By Todd DePastino
Somewhere out there are 40 Marines who enlisted together on a summer evening at the old Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota, almost sixty years ago. Some of them may be gone, but their sons, daughters, grandchildren, neighbors, or old friends would know what became of them. Either way, author and Marine veteran Christy Sauro Jr. would like to find them, and we’re hoping the Veterans Breakfast Club community can help.
On June 28, 1967, 146 young men—and four women Marines whose names have sadly been lost to history—raised their right hands before a Minnesota Twins game and enlisted in the Marine Corps together. It was good publicity for the Marines and the Twins. The fans, and the Marines themselves, must have known that most of the inductees would be sent to Vietnam. And, sure enough, by the end of the year, most of the Twins Platoon were in Southeast Asia.
They didn’t stay together. They were scattered across the country into infantry units, helicopter squadrons, and other specialties. Some were killed. Many were wounded. All carried home stories that would shape the rest of their lives.
One of those Marines was Christy Sauro.
Nearly twenty years after returning home, Christy couldn’t shake the feeling that someone ought to tell the story of the Twins Platoon. He set out to find his fellow Marines the pre-internet way, through phone books. Then he started driving, mostly across the Midwest, with a cassette recorder and note pad. He kept at it for fifteen years.
The result was The Twins Platoon, published in 2006.
But Christy wasn’t finished.
His new book, The Legacy of the Twins Platoon, picks up where the first one ended. It follows these Marines through the rest of their lives and, just as importantly, tells the stories of the families who lived with the consequences of Vietnam right alongside them. The war didn’t end when the Marines came home, and one of the strengths of Christy’s work is that he lets veterans and their families tell that story in their own words rather than trying to explain it for them.
As I listened to Christy talk about the project, I realized his book is really about memory, and how the work of memory is, if you want to make sure people don’t disappear from history.
Christy has now identified and photographed most of the members of the Twins Platoon, but there are still 43 whose stories remain unfinished. Some may still be living. Others have undoubtedly passed away. But he’s confident that someone out there knows their stories and knows a little bit of where life took them after Vietnam.
That’s where we’re hoping you can help.
Watch Christy’s appeal for the missing Marines. Look through the photographs. Share them on your social media. You never know who will recognize a face from nearly sixty years ago.
Here are the names of the Marines Christy is looking for:
- Anderson, Dale C.
- Barks, Leroy K.
- Barrette, Robert J.
- Buntrock, Arthur
- Connor, Dennis J.
- Gregor, John
- Harris, Michael J.
- Inselman, Richard M.
- Johnson, John C.
- Johnson, Michael L.
- Jordan, Robert R.
- Kerr, Michael S.
- King, Charles L.
- Lloyd, Larry G.
- Martin, Terry L.
- Meckle, Harold D.
- Meeker, Steven P.
- Nelson, Douglas W.
- Normande, Michael J.
- Olsen, Raymond B.S.
- Orcutt, James C.
- Paulson, Tom
- Perrault, George E.
- Richards III, William
- Roffman, Terry J.
- Rothstein, Dennis S.
- Sanft, John
- Schock, Rodger A.
- Sherman, Charles R.
- Sheppard, Douglas B.
- Shook, Larry K.
- Smith, Jr., John H.
- Sorensen, Michael O.
- Stepanek, Ronald P.
- Stopa, John M.
- Stank, Michael R.
- Sunde, Larry R.
- Sundeen, Charles R.
- Tadewald, Timothy W.
- Westcott, Craig D.
There are also these four women, whose names are unknown. They were also sworn into service on June 28, 1967, at Metropolitan Stadium.
We’re also delighted to welcome Christy to VBC LIVE on Monday, January 25, 2027, as we mark the anniversary of the Tet Offensive. He’ll tell the story of the Twins Platoon, his own Vietnam service, and share what drives his effort to make sure every inductee who took the oath at Metropolitan Stadium on June 28, 1967 is remembered.
If you recognize one of the missing Marines—or know someone who might—please let us know. Or contact Christy directly at 40417 Elmcrest Ave, North Brach MN 55056, csaurojr@msn.com.
