Spec. Fourth Class Emory Lee Rea, 23, a young Evansville college graduate who spent most of his boyhood in Wesselman Park and worked summers at Mesker Zoo because he loved "the world that God made" lost his life Thursday (December 4, 1969) in Vietnam. He was killed in action in Vietnam while on patrol about 20 miles south of Saigon, serving with the 9th Division, 3rd Brigade.

Location on The Wall: Panel 15W - Row 025

He was the son of Mrs. Naomi Kohlmeier Rea, food service director at the University of Evansville, and Thomas E. Rea, former basketball coach at Reitz High School, now retired.

His brother, Thomas John Rea of Edwardsburg, Mich., said the family requests that any memorial contributions be made to the Wesselman Park Fund, because of the soldier's interest in the park's development, and because he had planned to be a park ranger.

Rea had been in Vietnam for six months. He entered the Army a year ago, shortly after graduating from Indiana University with a degree in zoology. He was graduated in 1964 from Bosse High School, where he was a member of the marching band.