KEARSARGE - It took a lot of work, but there's a new plaque at the Kearsarge veterans' memorial with four more names of Copper Country soldiers who died during the Vietnam War.
The plaque at the memorial on U.S. 41 has the names of Patrick Coppo, Marshall Kipina, John Musich and Paul Pirkola.
Gene LaRochelle, who met with three other military veterans representing the American Legion Post 61 and the VFW Post 3900, both in Calumet, and one active member to view the new plaque, said it took about three years to find the four names.
"It involved a lot of work," he said. "There is no central location where you can push a button and get the names of people who served in Vietnam for a certain area."
LaRochelle said Calumet Township Supervisor Paul Lehto took the initiative to find the names of the four men added to the plaque.
Lehto said he contacted the instructor of the Calumet High School Junior ROTC, and that group did most of the work to find the names of the four men, all of whom attended Calumet High School.
"The ROTC spent hundreds of hours compiling the names," he said. "We laid the problem on them about a year ago."
However, Lehto said the ROTC members received no help from the United States government in their efforts.
"The military won't release the names," he said.
He's not certain why that is, but Lehto said it may be for privacy reasons.
Because the military wouldn't help, Lehto said the ROTC members had to do a lot of work.
"It was just a matter of looking through books and calling people," he said.
Lehto said the list of Vietnam-era veterans is by no means complete.
"The list is open for corrections," he said.
Because the list may be incomplete, Lehto said the plaque is temporary and made of plastic.
"We'll leave that up for a couple years until we get a complete list," he said.
Eventually, a bronze plaque will be made, Lehto said.
The veterans' groups are also hoping to get a complete list of local World War I veterans to place at the memorial, Lehto said.
LaRochelle said the situation with Marshall Kipina, who went down in a helicopter crash, is still being settled.
"He was MIA for many years," LaRochelle said. "Last year they were able to find the helicopter crash site in Laos."
A DNA test of Kipina's remains is being conducted to make certain of his identity, LaRochelle said.
LaRochelle said he and the four others who came to look at the Vietnam-era veterans' plaque are pleased the four names have been added.
"As veterans and someone currently serving, it's important these men are remembered, especially those who gave their lives," he said.
Kurt Hauglie can be reached at khauglie @mininggazette.com.
