(FRANKFORT, Ky.) – The Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial (KVVM) in Frankfort recently completed two significant projects: adding the name of a Kentucky-born Vietnam veteran who was previously missing from the memorial, and replacing several concrete piers that support the memorial plaza.
The veteran whose name was missing from the memorial was Warrant Officer Conrad
J. “Jack” Wheeler and he grew up in Breckinridge County, Kentucky, and graduated
from Irvington High School in 1959. As a student, he was known by his middle name,
Jack, or as “Jackie.” On October 28, one day before the anniversary of his death in
1969, Wheeler’s name was engraved on the memorial.
Wheeler joined the U.S. Army in San Marcos, Texas, and deployed to Vietnam as a
helicopter pilot with D Troop, 3rd Squadron, 5th Air Cavalry. Beginning his tour in
Vietnam on June 4, 1969, Wheeler was just 28 years old when he was killed in action.
“His cousins told us that Conrad’s name was not on the memorial,” said Jerry Cecil,
member of the KVVM Board of Directors. “Over the years, we’ve discovered several
Kentuckians who enlisted from other states and, as a result, didn’t appear in the
Kentucky database.”
“After researching his records, we learned that he had family in San Marcos and
departed for Vietnam from Texas,” Cecil continued. “Fortunately, his sacrifice was never
forgotten — his name appears on a Texas memorial.”
Each name on the Kentucky memorial is precisely positioned so the shadow of the
sundial’s pointer, or gnomon, touches each veteran’s name on the anniversary of their
death, creating a deeply personal annual tribute. Accordingly, Wheeler’s name was
engraved precisely along the sunline marking the date of his sacrifice.
This addition was made possible by master engraver Andy Futrell and his apprentice,
Justin Robinson, of Cave Hill Cemetery & Arboretum in Louisville, along with Dr. Bruce Swetnam of the University of Kentucky School of Architecture, whose expertise ensured Wheeler’s name was placed with exact precision.
KVVM also recently replaced eight of the over 800 concrete piers supporting the
memorial plaza. These piers support 327 slabs, each four inches thick, with a combined
weight exceeding 215 tons. This project was made possible through the work and
expertise of Allen Kent, monument setter and rigger operator with A. Kent Construction
& Crane Service; Brett Sofie, Project Manager at Kelsey Construction; and the team at Cave Hill Cemetery & Arboretum.
Completed in the summer of 1988, the memorial was designed by the late Helm
Roberts, a Lexington, Kentucky-based architect and veteran. The blue-gray granite
plaza of the memorial contains the names of the 1,110 Kentuckians who died in the
Vietnam War. It is one of the largest granite memorials in the nation.
As 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, KVVM invites the
public to visit and take part in its upcoming Veterans Day events.
Community Invited to Veterans Day Events
On Saturday, Nov. 8 at 11 a.m., a Veterans Day Service will be held at the memorial,
immediately followed by a special presentation exploring the memorial’s meaning,
design and history.
Then on Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m., a Veterans Day Observance will take place, also featuring a briefing on the memorial’s unique design and enduring significance.
“As we mark 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War, it’s more important than ever
for younger generations to step forward, learn about the sacrifices of Kentucky’s own
veterans and carry on the legacy of those who gave their lives for this country,” Cecil
said. “Honoring these heroes is about ensuring their courage and service continue to
inspire future generations.”
The Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial is located at 365 Vernon Cooper Lane in
Frankfort, and is open seven days a week with no reservation required. To learn more,
visit kyvietnammemorial.net.
