February 2026 Meeting, Terry Fortner
January 27, 2026
Thomas’ Milk Bar
February 27, 2026
By Carla Kerns
There have been countless men and women from Largo who have served in the armed forces through the years, beginning with the Civil War, and continuing until the present day. Many of them made the ultimate sacrifice by giving their lives for our country. Following is a list of military casualties, compiled by Largo Area Historical Society members Carla Kerns and Jean Beistle. Sources included the Society’s research files, Heritage Village’s archives, military databases, ancestry.com, findagrave.com and local veterans organizations. We apologize for any inadvertent errors or omissions, and welcome any additional names and information that anyone can supply.
Civil War and Spanish American Wars:
Although several Pinellas County men served in these wars, we could find no documented casualties specifically from Largo.
World War I:
Worth Edward Johnson (09/12/1901 – 10/09/1918) Private, U.S. Army, Bugler, killed on a mountain near Linthal, Alsace, France by a German artillery bombardment. Buried at Largo Cemetery.
Ralph Edward Heisler (09/06/1896 – 07/28/1918) Private, U.S. Army, Machine Gunner, killed in the battle of Chateau-Thierry in France. Buried at Oise-Aisne Cemetery, France.
Burton Elias Belcher (09/23/1885 – 10/20/1918) Lieutenant, U.S. Navy, Assistant Surgeon, died of influenza on board U.S.S. Mercury. Buried at McMullen Cemetery, Clearwater.
Worth Johnson
Ralph Heisler
Burton Belcher
World War II:
Henry Lester Stanfield (12/05/1914 – 06/13/1942) Private, U.S. Army, killed when his truck was struck by a train while stationed in Massachusetts.
Henry Powless (05/27/1917 – 11/20/1943) Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, killed on Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, when his amphibious vehicle was hit by the enemy and caught on fire. His body was never recovered.
Korean War:
Although many Pinellas County men served in this war, we could find no documented casualties specifically from Largo.
Vietnam War:
Reid Carlton Arnold (11/15/1947 – 09/06/1967) Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, Machine Gunner. Buried at Memorial Park Cemetery, St. Petersburg. Honored on Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Panel 26, Row 5.
Jeffery Dale Bouton (06/08/1946 – 04/21/1967) PO3, U.S. Navy, Hospital Corpsman. Buried at Serenity Gardens, Largo. Honored on Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Panel 18E, Line 56.
Dennis Dean Loftheim (12/14/1944 – 09/09/1967) 1st Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Infantry Unit Commander. Buried at U.S. Military Academy Cemetery, West Point, NY. Honored on Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Panel 26E, Line 39.
Wiliam Joseph Golden (02/02/1935 – 05/10/1970) SP5, U.S. Army, Infantryman, killed in helicopter crash. Buried at Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park, Clearwater. Honored on Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Panel 10, Row 12.
Douglas Wayne McPhee (11/09/1940 – 06/17/1969) PFC, U.S. Army, Infantryman, killed in mortar attack. Buried at Serenity Gardens Cemetery, Largo. Honored on Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Panel W22, Line 6.
Howard William Snitchler (06/24/1946 – 04/28/1968) PFC, U.S. Army, Infantryman. Buried at Ravenhurst Cemetery, Endicott, NY. Honored on Vietnam Veterans Memoria Panel 52E, Line 44.
Stephen Fredrick Turner (08/14/1946 – 06/18/1968) SP4, U.S. Army, Armor Crewman. Buried at Royal Palms Cemetery, St. Petersburg. Honored on Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Panel 56W, Line 20.
William Irvin Nelson II (06/26/1945 – 03/24/1967) PFC, U.S. Army, Field Artilleryman. Buried at Clearwater Municipal Cemetery. Honored on Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Panel 17E, Line 37.
Franklin Ivan Burris, Jr. (07/10/1947 – 08/09/1968) Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, Rifleman. Buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C. Honored on Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Panel 49W, Line 35.
Harry Joseph Shepherd, Jr. (02/06/1945 – 11/20/1966) Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, Rifleman. Buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C. Honored on Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Panel 12E, Line 97.
David Allen Stephens (10/29/1946 – 06/22/1967) Sergeant, U.S. Army, Infantryman. Buried at Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Clearwater. Honored on Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Panel 22E, Line 50.
Afghanistan War:
Matthew Steven Sitton (02/28/1986 – 08/02/2012) Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Parachute Infantryman. Buried at Memorial Gardens of First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks, Largo.
Jonathan Daniel Porto (02/26/1984 – 03/14/2010) Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, Small Arms Repair Technician. Killed in a vehicle crash.
Frank R. Gross (08/19/1985 – 07/16/2011) Corporal, U.S. Army, Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, killed in vehicle rollover caused by an IED. Buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Washington D.C.
Iraq War:
Louis Edward Niedermeier (06/15/1984 – 06/01/2005) PFC, U.S. Army, Field Artilleryman. Buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C.
Operation Inherent Resolve:
Nick Bravo-Regules (2000 – 06/23/2020) SPC, U.S. Army, Air Defense Artilleryman, died in Jordan from non-combat injuries. Buried at Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Clearwater.
