The Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial 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, who grew up in Breckinridge County, Kentucky, and graduated from Irvington High School in 1959, according to a release.
On Oct. 28, one day before the anniversary of his death in 1969, Wheeler’s name was engraved on the memorial.
Wheeler joined the 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.”
According to the release, 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. 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. The project was made possible through the work and expertise of Allen Kent, a 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-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.
On Tuesday at 11 a.m., a Veterans Day Observance will take place, featuring a briefing on the memorial’s 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 here.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.