CPT VESA JUHANI ALAKULPPI

 

04 May 2002 A final salute to a fine American and my West Point Classmate. From a Vietnam veteran, Ramon M. Ong Brigadier General (Ret) Armed Forces of the Philippines USMA Class of 1963 azrong@cox.net

 

Captain Vesa J. Alakulppi, May 14th of 2002 will mark the 34th anniversary of your death in Vietnam. The many men who served under your leadership salute you for your courage, strength, and compassion. You will not be forgotten. Sgt. J. Strgar U.S. Army 4the Armored Div. Bamberg, Germany 1963-1966 11 S.F. Gp. Abn., U.S. Army Reserves, Tampa, Florida 1967-1969 810 Military Police, U.S. Army Reserves, Tampa, Florida 1969-1973

 

28 May 2002 Vesa Alakulppi - My big brother by Maija Alakulppi Harrington Vesa Alakulppe was not only a good and courageous man, but also a wonderful big brother. From the time Vesa was 7 years old and I was 3, I remember him taking care of me. Wherever he went, so did I: "She's just my kid sister". For example, Vesa spent many hours playing pool with me at the Army recreational center before I could even reach over the pool table. (Yes, he won every game.) He also took me along on his paper route, where my bedraggled little presence was particularly helpful on collection days, even though my wildly inaccurate paper throws were not well appreciated. Here are a few more highlights that Vesa probably never shared with his adult friends: When Vesa was 10 years old and our parents were off at some military function, Vesa displayed great initiative by combing all our father's pants' pockets and finding 3 dimes. Leaving an I.O.U. for 30 cents, he told me to get my bike and we rode 5 miles to the town movie theater to see LASSIE COME HOME. The show kept repeating itself so we stayed for the entire day's showings, until our frantic parents spotted our bikes outside the theater at around 11 PM. But wow, that was a great show, especially because I believed that the movie was a real event, currently happening in front of our eyes. This was still the pre-TV era, at least for our family. During future horror shows, Vesa was able to convince me that the movies were not real. (Otherwise he would have had to miss the movies.) As we got older, Vesa continued to be responsible for the kid sister, even on many of his movie dates. His girl friends generally did not appreciate my presence, with the notable exception of his best high school sweetheart and future wife, Sharon. Later, when I was a teenager, it was Vesa who went out to buy me a tube of Clearasil and taught me what it was and how to use it. He apparently had learned from his buddies, years before, but it was great news for me. (Our parents of the "old country" didn't know of such cosmetic miracles.) At Plebe Christmas, when Vesa's 9th grade kid sister (with my 5th grade figure) wanted to take part in the dancing, he got a friend to dance with me as though I were the most glamorous girl of the evening. Those are but a few fond memories to let you know that Vesa was pretty great even when he was a kid. I've always wished that everyone could have a big brother like Vesa. From his loving sister, Maija Alakulppi Harrington billmaija@yahoo.com

 

23 Apr 2003 My name is Ted Brostrom and I went to Nurnberg American High School with Vesa. What follows is a letter I sent to Vesa's younger sister Maija: Dear Maija, I just stumbled onto the web site in which I found your testimonial concerning your older brother - Vesa. I joined "Classmates" and have been attempting to correspond with my Nurnberg American High School friends. In the rolls of Nurnberg American High School it listed Vesa as having been killed in action in Vietnam. Let me tell you of my experiences concerning Vesa. Vesa and I played various sports together at Nurnberg American High School. I attended Nurnberg from 1955 through 1958. My family was stationed in Bamberg, Germany so I lived in the dormitory at Nurnberg. I would often see Vesa out walking his dog early in the morning. He was a caring person and really loved his dog. I remember him as a true gentleman (even in high school) and a very good athlete. I never knew, however, his family's background in Finland and Sweden (my grandfather is from Goteberg, Sweden) as he never talked about his family or his background. He was sort of a quiet type person who had the utmost respect of his friends and classmates both in class and on the playing field. I personally thought the world of Vesa and I want to convey to you and the remainder of his family my condolences for his loss in Vietnam even though his death occured many years ago. In my opinion, it is never too late to express feelings regarding a loss such as occured with Vesa. I commanded an Artillery battery in Vietnam in 1969 and had my moments but nothing like Vesa went through. God bless you, his wife and all the members of Vesa's family. A true patriot and great American - - - I miss Vesa also. Regards, Ted Brostrom Nurnberg American High School Class of 1958 Phone: 256.774.1073 Fax: 256.774.1100 Email: ted.brostrom@cas-inc.com

 

22 Jun 2006 For my dear friend, Maija, in memory of her brother Vesa. Maija and Vesa came to Junction City, Kansas, as "Army brats" when their father was stationed at Fort Riley as an officer in "The Big Red One." I only knew Vesa as Maija's older brother, and a member of the Junction City High School basketball team. If my memory serves me right, he was a key member of the team. Maija was in my class at school and we became good friends. As is the rule with most Army families, they only stay in one place for three years, so Maija's family was transferred after our junior year in high school. But Maija and I stayed in touch and I was delighted when she returned to Kansas to begin her college studies at Kansas State University in Manhattan. She eventually moved on, and actually joined the military herself to get her training as a nurse. We always kept in touch and it was a sad day when she informed me of Vesa's death in Vietnam. Being born and raised in a military town you grow up with a strong sense of pride and patriotism ... and a great appreciation for those who serve. Vesa gave the ultimate sacrifice, and though he is greatly missed by family and friends, he died doing what he believed in. God Speed, Vesa. You will always be remembered with love and appreciation. From a friend of his sister, Maija, Barbara Chaney Hartman E-mail address is not available.

 

01 Aug 2006 Dear Maija: I served in Vietnam with your brother and at one point I commanded "B" Company, 2/3 Infantry. Al and I were friendly competitors; he graduated from West Point in 1963, I graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1964, but we were friends nonetheless and I enjoyed his sardonic humor a lot. Most of all I respected his professionalism. This was one guy who could be counted on when things got rough. I know. Had he lived, I have no doubt he would have risen to the highest ranks in the Army. He was that good. I remember the night he died as if it were yesterday, an ugly raining night. The radio traffic was intense as everyone, it seems, got hit with VC/NVA fire. Al's company got hit the worst, I think. He died running from bunker to bunker pulling men out of safe holes in the mud to go up on the line to secure the perimeter for the safety of everyone. Why he only got the Silver Star for his heroism that night mystifies me to this day. He must have known then that his actions were not only vital to the survival of his company but that the chances of his surviving were small. Nonetheless he pressed on and today, there are, undoubtedly, many people and their descendants who literally owes their lives to Al. For some reason - perhaps, only to save my sanity - my memories of Vietnam are truncated. But of all the people I remember clearly, Al is a standout - as much to me in death as he was in life. From a friend, Michael Kevin Murphy mkmurph@aol.com

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall C Company, 2/3rd Infantry, lost six men on 14 May 1968 when FSB HUN was subjected to a night assault during a driving rain: CPT Vesa J. Alakulppi, Seattle, WA (Silver Star) SP4 James J. Kline, Philadelphia, PA (Dist Svc Cross) SP4 James R. Ringel, Toledo, OH PFC Robert D. Murphy, New York, NY PFC James F. Turney, Pinnacle, NC PFC William H. Zeigler, Washington, DC

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