Today is National Vietnam Veterans Day.
I salute all those who served in Vietnam
Though I served 8 years active duty in the US Navy from Nov.'68-Nov.' 76, I missed that dance. I am a Vietnam Era Veteran.
We are aging and passing. The last 30 days has been a rough time for me. On Monday evening the 3rd week of February, a text message was sent to me but I didn't pick it up until Tuesday morning. A HS classmate of mine had sent me a text informing me of a childhood friend's death. You know the guy, at age 5 he watched me bob up and down in a city dug ditch that the ditching machine had hit a water main and flooded. Being a good son, he ignored my pleas to get my Mom. His Mom told him to not disturb mine as she was sick (8 months pregnant with my younger brother). Luckily for me, a female neighbor driving by saw and rescued me. Years later as HS freshman he and I pulled a freshman prank on the last day of school and received a day pass home. Then our senior year, he and I had a confrontation in gym class, trading punches and we both got the rest of the day off. He got drafted, got all the advanced training the US Army offered and was sent to Vietnam as a LRRP. He took a 7.62 round above one of his eyebrows, to earn his Purple heart. His recovery took years and a number of surgeries to repair his head and face.
30 minutes after picking up the text about Dennis' passing, I got a phone call. A friend, retired Marine Lt. Col. called to tell of the passing of a mutual friend. Our friend Kent, a retired US Marine, Major, served 2 tours in Vietnam earning a Purple Heart each tour. I met him when I was invited to elk hunt with a group of guys. We hunted elk for 17-18 years in a fashion that most people wouldn't try. That year he brought me out alive after I developed serious hypothermia. When he decided to run for the presidency of the Idaho Wildlife Federation, he asked me to be his running mate. We won and served two years. He, I and 20+ others started the local chapter (Chapter 5) of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. When he was elected chairman, he asked me to serve as treasurer which I did for several years.
Again, I salute those who served in Vietnam! Thank you!