ADAM RODRIGUEZ, VIETNAM VETERANS DAY, DANIEL BIRCH
Today, on Vietnam Veterans Day I have the privilege of honoring Petty Officer Third Class Daniel Birch at today’s American Legion Ceremony.
Petty Officer Birch was Born in 1946 and was a resident of Croton for over 12 years. As a foster child, he resided at 19 Terrace Place with Mrs. Edward Huges. He was born to James Birch and Mrs. Herbert Birch-McCoy.
Petty Officer Birch was a graduate of Holy Name of Mary Parocial School Class of 1960 and later attended Rice High School in New York City, and Ossining High School.
He later joined his father in Los Angeles before entering service in the Navy.
Petty Officer Birch left two brothers and one sister.
Petty Officer Birch served in Vietnam for three years until he passed away. Not much is known about his death.
He was killed on March 4th of 1966, just a week after his 20th birthday. From the records we have Mr. Birch Sr. had not been informed in what action his son died. He told the Croton-Cortlandt News in 1966 that “We were notified only that he had sustained many fragmentation wounds”.
Mrs. Hughes, at whose home Mr. Birch and his family stayed during their visit to croton, said that she had what is apparently Daniels last letter written on March 3rd, just a day before he supposedly passed away.
The letter on said that he had just returned from operations, and that he a pile of mail to answer. He did speak of having to go into the mountains and complained of the excessive rain.
Petty Officer Third Class was Croton’s first death resulting from the Vietnam Wars. A Navy Corpsman attached to the Marine Corps was buried on Tuesday in March of 1966, after a requiem High mass at Holy Name of Mary Church.
The funeral was with full military honors, with honor guard from the Brooklyn Naval and Marine Corps Reserve training center of New Rochelle. Internment was at Long Island National Cemetery.
We continue to admire and respect Petty Officer Birch, and his memory will never be forgotten in Croton.
Petty Officer Birch was Born in 1946 and was a resident of Croton for over 12 years. As a foster child, he resided at 19 Terrace Place with Mrs. Edward Huges. He was born to James Birch and Mrs. Herbert Birch-McCoy.
Petty Officer Birch was a graduate of Holy Name of Mary Parocial School Class of 1960 and later attended Rice High School in New York City, and Ossining High School.
He later joined his father in Los Angeles before entering service in the Navy.
Petty Officer Birch left two brothers and one sister.
Petty Officer Birch served in Vietnam for three years until he passed away. Not much is known about his death.
He was killed on March 4th of 1966, just a week after his 20th birthday. From the records we have Mr. Birch Sr. had not been informed in what action his son died. He told the Croton-Cortlandt News in 1966 that “We were notified only that he had sustained many fragmentation wounds”.
Mrs. Hughes, at whose home Mr. Birch and his family stayed during their visit to croton, said that she had what is apparently Daniels last letter written on March 3rd, just a day before he supposedly passed away.
The letter on said that he had just returned from operations, and that he a pile of mail to answer. He did speak of having to go into the mountains and complained of the excessive rain.
Petty Officer Third Class was Croton’s first death resulting from the Vietnam Wars. A Navy Corpsman attached to the Marine Corps was buried on Tuesday in March of 1966, after a requiem High mass at Holy Name of Mary Church.
The funeral was with full military honors, with honor guard from the Brooklyn Naval and Marine Corps Reserve training center of New Rochelle. Internment was at Long Island National Cemetery.
We continue to admire and respect Petty Officer Birch, and his memory will never be forgotten in Croton.
UPDATED---SEE PART TWO, PHOTOS FROM THE CEREMONY AT EverythingCroton: A FEW PHOTOS FROM THE 3/29/2025 VIETNAM VETERANS DAY CEREMONY, PART TWO COURTESY OF ADAM RODRIGUEZ
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