A Young Soldier’s Sacrifice: Remembering Corporal Curtis Edwin Stelzer

Corporal Curtis Edwin Stelzer of Lodi, California, was a young soldier who answered his nation’s call during the Vietnam War and made the ultimate sacrifice while serving with A Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division.

Born on July 14, 1950, Stelzer entered the United States Army through the Regular Army and arrived in Vietnam on May 4, 1970. Serving as a light weapons infantryman, he joined the thousands of soldiers who faced the difficult conditions of combat in South Vietnam, carrying out missions in some of the war’s most challenging environments.

On June 29, 1970, while conducting combat operations in Binh Dinh Province, South Vietnam, Corporal Stelzer was killed by hostile small-arms fire. He was only 19 years old and had been in Vietnam for less than two months.

Although his time in Vietnam was brief, Corporal Stelzer’s service represented the courage and commitment of the young Americans who served during the conflict. He left behind the familiar surroundings of his home in California and stood alongside his fellow soldiers in a distant land where duty demanded everything.

Today, we remember Curtis Edwin Stelzer not by the length of his service, but by the dedication, bravery, and sacrifice he displayed. His name remains among those who gave their lives in defense of their country.

May his memory endure, and may his sacrifice never be forgotten.