South Dakota State University Athletics
JACKRABBIT HEROES REMEMBERED THROUGH WALL STOP
6/12/2026 9:30:00 AM | General
Of the 58,281 names inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, at least three are those of former South Dakota State student-athletes.
This week, a replica of that memorial that includes the names of Josef "Joe" Thorne, Darrell Spinler and Richard "Rich" Larson is on display at Fishback Soccer Park in Brookings. The Wall That Heals is a three-quarters scale traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Accompanying the wall is a mobile education center that outlines the history of both the Vietnam War and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, as well as features displays of items left at the memorial and photo tributes of those who served.
JOE THORNE
A graduate of Beresford High School, Thorne was a rugged fullback on Jackrabbit football teams from 1959-61. He earned all-North Central Conference recognition in both 1960 and 1961, and finished his career with a then-school record 2,156 rushing yards. During his senior season in 1961, Thorne was named the NCC Most Valuable Player and was a second-team All-America selection.
First Lt. Thorne was killed in action when the UH-1B Army helicopter he was commanding was shot down by Viet Cong small arms ground fire on Easter Sunday, 1965 (April 18). He was 24 years old and was the first South Dakotan to die in the Vietnam War.
His name is inscribed on panel E1, line 105.
DARRELL SPINLER
A native of Browns Valley, Minnesota, Spinler lettered in basketball three consecutive seasons (1957-58 through 1959-60). He played in 69 varsity games, including all 24 during his senior campaign, when he averaged career bests of 9.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per contest.
Captain Spinler, a member of the Air Force's 1st Air Commando Squadron, died in action at the age of 29 on June 21, 1967, when his A-1E Skyraider was hit by enemy fire and crashed. He remained unaccounted for until a full excavation of the crash site near the Xekong River in Laos was conducted in 2010. Using modern forensic techniques, his remains were positively identified in February 2011 and repatriated for burial in his hometown in June 2011.
His name is inscribed on panel E22, line 32.
RICHARD LARSON
Larson, a native of Watertown, played both basketball and baseball for the Jackrabbits from 1964-67. He was a three-year letterman in basketball who averaged 7.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, and also lettered two times as a pitcher on the baseball team.
On May 22, 1970, the UH-1H Army helicopter Capt. Larson was piloting encountered engine failure and crashed while on a mission near the border of Cambodia and South Vietnam, resulting in his death at the age of 25.
His name is inscribed on panel W10, line 81.
The names on the wall are listed in the chronological order of their dates of casualty.
Brookings is one of 31 cities across the country that will host The Wall That Heals in 2026. The site will be open 24 hours a day through 2 p.m. Sunday (June 14), with Taps performed at sundown each evening (approximately 9:10 p.m.). There is no cost to visit the site, but donations will be accepted to support various programs, ceremonies and education efforts of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.
More information can be found at www.vvmf.org/twth.
-GoJacks.com-
This week, a replica of that memorial that includes the names of Josef "Joe" Thorne, Darrell Spinler and Richard "Rich" Larson is on display at Fishback Soccer Park in Brookings. The Wall That Heals is a three-quarters scale traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Accompanying the wall is a mobile education center that outlines the history of both the Vietnam War and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, as well as features displays of items left at the memorial and photo tributes of those who served.
JOE THORNE
A graduate of Beresford High School, Thorne was a rugged fullback on Jackrabbit football teams from 1959-61. He earned all-North Central Conference recognition in both 1960 and 1961, and finished his career with a then-school record 2,156 rushing yards. During his senior season in 1961, Thorne was named the NCC Most Valuable Player and was a second-team All-America selection.
First Lt. Thorne was killed in action when the UH-1B Army helicopter he was commanding was shot down by Viet Cong small arms ground fire on Easter Sunday, 1965 (April 18). He was 24 years old and was the first South Dakotan to die in the Vietnam War.
His name is inscribed on panel E1, line 105.
DARRELL SPINLER
A native of Browns Valley, Minnesota, Spinler lettered in basketball three consecutive seasons (1957-58 through 1959-60). He played in 69 varsity games, including all 24 during his senior campaign, when he averaged career bests of 9.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per contest.
Captain Spinler, a member of the Air Force's 1st Air Commando Squadron, died in action at the age of 29 on June 21, 1967, when his A-1E Skyraider was hit by enemy fire and crashed. He remained unaccounted for until a full excavation of the crash site near the Xekong River in Laos was conducted in 2010. Using modern forensic techniques, his remains were positively identified in February 2011 and repatriated for burial in his hometown in June 2011.
His name is inscribed on panel E22, line 32.
RICHARD LARSON
Larson, a native of Watertown, played both basketball and baseball for the Jackrabbits from 1964-67. He was a three-year letterman in basketball who averaged 7.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, and also lettered two times as a pitcher on the baseball team.
On May 22, 1970, the UH-1H Army helicopter Capt. Larson was piloting encountered engine failure and crashed while on a mission near the border of Cambodia and South Vietnam, resulting in his death at the age of 25.
His name is inscribed on panel W10, line 81.
The names on the wall are listed in the chronological order of their dates of casualty.
Brookings is one of 31 cities across the country that will host The Wall That Heals in 2026. The site will be open 24 hours a day through 2 p.m. Sunday (June 14), with Taps performed at sundown each evening (approximately 9:10 p.m.). There is no cost to visit the site, but donations will be accepted to support various programs, ceremonies and education efforts of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.
More information can be found at www.vvmf.org/twth.
-GoJacks.com-
Sunday, May 31
Saturday, May 30
Saturday, May 30
Thursday, May 28