Troy Edward Hirni, II Specialist Four
C CO (RIFLE SECURITY), 52ND INFANTRY, 716TH MP BN
Army of the United States
23 July 1945 - 31 January 1968
Warrensburg, Missouri (from Holden)
Panel 36E Line 015
When he completed Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, in 1966 he received a trophy for the Outstanding Soldier Award as well as Expert badges in Pistol and Mortar and a Marksman Rifle Badge.
His decorations include the Bronze Star; 3 awards of the Purple Heart (two earned in the Mekong Delta in the summer of 1967 and one for 31 Jan 1968); Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Vietnam Service Medal; Republic of Vietnam Military Merit Medal; Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm; and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. And he received the Combat Infantryman's Badge.
Troy never saw his son, Troy E. Hirni III, who was born while Troy was in Vietnam ... Troy now has three grandchildren. A web site for the 3rd Bn, 39th Infantry contains the following entry on its Honor Roll: "Hirni, Troy E. II - Holden, MO - Long An - Jan 31, 1968 - 36E 015" but that entry is not correct. It appears that SP4 Hirni served with Alpha 3/39 in the Riverine forces, where he earned his first two Purple Hearts, and subsequently was assigned to C Company, 52nd Infantry. That assignment is reflected in the Central Identification Laboratory Hawaii database and in SP4 Hirni's Letter of Condolences file at the LBJ Library. Further, he was not killed in Long An Province but in Gia Dinh Province. C Company, 52nd Infantry was a rifle security company assigned to bolster the capabilities of the 716th MP Battalion, which was responsible for providing security to the US facilities in the Saigon area. The Status of Forces agreement between the US and the South Vietnamese government prohibited stationing US combat forces in Saigon; one result of that situation was that the 716th MP Battalion was equipped only with hand-held light arms. When The Tet Offensive assaults began on the night of 30/31 Jan 1968 the Military Police - and C/52nd Infantry - found themselves faced with not only superior numbers but superior armament as well. Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, the 716th MP Battalion acquitted itself very well indeed - none of the facilities in their charge were captured during the VC assault. The Battalion's performance during Tet was recognized by the Presidential Unit Citation, but the award came at a high price indeed - including SP4 Hirni, 27 members of the Battalion are known to have died during the first day's fighting:
Holden, Missouri
Memorial Tennis Courts
In memory of
Troy Edward Hirni II
1968
Steven Ernest Arnold
1969
Joe Edward Raber
1970
Who gave their lives
in Vietnam for
Freedoms Cause
Erected 1971
| Troy Edward Hirni (Father) |
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| Birth: | Apr. 12, 1916 |
| Death: | Nov. 27, 2005 |
Troy Edward Hirni, 89, of Holden, Missouri, died November 27, 2006, at John Knox Care Center in Lee's Summit.
He was born April 12, 1916, at Rockville, Missouri, the son of Edward Herman Hirni and Alma Hirachi Hirni He graduated from Rockville High School in 1934 and in 1942 graduated from Central Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. On February 14, 1942, he was united in matrimony with Norma Mae Mullis of Worland, Missouri. Troy and Norma taught school at Bates City, Missouri, until he was drafted into military service in 1943. He served in the European theater with the 20th Armored Division, Company A, 27th Tank Battalion. After the war's end, he continued his profession as an educator, teaching and coaching basketball at Hume, Missouri. In 1949, he and his family moved to Holden, Missouri, where he served as principal of Holden High School until 1953. During this time he earned a Master of Science degree in education from CMSU. Most of his career, from 1954 to 1975 was spent as the Superintendent of Schools in Holden, a charge he kept with great energy and dedication.
He was a member of The First Baptist Church in Holden, taught the Master Workman's Sunday School Class for many years and he was a member of Phi Delta Kappa education fraternity.
Troy was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Ruby Watson and Evelyn Schapeler and a son Troy Edward Hirni II.
He is survived and honored in loving memory by his wife, Norma (Gimba) Hirni of the home; a brother, Leroy Hirni of Anacortes, Washington; a sister, Adelaide Shellman of Rockville, Missouri; a son David Hirni of Knob Noster, Missouri and David's wife Barbara and their two daughters, Kirstin and Rachel; a daughter Christine Hile of Independence and her husband Pete and their sons, Anthony, Jonathan and daughter-in-law Allyson; a grandson Troy (Scott) Edward Hirni III of Leeton, Missouri and Scott's wife, Anne and their three children, Ellen Marie, Troy Edward IV and Christian Charles.
Funeral services were held on Wednesday, November 30, at the First Baptist Church of Holden, at 2 p.m.
Burial was at Woodfin Cemetery in Bates County.
"A good man, out of the good treasure of his heart, brings forth good things." Matthew 12:35
Troy was the Superintendent of Schools in Holden and his wife was one of the High School teachers.
They lost their son in the Viet Nam War and were very deeply hurt when word of his death arrived, as was all of Holden. The first casualty of the war from our small town.
Parents and family of Troy Hirni:
Eduard Hermann Hirni (21 June 1886 – 06 Sep 1947)
Alma Maria Hirschi (30 July 1891 – Sep 1984)
Married 07 Jan 1909
Alma Adelaide Hirni (31 Aug 1909 – 19 Dec 2008)
August Schellman (19 July 1902 – Oct 1982)
Married 02 Sep 1929
Ruby Gladiola Hirni (31 Jan 1912 – 30 Oct 2004)
Walter R. Watson (d. 1993)
Married 1937
Troy Edward Hirni (12 Apr 1916 – 27 Nov 2005)
Evelyn Florence Hirni (11 July 1921 – 19 Jan 1998)
Harold Schapeler (13 Aug 1916 – Jan 1985)
1920 United States Federal Census
Name: Troy E Hirni
[Troy E Herin]
Home in 1920: Prairie, Bates, Missouri
Age: 3 years 7 months
Estimated birth year: abt 1916
Birthplace: Missouri
Relation to Head of House: Son
Father's Name: Edward H
Father's Birth Place: Missouri
Mother's Name: Alwa M
Mother's Birth Place: Missouri
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
Sex: Male
Image: 411
Household Members: Name Age
Edward H Hirni 33
Alwa M Hirni 28
Alma A Hirni 10
Ruby G Hirni 7
Leroy H Hirni 6
Troy E Hirni 3 7/12
Missouri Marriage Records, 1805-2002
Name: Troy Edward Hirni
Age: 25
Birth Date: abt 1917
Marriage Date: 14 Feb 1942
Marriage Location: Springs Clan, Missouri
Marriage County: Bates
Spouse Name: Norma Mae Mullis
Spouse Age: 25
U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
about Troy E Hirni
Name: Troy E Hirni
Birth Year: 1916
Race: White, citizen (White)
Nativity State or Country: Missouri
State of Residence: Missouri
County or City: Lafayette
Enlistment Date: 28 Feb 1943
Enlistment State: Kansas
Enlistment City: Fort Leavenworth
Branch: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
Branch Code: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
Grade: Private
Grade Code: Private
Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or another emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Component: Selectees (Enlisted Men)
Source: Civil Life
Education: 3 years of college
Civil Occupation: Teachers, primary school and kindergarten
Marital Status: Single, without dependents
Height: 65
Weight: 138
Social Security Death Index
Name: Troy E. Hirni
SSN: 495-20-9759
Last Residence: 64040 Holden, Johnson, Missouri
Born: 12 Apr 1916
Died: 27 Nov 2005
State (Year) SSN issued:
Family links:
Parents:
Edward Herman Hirni (1886 - 1947)
Alma M Hirschi Hirni (1891 - 1984)
Spouse:
Norma Mae Mullis Hirni (1916 - 2013)*
Children:
Troy Edward Hirni (1945 - 1968)*
Sibling:
Adelaide Hirni Schellman (1909 - 2008)*
Troy Edward Hirni (1916 - 2005)
*Calculated relationship |
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Burial:
Woodfin Cemetery
Walnut Township
Bates County
Missouri, USA |
Maintained by: Roger Vick
Originally Created by: Bart McClaughry
Record added: Jul 18, 2006
Find A Grave Memorial# 14973839 |
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Troy Edward Hirni, II Specialist Four
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