John Herbert Platt

John Herbert Platt was raised in the rural town of Early in Sac County. Platt came from a large family and had six brothers and six sisters. He originally joined the Iowa Army National Guard but was mobilized in 1968 along with others from the 133rd Infantry Regiment and assigned to the 1st Infantry Division, nicknamed “The Big Red 1.” PFC Platt was sent to Vietnam in February 1969 serving as an infantryman. He was killed by small arms fire on May 24, 1969 in an engagement with the enemy southwest of An Loc. Three other soldiers were killed during the incident. PFC Platt was 20 years old at the time of his death. His body was returned to Iowa and buried at the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Early. Platt was featured in the infamous 1969 LIFE magazine cover article entitled "The Faces of the American Dead in Vietnam: One Week's Toll."