Beaverton Historical Society
Gladwin County Obituary/Death Notice
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David Sterling
MILITARY RITES FRIDAY FOR 1ST. LT. STERLING
Military services will be held Friday at 1 p.m. from the Hall Funeral Home for Marine Corps
First Lt. David W. Sterling, 24, who was killed in Vietnam Sunday afternoon, Jan. 26. The Rev.
Henry Hall will officiate and burial will be in the Highland Cemetery. Lt. Sterling's body will
arrived at Tri-City Airport this evening Wednesday.
According to information received by his wife, the former Marilea Coker, of Gladwin, he was
killed while serving as the co-pilot on a medical evacuation mission near DaNang in the Quang Nam
Province. His helicopter was attempting to pick up a wounded marine when enemy fire was sighted in
the area and in eluding the fire the helicopter crashed into a mountain. The weather was reported
to be hazy, Mrs. Sterling said. Six other crew members of the helicopter were also killed in the crash.
The young aviator was born on March 4, 1944, to Mr. and Mrs. Harry Sterling of Buckeye Township.
He graduated from Gladwin High School in 1952 and from Western Michigan University in 1966. Lt. Sterling
received his Naval Aviator wings in May 1968. He had been in Vietnam for five months and had been
awarded the Air Medal fo rmeritorious service.
Besides his parents and his wife, Marilea, he is survived by a 21 month-old daughter, Stacey Lyn; two
brothers, Paul of California, and Ken of Bay City; and two sisters, Janet of California, and Carol of
Detroit. The family asks that no flowers be sent. A memorial fund has been established.
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| Personal Information
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Death Date
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Burial/Final Location
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Service
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01/26/1969
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Highland Cemetery, Gladwin, MI
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MI 1st Lt. US Marine Corps Ph. Vietnam
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| Publication Information
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Pub. Date
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Publication
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Pub. Page
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02/05/1969
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Gladwin County Record, Gladwin, MI
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P:1 C:7
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| Transcription Information
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Date
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Transcribed by
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Source Media
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January 2005
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Tom Ladner
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Microfilm
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