Specific friends on Memorial Day

Status
Not open for further replies.

threefeathers

member
Joined
Jun 5, 2003
Messages
1,211
Location
AZ
These are my friends who gave their lives ofr their country, some in the field others in the VA hospital. I will never forget them.
I will not publish rank as it has no part here


Richard Berg WW2, uncle Richard you enlisted with my Dad and you are among the fallen at Anzio
Vince Lopresti WW2, Vince you were the exec officer for 'Bear' Bryant at Point Learte in N Africa, you died as I held you hand, always thinking of others.
Richard Trumbo Korea, Dick, you were my mentor after Berlin and my strength after SE/Asia
Jimmy Caffery, Berlin 1961, I'm sorry Jimmy I tried to help you, you never should have been there at that time.
Jorge Salcido VN, We got your body back after you will killed by a short round, I visit your memorial on the ranch often
Charlie Southard VN, we argued about which of us in the infantry would go first, I can't believe you got it trying to cover an ambush at Snoul.
Jim Whitehead, VN goddamn it I tried to teach everyone to keep their fingers of the trigger when unassing a vehicle under fire.
Bobby Armbruster VN, You died in the ****ing janitors closet in the Phoenix VA Hosp as were were talking about the platoon. Agent Orange cancer before it was recognized by the VA as a problem.
Philip Archambeau, SE/Asia, you were my mentor and didn't kill me when I killed 2 water buffalo with a Claymore during my first night ambush, I forgive you for starting your first military career with the Whermacht.
Chuck Twomey,Berlin, VN. You were my Platoon Sgt that fateful day of October 27th 1961, and you won a Silver Star in VN. You died in the Comissary of an instant heart attack while talking to my wife.
Ed Beasley VN, on your last day you went down to assist some fng's on how to deac a 60 mm mortar dud, the NVA hit you all with 122 mm rockets.
James G Kleman, Cold War, you were my best friend and we enlisted together, majored in Asian Studies together, and volunteered for SE/Asia together. You were a Chinese language interp and I was eager to get into the field. As you drank yourself to death you would call me asking me to forgive you because I had 'gone though so much'. You never realized I prayed nightly for you to quick drinking so we could laugh as old soldiers. I sit on your grave and yell at you, but it is with frustration not anger.
Collin Schockmel,Iraq, I was your coach and your mentor, I asked you not to be a 19D and you said i want to be like you coach, damn.
Jimmy Thode, you told your wife that at 45 Dan took you into your first action in Panama,so you took a group into Afghanistan on your second deployment. I will asways wonder if I had been the town drunk instead of a mentor if you and Collin would still be alive? Tough to live with
 
Makes me think of my buddy, Pat, who passed away 3 years ago. Vietnam vet who was extremely proud of his service to his county. He was my fishing, golfing and all around buddy. We all owe a debt to all those who have served.
 
There have been many, but I want to name just one...

My uncle Albert "Bill" Parks was a Korean War veteran who earned an Air Medal by flying a very broken C-119 clear of civilians on the ground. He saved many lives, but died a few days later of crash-related injuries. I never even got to meet him.
 
My Dad. C co. 505 RCT 82nd Airborne All American /All the way!
He Made every WW2 ETO combat jump...lost him to cancer 1988


Capt. Gary Fors ,shot down 22 Dec 67 while flying over Laos.
He is still listed MIA......do a internet search on Gary,it's a interesting story.
I still wear his POW/MIA bracelet "everyday" since the early 70's
 
All of these guys were in my BN/SQD when they were killed in combat. Two in accidents, the rest from enemy action.

SSG Duran, Joan
SSG Cole, Timothy
SGT Pearson, Brice
SGT Marshall, Randall
SPC King, Jerry
SSG Locker, Kenneth
SPC Rodriguez, Michael
SSG Moore, William C
SGT Vaughan, Michael
PFC Knoll, Garrett
1LT Gaspers, Kevin
CPT Grassbaugh, Jonathan
SPC Emolo, Ebe
PFC Hoover, Levi
PFC McCandless, Rodney
CPL Nunez, Jason
PFC Gonzales, Orlando
PV2 White, Anthony
SGT Swiger, Jason
SFC Sebban, Ben
CPT Schiller, Rhett
CPT Dennison, John
PFC Becker, Gunnar
And some EOD guy whose name I can't remember right now that was attached to us when he got killed.

And my grandfather, who died 2 years ago January. WW2 vet, Bronze Star recipient.

RIP Brothers.
 
Lt James Wells, KIA July 3, 1778, survived by wife and 11 children, son James would continue to fight under General Washington until the end of the Revolutionary War.

Lt Perrin Ross, KIA July 3, 1778.

My best friend Frank "Animal" Gannia, crew chief Americal Division RVN, from alcoholism on election day 2004.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top