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PHOTOS FOR THE YEAR

FW: Memoirs From Nam

 Date: Sat, 20 Dec 2014 09:40:26 +0000
Subject: Memoirs From Nam
From: noreply+feedproxy@google.com
To: rserge1@outlook.com

Memoirs From Nam

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Celebrating Christmas In Country ... Posted: 19 Dec 2014 04:07 AM PST Decorating a Christmas tree in Tan Son Nhut, - 1965 Holidays were always difficult for homesick and war-weary U.S. soldiers in Vietnam, during the war. Christmas was always the hardest, being so far from home and loved ones. Everyone tried to bring at least a little traditional Christmas spirit to their bases, tents, hooches, and outposts. Christmas cheer often arrived in the mail, with "tube trees", a bottle of scotch, Christmas cards and letters, tins of Christmas cookies, or a welcomed pair of dry socks. The lucky ones were able to attend the USO Christmas shows with Bob Hope and his troupe at nearby bases.  A true humanitarian, Mr. Hope always brought a feeling of "home" with him. Some of the troops were treated to a full-on Christmas dinner with turkey and all the fixings:  mashed potatoes, vegetables, rolls, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie.  Many others (way too many) just ate their normal C-rations. Soldiers quietly celebrated Christmas wherever they were, in whatever ways they could, but always, their thoughts and hearts were centered at "home" ...   The following photos document some of the different ways troops celebrated Christmas during the Vietnam War: Christmas dinner from the mess hall - 1967 Reading a Christmas card, - 1968 1st Battalion, 4th Marines - 1967 Christmas at Tay Ninh with a "Tube Tree" Wrapping Presents for the Lae Quang Orphanage, 1969 Opening Christmas Gifts from Home - 1965 Vietnam 1967 - Decorating a Christmas Bush To all of my friends ... Thank You and Welcome "Home". With love and respect, CJ "I am only one, but I am one. I can't do everything, but I can do something. The something I ought to do, I can do, and by the grace of God, I will." ~Everett Hale Feel free to comment on this post. You are also invited to write about anything you want to share. Memoirs From Nam is YOUR blog. You are writing America's history for generations to come.

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A Soldier's Christmas: by Michael Marks

A Soldier's Christmas

By Michael Marks
The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight;
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight;
The sparkling lights in the tree, I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eye when it tickled my ear;
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near;
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold;
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light,
Then he sighed and he said "It's really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night.
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line
That separates you from the darkest of times;
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
"My Gramps died at 'Pearl' on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram' always remembers;
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam,
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
"I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile;"
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white and blue... an American flag.
"I can live through the cold and the being alone
Away from my family, my house and my home;
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
"I can carry the weight of killing another
Or lay down my life with my sisters and brothers
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To insure for all time that this flag will not fall.
"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least
Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
"For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."
Michael Marks
December 7th, 2000

In loving appreciation of the countless Americans who have and continue to serve in the Armed Forces and those who gave their lives for their country. Your sacrifices will never be forgotten.
We look forward to the day you come home. God bless and keep you always, and God Bless America.
Michael
“I am only one, but I am one. I can't do everything, but I can do something. The something I ought to do, I can do, and by the grace of God, I will.” ~Everett Hale
Feel free to comment on this post. You are also invited to write about anything you want to share. Memoirs From Nam is YOUR blog. You are writing America's history.

FW: Thursday mission 18-Dec -2014

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From: akan01@centurylink.net
To: akan01@centurylink.net
Subject: Thursday mission 18-Dec -2014
Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 08:39:36 -0800

I will not be able to carpool this mission as I have a prior commitment immediately after the service in Boulder City. Joel

-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Donaghy [mailto:bobdonaghy@me.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2014 7:15 AM
To: Undisclosed recipients:
Subject: Thursday mission

Hi Everyone

This Thursday, Dec 18th, the following interments are scheduled for 8:40 AM at the Southern Nevada Veteran's Memorial Cemetery, 1900 Veteran's Memorial Drive, Boulder City, 89005.  These interments are for Nevada's fallen veterans who are without family, homeless, indigent or just forgotten by family and friends and remain unclaimed.

This week's interments are:

Army veteran:  Jeffery Wall

Coast Guard:  Lorraine Rice

For anyone interested in riding over together, some of us meet for breakfast at the IHOP ( 4860 Boulder Hwy ) diagonally across the street from Sam's Town at around 6:50 AM.  It will be KSU at 7:45 AM.

Thank you Bob Donaghy=

Fw: Grand Canyon Warriors

Hank Detering

MOPC Chapter 1777, Valley Forge, PA

610-869-3631

http://www.gcriverrunners.org/pages/USMC_Wounded_Warrior_GC_Rafting_Trip.htm

Thank You

Robert Serge

VVA 17 Member

Blog Master

To all my fellow veterans friends and family my we all remember 

---

From: richardandshirley@netzero.net
Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 23:52:46 +0000
To: rserge1@outlook.com
Subject: Fw: Grand Canyon Warriors

Please post and distribute.

Please note: forwarded message attached


Subject: Grand Canyon Warriors
Date: Sun, 16 Nov 2014 11:06:18 -0500

____________________________________________________________
Odd Trick Fights Diabetes
"Unique" Proven Method To Control Blood Sugar In 3 Weeks. Watch Video.DiabetesProtocol.com

--Forwarded Message Attachment--
From: HankD461@aol.com
Subject: Grand Canyon Warriors
Date: Sun, 16 Nov 2014 11:06:18 -0500
T

Gentlemen,

Please consider sharing information about this trip.

It is a small but important effort, and hopefully the first of a series of trips, one for wounded veterans of each of our services.

I will gladly provide details and additional information.

Thank you!

Hank Detering

MOPC Chapter 1777, Valley Forge, PA

610-869-3631

http://www.gcriverrunners.org/pages/USMC_Wounded_Warrior_GC_Rafting_Trip.htm

FW: Flags for veteran's funerals

Robert,
This needs to be posted on the website and emailed to members please.
Joni Giancola, VVA Chapter 17 Public Relations Chair

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Subject: FW: Flags for veteran's funerals
Date: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 16:15:29 +0000

---

From: nevtat@cox.net
Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2014 19:11:43 -0800
Subject: Flags for veteran's funerals

Hi everyone,

Need your help!  The VA has stopped sending flags to the cemetery to honor veterans. The manager at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, NV says they have reached a point where they will have to stop offering them to the families.  There is no excuse for this because the money was budgeted by congress. I am asking everyone to contact both senators and both members of congress letting them know how much of an outrage this is.  Please contact all 4 of them and have your friends as well.  If you are a member or the VVA, American Legion or VFW please pass it to everyone at your post.  If is critical that we make this injustice go viral.

https://heck.house.gov/contact-me

http://titus.house.gov/contact

http://www.heller.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-form

http://www.reid.senate.gov/contact

Thank you so much for your help.

 Bob

Assistant State Captain 

VVA Chapter 17 "Open House"

To all Chapter 17 members, family and guests 

You are invited to join us for our 16th Annual Open House and Awards Ceremony,

Being held on January 10, 2015 at 09:00 AM

At the Chapter Hall.

6424 W. Cheyenne Ave.

Las Vegas, NV. 89108

After the general meeting, catered food will be served.

If you have not been in the chapter hall for some time, come meet the

Officers and see the improvements made.

Greet old friends and make new ones at our “Open House”

Respectfully,

Richard B. Small

President, VVA, Chapter 17

VA Implements National Hypoglycemic Safety Initiative

Empowering Veterans to Personalize their Diabetes Care

As part of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) ongoing effort to improve Veterans’ access to healthcare, VA is announcing the launch of a national Hypoglycemic Safety Initiative (HSI) to encourage diabetic Veterans receiving VA care to seek support to lower the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). The new initiative will enable Veterans living with diabetes to work more closely with their VA clinicians to personalize health care goals and improve self-management of the disease.

“The Hypoglycemic Safety Initiative is designed to enable Veterans and their families, partners and caregivers to create a personal plan for blood sugar management based upon the Veteran’s unique health goals,” said Dr. Carolyn Clancy, Interim Under Secretary for Health. “Our objective is to change how diabetes is managed in VA and the United States, and to help patients improve their personal well-being, not just manage their numbers.” 

Diabetes is one of the most prevalent diseases among older Americans, with one in four Veterans suffering from the disease. Recent clinical studies indicate that when diet, exercise and stress reduction are not successful, the benefits of achieving intensive blood sugar control with medication are less effective.  This is especially true for hypoglycemic agents (pills or insulin) used for those patients who have had diabetes for many years and those who have additional serious health conditions.

HSI’s key elements emphasize shared decision-making and universal health literacy to ensure Veterans understand the health information provided by their VA health care team. This includes the “teach back method” where Veterans and their caregivers are asked questions to be certain they understand and can act on key elements of self-management, including diet, exercise, glucose monitoring, managing medications, and insulin injections. The focus of the HSI is to help raise awareness among patients who may be at risk. 

“Hypoglycemia has only recently been prioritized as a national public health issue, but Federal agencies are taking a leadership role in addressing the problem. We are proud to note the collaboration of VA with Department of Health and Human Services in aggressively addressing this problem,” Dr. Clancy added.

For more information about VA health care, please visit http://www.va.gov/health/.

###

FW: Thursday mission 12/11/2014

Thank You

Robert Serge

VVA 17 Member

Blog Master

Don't talk about me until you have talked to me.

Don't underestimate me until you challenge me.

Don't judge me until you know me

---

From: akan01@centurylink.net
To: akan01@centurylink.net
Subject: Thursday mission 12/11/2014
Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2014 12:06:13 -0800

---

From: Bob Donaghy [mailto:bobdonaghy@me.com]
Sent: Thursday, December 4, 2014 4:04 PM
To: Undisclosed recipients:
Subject: thursday mission

This Thursday, Dec. 11th, the following interments are scheduled for 8:40 AM at the Southern Nevada Veteran's Memorial Cemetery, 1900 Veteran's Memorial Drive, Boulder City, 89005.  These interments are for Nevada's fallen veterans who are without family, homeless, indigent or just forgotten by family and friends and remain unclaimed.

This week's interments are:

Raymond Sonnier, USAF

Lawrence Seiler, USA
Fred Kiemsteadt,  "
Thomas Kinelly,    "
John Spoolstra,     "

   Leonard Girisius,  "

For anyone interested in riding over together, some of riders meet for breakfast at the IHOP ( 4860 Boulder Hwy ) diagonally across the street from Sam's Town at around 6:50 AM.  It will be KSU at 7:45 AM.

(Please note that scheduled interments may change without previous notice.) 

Stormy

Nevada State Captain 

Remember those Who Serve And Who Have Served

FW: Vietnam Veterans of America Member Album - phoning info

click on links below for more info

RECORDING INSTRUCTIONS

  Questions and Answers

Thank You

Robert Serge

VVA 17 Member

Blog Master

"I am only one, but I am one. I can't do everything, but I can do something. The something I ought to do, I can do, and by the grace of God, I will."  

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Subject: FW: Vietnam Veterans of America Member Album - phoning info
Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2014 07:56:03 -0800

FYI...Joni Giancola, VVA Chapter 17, Public Relations Chair

---

Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2014 16:57:37 -0800

FYI-------

On Sunday, December 7, 2014 4:27 PM, Dick Southern <southern@lodelink.com> wrote:

From: "Joe Sternburg" <jsternburg@vva.org>

TO all. Please share this with your chapters, members, etc.

We are beginning to work on the 2015 VVA Membership Directory. Below is some information which we hope will assist you in this process. Once again, Harris Connect will be assisting us in this process.
If u have any questions, please contact me @ jsternburg@vva.org

Thanks.

From: Harris connect
I am providing you with information leading into the phoning phase that includes the dates that we will be mailing and broadcasting to members. I wanted you to have this information leading into the phoning phase of the project beginning 12/8/14. I have attached a document labeled "Questions and Answers" that contains answers to questions we find constituents ask most often about the process. These should be helpful to you and any staff members who may field questions during the course of the project.

Once members call us when we mail/email them, we review their contact information (residence address & phone, business title, business name), contracted military info, along with an email address and then let them know that we will email them a link, in the next couple business days, to update their remaining profile fields (business address, mobile phone, spouse and/or children� first names).

They can include all, none or portions of the profile contact information. They also have the option of uploading a photo as well as including a story about themselves for the Veteran Showcase section via the online submission form. Members will then be given with the opportunity to reserve their book and CD package (either hardbound or softbound with a CD-ROM combo, or a searchable data CD) before concluding the phone call. I am including the samples of the optional Tribute print wed like to offer your members as well. These are ones weve done for other organizations. Let me know if youd be interested in us including this for members to purchase along with the book and CD package, the CD, or by itself. All I would need from you is a suitable background image to set this up.

Well be offering any veterans we find through lost trace research a membership at $25.00 above the purchase price of the book and CD package.

The number constituents should call (starting 12/8/14) to update their listing is 1-800-366-7167 (through 3/9/2015).

Here are the key dates/deadlines for phoning and the remainder of the project:

Postcard mailing: @ 12/5/14 (Emails/mailings are done about 2 weeks apart until close of phoning)
1st broadcast/Inbound phone lines open: 12/8/14
2nd communication: @ 12/19/14
3rd communication: @ 1/2/15

Deadline for Data Merge 1/5/15

Outbound phoning starts: 1/12/15
4th communication: @ 1/16/15
5th broadcast email: @ 2/16/15

Last day for updates: @ 3/9/15

Book release: Late July 2015

During the outbound portion of our phoning phase (starting 1/12/2015), we will leave a prerecorded message for anyone whom we do not reach. The attachment labeled "Recording Instructions" contains the instructions you will need to follow in order to record the call, as well as a script.

FW: VVA: Fw: VFW Action Corps Weekly, December 5, 2014

Thank You

Robert Serge

VVA 17 Member

Blog Master

"I am only one, but I am one. I can't do everything, but I can do something. The something I ought to do, I can do, and by the grace of God, I will."  

---

From: vva@vva2.talklist.com
To: vva@vva2.talklist.com
CC: vvachapter842@comcast.net
Subject: VVA: Fw: VFW Action Corps Weekly, December 5, 2014
Date: Sat, 6 Dec 2014 06:08:27 -0600

Ken Riskedahl
Tupelo, MS.

December 5, 2014 In This Issue: 1. Attack on Pearl Harbor Remembrance 2. Carter Nominated as New SECDEF 3. Caregiver Expansion Hearing Held 4. New Military Sexual Assault Report Released 5. Expansion of VA's MST Program 6. No Copayments for Mental Health Peer Support Services 7. Two Korean War MIAs Identified 1. Attack on Pearl Harbor Remembrance: VFW Posts nationwide will be commemorating the 73rd Anniversary of the Attack on Pearl Harbor on Sunday. VFW National Commander John Stroud and Ladies Auxiliary National President Ann Panteleakos will be at the Pearl Harbor ceremony along with survivors, family members and fellow comrades, and will present a VFW wreath aboard the USS Arizona Memorial. In Washington, D.C., another ceremony will be held at the National World War II Memorial at 1:53 p.m. According to the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, which officially disbanded in 2012, an estimated 84,000 servicemen and women survived the attack, of which just a few thousand are still alive today. 2. Carter Nominated as New SECDEF: The VFW was in the White House today for the President's nomination of Dr. Ashton B. Carter to succeed outgoing Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel. Carter has vast Pentagon and national security experience, having served earlier as the Deputy Secretary of Defense and as the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. He has been a Professor and Chair of the International Relations, Science, and Security faculty at Harvard's Kennedy School, and a member of the Defense Policy Board, the Defense Science Board, and the Secretary of State's International Security Advisory Board. In the 1990s, he served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy, where he was responsible for policy regarding the former Soviet states, strategic affairs, and nuclear weapons policy. The Senate Armed Services Committee is expected to begin his confirmation hearing soon. Read more at: http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=123766&source=GovDelivery. 3. Caregiver Expansion Hearing Held: On Wednesday the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Heath held a hearing regarding veteran caregiver expansion. Currently, only qualifying veterans from the current conflicts are eligible for the caregiver program. The VFW contends that all eras of war-time veterans should qualify for this benefit, making the case that money should never be the sticking point when it comes to taking care of veterans. In testimony, VFW Deputy National Legislative Director, Aleks Morosky, writes why expanding the caregiver program to all generations of veterans provides better health outcomes and often makes more financial sense as well. The Committee took notice of Morosky's remarks and made it a topic of discussion during the hearing. Watch the full hearing here: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/56078810. 4. New Military Sexual Assault Report Released: The Defense Department this week released the results of its latest survey regarding sexual assault prevention. While the results reflect a drop from 2012 in the prevalence of sexual assault on military installations, the report does suggest that more work needs to be done to prevent social and professional retaliations against alleged victims who report the crime. The report also showed that while the reporting of sexual assaults by female military members is continuing to increase — which suggests support for those who report is improving — the majority of male sexual assault victims are not reporting. As a result of these findings, DOD is implementing the following four initiatives: Commanders will be required to ask about retaliation from first responders in individual cases of sexual assault; Additional training will be required for first-line supervisors and civilian supervisors to recognize and prevent retaliation behavior; DOD will continue to study ways to prevent sexual assault; and DOD will provide direct feedback to service members about sexual assault prevention and response. The full report can be read online at http://sapr.mil/index.php/annual-reports. 5. Expansion of VA's MST Program: The Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act (VACAA) expanded VA's military sexual trauma (MST) program to include veterans who experienced military sexual trauma during inactive duty training. Starting this week, Guard and Reserve veterans will have the opportunity to seek free-of-charge mental health services through VA's extensive network of MST coordinators in its 150 medical centers, 820 community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) and 300 vet centers throughout the country. Veterans seeking MST services are not required to be service-connect or enrolled in the VA health care system. The VFW strongly supported the VACAA and the expansion of VA's MST program. We will continue to work closely with VA to ensure the expansion continues as planned and that veterans are provided the care they need. To learn more about VA's MST program, click here: http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/msthome.asp. 6. No Copayments for Mental Health Peer Support Services: This week, VA issued a direct final rule to exempt mental health peer support services from copayment requirements.  Starting on January 27, 2015, veterans will be able to participate in VA's successful mental health peer support program without a financial burden.  To learn more about the direct final rule, click here: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-11-28/pdf/2014-27231.pdf. 7. Two Korean War MIAs Identified: The Defense POW/MIA Office announced the identification of remains of two Americans who had been missing-in-action since the Korean War. Identified are: Army Pfc. Paul L. Tingle, of San Francisco, was lost on Nov. 26, 1950, in North Korea, where he later died as a prisoner of war. He was assigned to Company I, 3rd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was accounted for on Nov. 12, and will be buried with full military honors at a location yet to be determined. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Raymond O. Ball, from Ohio, was lost in North Korea on Nov. 27, 1950, and accounted for on Nov. 13. He was assigned to Company E, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, and will be buried with full military honors at a location yet to be determined. To sign up new veterans' advocates, click here: http://capwiz.com/vfw/mlm/signup.htm. As always, we want to share your advocacy stories on the VFW Capitol Hill blog. To share your stories either fill out our online form by clicking here, http://www.vfw.org/Forms/Capitol-Hill-Blog-Submissions/, or simply email photos and stories directly to vfwac@vfw.org.

FW: VVA: FW: The Wall

read this and remember god bless us all

Thank You

Robert Serge

VVA 17 Member

Blog Master

"I am only one, but I am one. I can't do everything, but I can do something. The something I ought to do, I can do, and by the grace of God, I will."  

---

From: vva@vva2.talklist.com
To: trainbrain4449@yahoo.com
Subject: VVA: FW: The Wall
Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2014 05:21:13 -0800

Worth passing along.

Mark Brown

Home:   (916)740-3860

Cell:      (916)208-0789

MarkBrwn@surewest.net

Jesus told him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.~ John 14:6, NLT

    www.patriotguard.org

 
Subject: Fwd: The Wall

The Wall

A little history most people will never know.

Interesting Veterans Statistics off the Vietnam Memorial Wall

 

There are 58,267 names now listed on that polished black wall, including those added in 2010.

 

The names are arranged in the order in which they were taken from us by date and within each date the names are alphabetized. It is hard to believe it is 36 years since the last casualties.

 

The first known casualty was Richard B. Fitzgibbon, of North Weymouth,  Mass. Listed by the U.S. Department of Defense as having been killed on June 8, 1956. His name is listed on the Wall with that of his son, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Richard B. Fitzgibbon III, who was killed on Sept. 7, 1965.

 

There are three sets of fathers and sons on the Wall.

39,996 on the Wall were just 22 or younger.

 

8,283 were just 19 years old.

 

The largest age group: 33,103 were 18 years old.  

12 soldiers on the Wall were 17 years old.

 

5 soldiers on the Wall were 16 years old.

 

One soldier, PFC Dan Bullock was 15 years old.

 

997 soldiers were killed on their first day in Vietnam ..

 

1,448 soldiers were killed on their last day in Vietnam ..

 

31 sets of brothers are on the Wall.

 

Thirty one sets of parents lost two of their sons.

 

54 soldiers attended ThomasEdison High School in Philadelphia . 

 

8 Women are on the Wall. Nursing the wounded.

 

244 soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War; 153 of them are on the Wall.

 

Beallsville, Ohio with a population of 475 lost 6 of her sons.

 

West Virginia had the highest casualty rate per capita in the nation. There are 711 West Virginians on the Wall.

 

The Marines of Morenci - They led some of the scrappiest high school football and basketball teams that the little Arizona copper town of Morenci (pop. 5,058) had ever known and cheered. They enjoyed roaring beer busts. In quieter moments, they rode horses along the Coronado Trail, stalked deer in the Apache National Forest. And in the patriotic camaraderie typical of Morenci's mining families, the nine graduates of Morenci High enlisted as a group in the Marine Corps. Their service began on Independence Day, 1966. Only 3 returned home.

 

The Buddies of Midvale - LeRoyTafoya, JimmyMartinez, Tom Gonzales were all boyhood friends and lived on three consecutive streets in Midvale, Utah on Fifth, Sixth and Seventh avenues. They lived only a few yards apart. They played ball at the adjacent sandlot ball field. And they all went to Vietnam. In a span of 16 dark days in late 1967, all three would be killed. LeRoy was killed on Wednesday, Nov. 22, the fourth anniversary of John F. Kennedy's assassination. Jimmy died less than 24 hours later on Thanksgiving Day. Tom was shot dead assaulting the enemy on Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

 

The most casualty deaths for a single day was January 31, 1968 ~ 245 deaths.

 

The most casualty deaths for a single month was May 1968 - 2,415 casualties were incurred.

 

For most Americans who read this they will only see the numbers that the Vietnam War created. To those of us who survived the war, and to the families of those who did not, we see the faces, we feel the pain that these numbers created. We are, until we too pass away, haunted with these numbers, because they were our friends, fathers, husbands, wives, sons and daughters. There are no noble wars, just noble warriors.

 

Please pass this on to those who served during this time, and those who  DO Care . 

I've also sent this to those  I KNOW  do care very much, and I thank you for caring as you do.

 

God Bless America!!!!!!

No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2013.0.3495 / Virus Database: 4189/8673 - Release Date: 12/03/14

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No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2013.0.3495 / Virus Database: 4189/8640 - Release Date: 11/27/14

No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2013.0.3495 / Virus Database: 4189/8673 - Release Date: 12/03/14