CPT Terry Cordell, USA

Class of 1957

Recognized as the first U.S. officer, as well as being the first Special Ops Officer, to be killed-in-action in Vietnam, 15 Oct 1962. His was the first fixed wing airplane downed by enemy fire resulting in KIA's and more than 1700 additional fixed wing airplanes were shot down in Vietnam before the war ended in January 1973.