Gerald Thomas Atkinson

Gerald “Jerry” Thomas Atkinson, a native of Muscoda, WI, moved to Dubuque to attend Loras College. While in school he was a member of the Delta Sigma fraternity and was a part time employee at the Dubuque Packing Company. He graduated with a degree in sociology in 1969. Upon leaving college he was drafted by the Army in May 1969 and arrived in South Vietnam that September. SP4 Atkinson was an infantryman in the 1st Cavalry Division. On March 12, 1970 his unit engaged the enemy northeast of Tay Ninh City, South Vietnam near the Cambodian border. During the engagement SP4 Atkinson was killed. He had served less than one in the military. The 23-year-old Atkinson left behind a young wife. A funeral service was held at the Saint Patrick’s Church and his body was buried at the Mount Calvary Cemetery, both in Dubuque.