Vietnam
-
Fallen

County:
Sargent

Date of Loss:

Branch of Service:
Army

Rank:
Staff Sergeant

Listed on/in the:
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, Washington D.C.

Medals and Honors:
Bronze Star

Circumstances:

On 1 April 1965, he was one of the advisors to the 52nd Vietnamese Ranger Battalion, serving with the Biet Dong Quan (BDQ) Advisory Team TD 41, Advisory Team 99, HQ, MACV Advisors, MACV. Four Americans were killed in combat with the Viet Cong in this incident, one of these being fellow advisor, Captain Gerald C. Capelle. It is highly likely that SSgt. Fakin was the man that Capt. Capelle was trying to save when they were both killed that day in the midst of a helicopter assault on a hot LZ.

Biography:

He was born in Zemun, Serbia and joined the US Army in Germany. 

He lived in Cogswell, ND at some point and was listed in the ND House Concurrent Resolution NO. 46 that was a tribute to North Dakota Men who have died in Vietnam. 

He is buried in Section 37, Site 1658 in Arlington National Cemetery - Arlington, Virgina.