07/06/1967
Marine Private First Class Jerry Lee Kaster, 20, was killed in action by mortar fire along with a number of other Marines in Viet Nam on
July 6, 1967, according to additional information received here by his mother, Mrs. Armelda Kaster.
Jerry was born, on June 27, 1947, He was a 1965 graduate of Knoxville High School, and Jerry arrived in Viet Nam in March of this year.
He is also survived by two brothers, Paul of Waterloo and James of San Diego, Calif.; a half brother, Cecil Banks of Knoxville; four sisters, Mrs. Rudy (Sue) Larson and Mrs. Richard (Pat) Craver, both of Des Moines, and June and Judy.
The late Private First Class Jerry L. Kaster has been given posthumously two medals by the Marine Corps.
His mother, Mrs. Armelda A. Kaster, has received from the Decorations and Medals Branch of the Corps the Military Merit Medal and the Gallantry Cross with Palm.
According to the information accompanying the medals, Jerry was the only one of all of the Marine Corps members killed in July in Vietnam to receive the Gallantry Cross with Palm.
Kaster was killed by an enemy mortar fire on July 6, 1967.