Valarian was the son of Evan Finley Sr. and Louise (Blackhawk) Finley,he is survived by sisters Bonita Fimbres and Mary Finley, brothers Evan Jr.; Robert, Richard,Gerald and Valentine Findley of Mandaree North Dakota.

Valarian enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on May 7 1968 in Fargo ND and arrived in Vietnam on November 21 1968 where he was assigned to and served with Company K, 3d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st MARDIV (Rein) FMF.

During the month of May the Battalion was participating in combat operations in Quang Nam Province. Towards the end of the month during Operation PIPESTONE CANYON Company K was in a night defensive position the vicinity of Lang Dong (1) on Goi Noi Island when several grenades and a burst of AK-47 fire hit the Marines. Four men were wounded and LCpl Finley was killed by the hostile automatic weapons fire.

Finley, Valarian Lawrence, LCpl