Stanton James Setka

Stanton James Setka was raised in Mitchell County and graduated from Riceville High School in the class of 1965. After high school Setka completed his freshman year at Luther College in Decorah before joining the Marine Corps. He trained as a rifleman and achieved the rank of Lance Corporal. LCPL Setka deployed to South Vietnam and was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines in the 1st Marine Division. The 20-year-old Marine was killed on August 29, 1967 in the Quang Nam Province from an enemy explosive device. He sustained multiple fatal fragmentation wounds to his head, neck, and both legs. His body was returned to Iowa and buried at the Riverside Cemetery in Riceville. Two other Americans were killed in the incident that took Setka’s life.