David Popp was initially listed as Missing In Action, and his remains were not recovered until January 1970. He left behind a wife and daughter. Date of birth: 5 April 1943 Date tour began: 14 November 1968 Date of casualty: 14 March 1969 Home of record: Milwaukie, Oregon Branch and Rank: Army Reserve, Chief Warrant Officer Unit: 1st Cav Division, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, Trp B Awards: National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Purple Heart Location of name on the Vietnam Wall: 29W, 39
Location of service: South Vietnam, Tay Ninh Ridge Hostile Died While Missing, Air Loss Crash - Land, Helicopter – Crew
A detailed description of the crash can be found here: https://www.vhpa.org/KIA/incident/69031444KIA.HTM
Schools attended: Milwaukie High School Burial location: Willamette National Cemetery
Memorials: Vietnam Veterans Memorial (Washington, DC), Oregon Vietnam Veterans Memorial (Portland), Veterans Memorial Coliseum (Portland), Gold Star War Memorial – Milwaukie High School
The Oregonian, Thursday, April 10, 1969 Wives of Servicemen Planning Tea Mrs. David Popp will become chairman of the Wives of Overseas Servicemen organization at a Saturday, April 12, 2 to 4 p.m. informal tea planned for Red Cross headquarters, 4200 SW Corbett Ave. The organization, now in its fourth year, is open to the wife of any enlisted man serving outside the continental United States, including Alaska. Activities of common interest are planned. Mrs. Popp’s husband is a helicopter pilot with the First Air Cavalry and missing in action. Outgoing president, who will also be honored at the tea, is Mrs. Dudley Strong. Sgt. Strong, who recently returned from a tour of duty in Korea, will speak at the tea. The club is sponsored by the Oregon Trail Chapter of the Red Cross.
The Oregonian, Saturday, January 31, 1970 Service for Chief Warrant Officer David F. Popp, 26, will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Mt. Scott Funeral Home. CWO Popp died in action when his helicopter went down in Tay Ninh, Vietnam, near the Cambodian border. Prior to his Vietnam duty he had served as a paratrooper in Germany for three years. After his discharge from service in Germany he spent three years as a civilian and then re-enlisted. CWO Popp was born April 5, 1946, in Mansfield, Ohio, and came to Oregon with his parents at the age of 2. He is survived by his wife, Coralee, and daughter, Cynthia. Other survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Popp of Portland, and four sisters: Nancy Galat; Maryanne Bares; and Betty Popp, all of Portland; and Ruth Sage of Tacoma, Wash. Interment with full military honors will be at Willamette National Cemetery.
The following remembrances were originally posted here: http://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/41293/DAVID-F-POPP A Brave Marine I was with you on LZ Sierra,you served your country with honor.Semper Fi my comrade in arms ******************************************************************** A note from a Great Niece. David Fred Popp was the great uncle i never met. I hear such wonderful things about him from my grandmother (his sister) who misses him very much. She remembered him as handsome, brave, a dare devil, and sometimes embarrassing because he would always tell boys that they could not date her in school. She remembers once when he got into a fight at school and she ran home telling her parents "They're killing David!" And off went my great grandma and great grandpa Popp to the rescue. I never met them either. I am sure he is with my great aunt Nancy Popp whom i never met and my great aunt who i have met but died a few years back. My grandmother misses him very much and don't worry she is taking care of great aunt. Love, the great niece you never met.