Dean Spaulding — Manchester’s “missing” Vietnam casualty

Dean Spaulding, a 1965 graduate of Manchester High School, was killed in action in Vietnam, but due to a name change, his loss went unrecognized for many years afterward.

by Marsha Chartrand

Editor’s note: After publication of a story (May 17, 2023) on the book Lest We Forget, published by Mary Blossom for the Emil Jacob American Legion Auxiliary Unit #117 in 1999, the Mirror received a phone call from Barbara Rhoades of Clinton, letting us know that the article was missing information on a fourth Vietnam-era casualty from Manchester. Below is the story of Dean Spaulding. 

The Vietnam War Era had already claimed three of Manchester’s Class of 1965 by mid 1967: Ronald Alexander of Manchester died while serving in Taejon, Korea, in April 1966 at the young age of 19. James Bihlmeyer of Freedom Township was killed in combat in southeast Asia in April 1967. Peter Valencich of Manchester Township had been awarded the Bronze Star for heroism in action just a month before his death in May 1967.

Another 1965 graduate, who was known at that time as Dean Woodard (born Dean F. Spaulding, Jr.) earned a scholarship to Rhode Island University and lost contact with many of his old classmates. His mother and stepfather subsequently moved to Florida, creating another degree of separation in those days when almost all communication was limited to “snail” mail or costly long-distance telephone calls.

Dean entered the Army in January 1967 and was commissioned a 2LT later that year. He rose in grade to 1LT in November 1968 before deploying to Vietnam. Just six weeks later, he was killed in action with the 199th Infantry Brigade during hostile combat in Hua Nghia, South Vietnam. His funeral services and burial were held in Largo, Florida, and many did not hear about his death right away, according to information collected by his friend and classmate Bill Richardson for the class’ 40th reunion in 2005.

“We sort of lost touch with him after graduation,” said Dennis Steele, Sr., another classmate from 1965. “I had a heck of a time finding his name on the (Vietnam Memorial) Wall because he had changed his name back to Spaulding.”

It is likely that Dean’s name had never legally been changed to Woodard, and he was required by the Army to use the name Spaulding since it was on his birth certificate. Confusion over his name, the fact that his family had moved away from Manchester, and the lateness of communication over the time of his death all may have contributed to why he was not included in the Auxiliary’s Lest We Forget book. However, his memory is preserved by the American Legion, and his picture is posted in the Legion home on Adrian Street, along with all of Manchester’s other veterans killed while serving their country.

Back in the days when there were still Class Legacies and Class Prophecies, the prophecy for Dean showed him in 1990 as a great Hollywood actor (adding that Dean got plenty of experience at MHS). But more philosophical, perhaps, were Dean’s own words in his Class Legacy:

“I, Dean Woodard, do leave all projects unfinished.”

Let us always remember those who served, and especially those who didn’t make it back home to finish their projects.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.