on the plaque for the years 1972-5, there is listed a George E Gllliland and a George Ernest Gillaland...something like that. Were these really two different people?

Very good question. Here is the publication link for the names listed (with more information on them), it has been updated at least once but there may be another update not published as the total count of names now exceeds 800. It only shows one entry for this name. I will check with the master list keepers. Rich Gilpin - Secretary for the Board of Directors, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund of Oregon. https://drive.google.com/file/d/14vnWtWG3G2yr08yxT1sPkB9alTHPWOT5/view

I don't know for sure. I will look at it the next time I go by that way... I would say that both names are very similar but I think the 2 names are indicative of two different individuals.