William "Steven" Illman
| Born | April 5, 1947 |
| Died | January 2, 1968 |
| Service Branch | Army |
| Rank | Private First Class |
| Rating or Job | |
| Unit | Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment |
| Campaign | Viet Nam |
| Military Citations | Purple Heart, Bronze Star |
| Honors | |
| Family | |
| Notes | Attended Las Plumas High SchoolNative American from Feather Falls, CA |
| Sources | John HerinaChico News & Review 35th Infantry Regiment Association http://www.cacti35th.org |
| Mementos |
Pfc. William Steven Illman April 5, 1947 - Jan. 2, 1968 Oroville The eighteenth local boy to die in Vietnam had roots that stretched back to pre-Columbian times. Steve Illman, a quiet, bashful kid who played football for Las Plumas High School, was a Maidu Indian. Born in Chico, Illman was raised in Oroville—”he was quite a little drum player:’ said his sister -and graduated from Las Plumas High in 1965. Illman attended Yuba College after high school, but was drafted in February 1967. On July 7, 1967, just five months after his induction, lllman was shipped to Vietnam. For six months he survived the war. Then on Jam 2, 1968, his platoon of the 35th Infantry entered a village in Quang Ngai Province. According to IIlman’s posthumous Bronze Star citation, North Vietnamese regulars in reinforced bunkers opened up on the men. The Americans withdrew and called in air strikes. Alter the strikes, the platoon again attacked the bunkers. Illman led the point in a flanking movement and detected enemy movement. As he signaled his men to take cover he was hit with small arms fire and grenades. Las Plumas High School later enacted a Steve Illmari Memorial Award, to be given each year to a “quiet, serious, studious” football player. Courtesy Chico News & Review, May 26, 1988 The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen
brother, PFC William S. Illman, who died in the service
of his country on January 2nd, 1968 in Quang Ngai Province,
Vietnam. The cause of death was listed as Small Arms/AW.
At the time of his death William was 20 years of age. He
was from Oroville, California. William is honored on the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Panel 33E, Line 19. |