Ronald Gail Swaim

Des Moines native Ronald Gail Swaim died May 20, 1968 in South Vietnam. He served as a Navy medic assigned to a Marine Corps unit in the 1st Marine Division. He enlisted in 1966 and was sent to Southeast Asia in May 1968. He was killed a few weeks into his tour while participating in Operation Allen Brook. His fatal injuries included gunshot wounds inflicted by the enemy as well as third degree burs sustained from a friendly air strike. The 20-year-old’s body was returned to Iowa and buried at the Highland Memory Gardens in Des Moines.