Richard Clive Youngbear

Richard Clive Youngbear was raised on the Meskwaki Indian Settlement in Tama. Serving in the Army for eight years, he began his tour in Vietnam in July 1965 with the 101st Airborne Division. SGT Youngbear died on February 3, 1966 when his unit was involved in a night attack against the Viet Cong in Phu Yen Province. He sacrificed his life so that other members of his unit could better position themselves to fight the Viet Cong. A large gravesite funeral service was held at the Meskwaki Indian Settlement Cemetery in Tama with over 300 people in attendance. His body was buried in traditional Indian dress. SGT Youngbear was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and was the first casualty of the Vietnam War from Tama County.