Roger Lee Gertsen

Roger Gertsen grew up in Coulter where his family owned a business. He attended Latimer-Coulter schools and enlisted in the Marine Corps in February 1965. He was a rifleman in the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment based in southern Vietnam. His unit was part of Operation Jackstay, a search and clear effort to dislodge Viet Cong forces along the shipping channels in Rung Sat. He was killed on March 31, 1966 during a firefight with the enemy. Private First Class Gertsen was buried in the Coulter Cemetery.