An Eagle Bend, Minn., Army sergeant on his second tour of duty in Vietnam, was killed in action on Mar. 21, the Defense Department reported Tuesday.
   He was Staff Sgt. Ronald C. Fransen, 20, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clifford R. Fransen, Eagle Bend.
   Sgt. Fransen, a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division, was killed in action near Hue, his sister said. He had served in Vietnam in 1966 and had returned to Vietnam in February, 1968, she said.
   Sgt. Fransen was a 1965 graduate of Eagle Bend High School. He was engaged to be married to a Robbinsdale, Minn. girl, Miss Bonnie Ahlquist, his sister said.
   Besides his parents, he is survived by a brother, and five sisters. Funeral arrangements are . being made through the Domlin-Ander-son Mortuary, Bertha, Minn., and burial will be in Ft. Snelling National Cemetery.

[The Minneapolis Star, Minneapolis, MN, 03 Apr 1968, Wed, Page 32]

[courtesy of Steve Edquist]

Grave marker for SSgt Ronald C. Fransen in Section J, Site 1491, Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Minneapolis (Hennepin county), Minnesota.

SSgt Fransen was initially reported as missing in action.  His status was later changed to killed in action.

His death occurred in Quang Tri (Quang Trị province), Vietnam on 21 March 1968