December 1975. The couple lived in Clarksville, TN at the time of the sergeant's death. The name of his son, Matthew D. Van Riper, had been his wish, in conjunction with his wife. In addition to his wife and son, SGT Van Riper left his parents, and two sisters, Cynthia L. and Rebecca L. Van Riper, both at the time of Onalaska. SGT Van Riper was buried, with full military honors, on Sept. 25, 1978, in Onalaska Cemetery. |