Local officials honor Vietnam veteran by renaming Pa. State Route 934 bridge 

Local government officials attended a ceremony on Thursday to rename the bridge on Pennsylvania State Route 934 crossing the Swatara Creek to WO1 John Stephen Chrin Memorial Bridge to honor a Vietnam veteran who died during his overseas service.

Chrin was born in Lebanon on June 24, 1949, and graduated from Lebanon Catholic High School in 1967.

He attended Mansfield State College before enlisting in the U.S. Army in April 1970 and training as a combat medical evacuation pilot.

Chrin was killed in action while he was on a medical evacuation mission that crashed during a night of monsoon rains and fog. At the time of his death, he had flown more than 125 combat medical evacuation missions through the Delta area of Vietnam, according to state legislation. Chrin was awarded multiple medals for his service, including the Purple Heart, six Air Medals, a National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Aviator Badge.

State reps. Russ Diamond and John Schlegal, state Senator Chris Gebhard, local veterans, and personnel from the office of U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser attended the morning dedication.

“The bridge that will be dedicated today doesn’t just bear John’s name — it represents our gratitude and respect for the selfless sacrifices he made,” Diamond said. “John was the best of us. Signs bearing his name will forever be a reminder of that.”

Chrin was a member of the DUSTOFF rescue team while in Vietnam. These teams would set out into dangerous areas day or night, and at times without cover, according to William Sypher, of Friends of Vietnam DUSTOFF.

“Almost 900,000 wounded patients from the Vietnam War lived to return home to see their children and grandchildren and maybe even great children, due in large part to the service and sacrifice of DUSTOFF units and men like John Stephen Chrin,” he said.

Diamond said Sypher and Chrin’s high school friend Phil Arnold led the bridge dedication effort. He said they had multiple options for which bridge to choose and ultimately decided on the most prominent one available.

“This guy was a county hero, he was a national hero, and you have to do what you can to remember and honor their memories when they made the ultimate sacrifice,” he said.

On Oct. 13, a grave-side memorial service will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery, N. 22nd Street, Lebanon, at 9:00 am, as part of the 11th Annual WO1 John Stephen Chrin Day. All are welcome to attend, Sypher said.