McHenry High grads made sure classmates killed in Vietnam wouldn’t be forgotten

Memorial at Veterans Park fulfilled a promise made to best friend who didn’t return from the war

McHenry's Vietnam Memorial, which honors four residents who died in the war, including three from the class of 1964, is seen here on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024.

Richard Phannenstill remembers a promise he made, both to himself and his best friend in 1969.

The promise to Carter Freund, made as Phannenstill was leaving the cemetery following Freund’s funeral, was that one day he’d do something to honor him.

“It just took me 40 years to do it,” Phannenstill said. In starts and stops over the years, Phannenstill researched and talked to people who had created war memorials.

Jackie Raycraft (reflected) and Tom Bitterman look the new newly unveiled Vietnam War memorial in 2014 in McHenry. The monument was built in honor of four McHenry High School graduates killed in Vietnam. The memorialized included John Granath Jr., killed at 20; Glenn Davis, killed at 22; Carter Freund, killed at 22; and James Ambrose, killed at 23. Raycraft is the sister of Ambrose. Bitterman, family friend of Davis, signed his induction papers on the day Davis was killed.  Glenn Davis is now buried next to Bitterman's brother Dick Bitterman.

“I learned a lot of dos and don’ts,” he said.

Then, at a McHenry VFW Post 4600 event, he started talking to Sue Low-Meyer, McHenry’s mayor from 2003 to 2017, about the project. “Sue asked, ‘Rich, when are you going to get this memorial built?’” he said.

That’s when others, including members of his graduating class, got involved.

On Veterans Day 2014, the memorial was dedicated on the southeast corner of McHenry’s Veterans Memorial Park to Freund, Glenn Davis, James Ambrose and John Granath. Phannenstill spearheaded the effort with help from the McHenry High School Class of 1964: Freund, Davis and Ambrose were their classmates.

The black stone is etched on one side with the four men’s names, their service branch, and the date and location of their death. A map of Vietnam also marks where they died.

The opposite side is etched with the war’s dates, the number of soldiers who were killed in action, wounded, missing in action or prisoners of war, as well as iconic images of the war.

When it came time to place the stone, local contractors Wm. Tonyan & Sons Inc. donated their labor and materials.

“They bought the crane to put it in place,” said Ruthie Granger, Phannenstill’s sister.

Members of the Polish Legion of American Veterans stands with the crowd during the unveiling ceremony of the Vietnam War memorial in 2014 in McHenry. The monument was built in honor of four McHenry High School graduates killed in Vietnam. The memorialized included John Granath Jr., killed at 20; Glenn Davis, killed at 22; Carter Freund, killed at 22; and James Ambrose, killed at 23.

Because of that donation, there were funds left over. On Aug. 17 this year, at the Class of 1964′s 60-year reunion, the remaining $8,200 was donated to Veterans Path to Hope. The Crystal Lake-based charity offers a drop-in resource center, food pantry, housing, job assistance and other services to veterans.

Phannenstill said he should have done something with the excess funds “a long time ago” but was happy that it went to Veterans Path to Hope.

“It worked out good,” he said.

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