Wendell Warren Stewart was born in Wagner, South Dakota,
March 4, 1945, to Marvin and Louise (Reelfs) Stewart. He had
two brothers, Richard and Cletus, and three sisters,
Marilyn, Thelma, and Linda. He lived in Wagner for all of
his life, and his sister Marilyn told us, “He was a loving
and caring young boy. He grew to a fine young man and was
always good in school, and had after school jobs. In the
navy he was always proud of his job, his 1966 Chevy Chevelle,
and a girl he hoped to marry when he got out.”
ADJ2 Wendell Warren Stewart entered the service on
September 4, 1963, at Omaha, Nebraska, and trained in San
Diego. Then on July 21, 1967, Wendell was sent to Vietnam,
and was stationed on the USS Forrestal as an ADJ2 in
Squadron 06.
Just days later, on July 29, 1967, a bomb from an
American plane leaving on a mission exploded on the flight
deck of the USS Forrestal. In the explosion, ADJ2 Wendell
Stewart was critically injured in the fire, suffering burns
over 70% of his body. His parents received a telegram which
included the following words: “Your son is presently
hospitalized aboard the USS Repose where you are assured he
is receiving the best possible care and treatment. When
further reports are available concerning his condition you
will be promptly informed.” Then on August 3, 1967, Wendell
Warren Stewart died of his injuries on the USS Repose. He
had been scheduled to be discharged that same week.
The body of Wendell Warren Stewart was returned to the
United States and he was buried with military honors in the
Wagner cemetery.
ADJ2 Wendell Stewart is currently survived by Louise
Stewart, his mother, and Marilyn Larson and Linda Quartier,
his sisters. In closing his sister wrote the following about
her brother: “Never a day goes by that we don’t think about
him and wish we could have had him longer. He will always be
missed by his family.”
This entry was respectfully submitted by Mitchell
Olhausen, 8th grade, Spearfish Middle School, Spearfish,
South Dakota on October 3, 2005. Information for this entry
was provided by Marilyn Larson, sister, Lake Andes.
Additional information was provided by a Vietnam veteran’s
bonus application. Profile approval by Marilyn Larson.
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