May 25, 2015
May 28, 2016
May 28, 2017
I provide this update as an example of the long range effects of war deaths on their loved ones.
This year marks the 50th Anniversary of my year in Vietnam. I have alluded to that in a few articles here on BCN. Here is the most recent. I may have found the closure I have been looking for on two long lost fallen brothers.
In January of this year (2018) I received an email from the old girl friend of my comrade Ozzy. Listed above. She indicated that she found my contact information on The Wall USA Memorial page.
"My name is XXXX and I was Larry's girl friend way back in 1968. Many years have passed but I have not forgotten him either. I watched the PBS special on the Vietnam war, as I always do when any program or pictures surface with hopes that I could see Larry's face. What a horrible time in our lives. I don't know what possessed me but I did some research and found your post from 2010 (you will never be forgotten); how heartening it was to see. Just thought I would let you know. I hope you are doing well."
I responded and asked for her address as I had additional pictures of OZZY I would like to forward to her. After receiving her address I prepared a package of 8x10 pictures of OZZY and included the plaque that has been in my front entrance for many years honoring his sacrafice.
In a short letter I gave her a few memories of OZZY and included the paragraph.
"For many years, the acknowledgement of April 4, 1968 was just a private observance. In recent years, that proved to be insufficient. My daughter was in Washington a few years back and brought back a rubbing of the names. I decided to dedicate a wall in my house as a memorial to the memory of Ozzy and Rosey. I have displayed that on the wall at the entrance foyer. I know that every soldier that died there left a hole in someone's heart back home. My pledge was to remember that in the best of times in my life, there were those who did not have the benefit of living a long and peaceful life after Vietnam.
With that in mind, I am sending you the plaque that has been on my wall for many years. It is proper that on the 50th year anniversary of Ozzy's death, someone who was close to him before he left for that war have what has been my pleasure to honor on a yearly basis. Perhaps, this will provide you with some of the solace it has provided me for many years. I do know that even thought I pass on this cenotaph; the memory of Ozzy's friendship will remain with me until I too pass on.
You may use this plaque as you choose, and if you wish to donate it to a suitable location, I suggest either a library or the high school where Ozzy attended before his service."
That left only one additional personal plaque on my wall. That of Rosey, also listed above. In April of this year (2018) I received an email from the daughter of Rosey.
"My name is XXX XXXX, I was adopted as a baby and have since tracked down both parents. David is my father, and although I’ve never met him I feel strangely, or not, close. I’ve even spoken with his adopted mom, my grandma, now deceased, and she would have nothing to do with me. I really would consider it a great honor to be able to keep his memorabilia from the war. By the way I have a son who was born on the day of his death- 4/4/68. My son’s birthday is 4/4/89. Weird, right?
Anyway, XXXX XXXX gave me your name saying that you knew him?
I’m anxiously awaiting your reply, and thank you for any help"
Thanks Stan, I probably should have added Eddy as a comment instead of an update but I appreciate your moving it into the new rotation.
I download these as a PDF file for my hard copies and forgot that the update would generate a re-publish request in the queue. |
My promise to Bobby Tony and all vets who post here: If you pour your heart into a post, as B.T. did here, I will lift it back up to the Latest Post section each Memorial Day for as long as I draw breath.
Don't be mistaken here: These posts are categorized, Searchable and easy to find already, and can be read readily; however, lifting them back to the Latest section does give them a nice bump. This is, once again, the least I can do for these great American patriots. |
Beautifully written my friend.
You truly have a gift to express the essence of your truth, which, as much as I have a right to claim it, is my truth too. Thank-you for your contributions, as a patriot, and, especially, here on BCN. |
Thank you for the kind words, Stan. My participation in Vietnam was a duty as you point out. As a child of the fifties, I always taught to obey the laws as they existed. When I received my draft notice, there was no thought of doing anything but showing up and following orders.
A quote from John McCain and Mark Slater’s book “Hard Calls”, sums up the soldiers duty better than any I have ever read. It expresses what I suspect help sustain him during his stay at the Hanoi Hilton. “In the immediacy, chaos, destruction, and shock of war, soldiers are bound by duty and military discipline to endure and overcome. Their strongest loyalty, the bond that cannot break, is to the cause that is theirs alone, the cause for which they all fight: one another. It is through their loyalty to comrades in arms, their exclusive privilege, that they serve the national ideal that begat their personal transformation. When war is over, they might have the largest but not exclusive claim on the success of their nation's cause. But their claim is shorn of all romance, all nostalgia for the crucible in which it was won. From that crucible they have but one prize, one honor, one glory: that they had withstood the savagery and losses of war and were found worthy by the men who stood with them.” Being found worth by your comrades is enough thanks. |
I thank-you for your service, and if for no other reason, you will always have my respect because of it.
War is Hell, but, sadly, necessary to rid our planet of evil. Was the Vietnam War necessary? It doesn't really matter at this point. What does matter is that we honor those that did their duty as patriots, and, moreover, we honor those that paid the ultimate sacrifice as our greatest patriots, our greatest heroes. |
A suggestion: When you hear someone mention someone or had a friend or relative who has died in combat, stop and ask him or her “what was their name”? If possible, get a pen and paper and write the name down. You will not remember it later and it will not change the world, but it will take a few moments away from the current hustle and bustle of life. It also will give you a chance to reflect again, when you try to decide what to do with the written name. It makes it a personal tribute and I think they earned and deserve those few moments.
Thanks TD- It never is easy but necessary. |
Just wanted you to know I read the article that was not easy to write.
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It was my privilege to publish the post.