VIEW: THE PATH OF THE WARRIOR
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last name of an individual, use the Alphabetical list to determine the date of
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| SOG - Alphabetical |
| SOG - Chronological |
| FINAL TRIBUTE TO SGT CHARLES “BUDDY” RICHMOND |
| For a listing of all Special Forces Killed or Missing in Action in Vietnam click--> ALL SPECIAL FORCES (not availabe at this time) |
| SPECIAL MEMORIAL |
| A FITTING TRIBUTE TO OUR FALLEN BROTHERS |
| SEVEN SOLDIERS |
| LETTERS |
14 Feb 2005
I found this poem by Barry Murphy, KIA 18Mar68 CCS, Ban Me Thout, Op35 in Cambodia in the Fish Hook area performing a Bomb Damage Assessment, Remains not recovered, wrote before he left for Vietnam many years ago.
Idea Of A Young SoldierSword and cannon rattle far away Though I've never seen the water I must go, though it may mean My love, and friends, and family cannot hear Sword and cannon rattle far away - Barry D. Murphy - |
From a friend,
Betty Bell Homburger
FOR THOSE WHO SURVIVED: This was a "War" and people die, no one is at fault, we did our best under very trying circumstances. I have on many occasions talked to the survivors of missions and many live with deep guilt. The question "was it my fault, did I do everything I was supposed to, did I fuck up," haunts them combining that with the guilt of surviving when others died. Split second decisions are made as bullets are flying, adrenaline is flowing and fear at it's zenith. If we had a minute, two minutes, a half an hour, an hour, a month, a year, ten years, we might have made a different decision -That was not the case! As life and death is being decided in micro seconds, any decision or action was better than none, because no decision meant certain death for all. Welcome home, thank you for your service and for what you did for our nation. You did not run, you did not hide, you stood by your country in times when most Americans were burning draft cards, refusing to serve or hiding in other countries. No one can understand what you did or what you faced, not even our own and I say the "Hell" to them, I find no fault with you. Have peace within yourself my friend. I have also interacted with many family members of our KIA/MIA's, some have accepted the fact their loved one was in a war and was lost, honor their memory and take pride the loss was for our nation. Other, take another approach, that their loved one was sacrificed, killed or lost by intentional design, was in some super secret unit where the government is covering up everything, even to this date. They are paranoid of everything, being stalked, their phone being tapped as though the mission continues...They will go to their graves with this cloak and dagger syndrome of the cold war haunting them...they will believe nothing that does not fit their beliefs.
Frank Noe: A Life in Pictures1LT Dennis Neal and SP4 Michael BurnsSSG Dennis Neal and SSG Michael Kuropas Danny Day Entrican Moved to their chronological listing ROBERT SULLIVAN INFO HAS BEENMOVED TO HIS NAME IN THE ALPH & CHRONOLOGICAL LISTING. |
A FITTING TRIBUTE TO OUR FALLEN BROTHERS
(Although, this tribute is written from one Aviator to another, it epitomizes
the brotherhood shared by us all, those who have shared part their lives with
their fallen comrades)
As the remains of Jon Eric Reid who served with the 48th AHC Joker Guns and was
MIA on 2-20-71, and buried at Arlington National Cemetery, 0845, 14 Jan 2000.
VHPA member Rick Lester, Joker 94, read the following words at the funeral.
"Through the fog of controversy which surrounded our country's involvement in
Vietnam, some may ask 'Why', but let no one question the intentions of these
honorable men. There are so many good things we can say about them. In the
finest traditions of our great country, they answered their call and went forth
with only the best intentions. They did all they were asked and, with their
lives, showed their commitment. What more could their country or anyone ask? There has never been a 'good' war and there never will be.
The cost of war is great, and it will strip the men of their youth. It also has
a way of bringing out the best in men. War strips men to their most basic moral
standards, facades are quickly torn away and you are judged as your true self,
good or bad. Those of us who knew these men saw them in that light and can tell
you they were truly dedicated, strong and courageous.
Those of us who served with them also came to know their heart. In the quiet
times, we heard of their love for their families, shared their laughs and
listened to the stories of life before Vietnam. We found pleasure in simple
things like music, mail from home, hot chow, cold beer, a periodic hot shower
and time shared in the 'club.' We grew close.
In the violence of that war, we also shared our fear and frustration, endured
physical pain and the bitter pain of losing friends. We came to know indefinable
fatigue from seemingly endless hours of flying in the most demanding conditions,
yet if we weren't flying, we were not happy.
Though, for the most part, we dealt with the confusion, complexity, and violence
of battle in our own way, it was understood there was no shame in showing your
emotion, we were only human. We endured and became better for it. We were
sometimes hard on each other, but it was with purpose, and we knew we could turn
to each other for anything. We grew closer.
We may have been sent in harm's way with a broken sword, but we stood as one.
Our shield was our pride and the respect we had for each other and our duty was
to carry out the mission. We were in this thing together and our strength would
become our commitment to each other and our unit. We learned a special trust
common only to those who have learned to hide their fear and willingly place
their lives at risk, not just for 'the cause', but for those with whom they
served. That common theme was a bond of mutual respect and unspoken love and
friendship forged and tempered through the trials of battle. You realized, once
you had fought for them that freedom and life are indeed very special. You no
longer took things for granted, you noticed for the first time how really
intense and beautiful a sunrise can be and how nice it is to once again feel the
warmth of the sun on your face after the monsoons had passed. You no longer
'said prayers', you spoke with God. You now knew the fragility of life and
therefore, it became more intense.
Through all this, we quickly realized what an honor it was to have known and
served with men like these and how truly blessed we are to have had them in our
lives.
We will remember them always and to our absent companions now say, 'catch the
wind good friends, take the lead and soar to the warm light of God, and on your
wing...keep watch for us.''
I came across your web site and thought you might be able to use
some more material to add to the site. At the clip below is a poem entitled "In
Memory of Seven Soldiers" that may be of interest to you. I wrote it in memory
of the C & C ship and crew that crashed with Major Acre, CPT Morris and others
out of CCS during 1969. I was on that chopper just seconds before it took off,
but I switched to the insert slick to get a better feel for the teams insertion.
If you can use this piece, please reply to this e-mail. Thanks in advance for
your time and consideration. A biography listing my published works and other
information is available on my web site at
http://www.dennislid.com.
“In Memory of Seven Soldiers”
by
Dennis W. Lid
They died today,
Those seven men,
Proud soldiers,
But they died.
Their mission was
A risky one
That all knew
Must be done.
Headlong they flew
Into the void
That fate
Prepared for them.
Yet had they time
To think of it,
The same they
Would have done.
A soldier whose
A good one
Asks not
The reason why.
He does his job
No matter what,
Well knowing
He may die.
A soldier is
A mortal man,
And mortals
All must die.
It’s cause for wonder
That they knew,
Yet looked death
In the eye.
But these were soldiers,
Every one,
And that’s
The reason why.
# # #
From:
[email protected]
Dear Mr. Loe,
I found your name on a website when I was searching for information about
William Copley. I want to thank you for all of your heroism in the Vietnam War.
I was born in 1956, and didn't know very much about the war when I was
young--but I knew that it frightened me that young American men were being
killed there. I remember feeling very helpless about the war, and wanting to be
able to do something. I got a metal bracelet to wear, they contained the name of
an American who was listed either as missing in action, or as a prisoner of war.
My bracelet had William Copley's name. I wore it for several years--never taking
it off. Somehow, it helped me to have this constant reminder of the sacrifice of
a young man for the country I loved. My grandfather served in WWI, and my father
was a veteran of WWII. I was always very aware of their feelings about war, and
have always been very proud of both of them. Both were very upset about
Vietnam--they said that we were not giving the soldiers the support they needed
from the Government and from the American people. I watched my fathers anger
every time they reported the death toll on the news. He had been in Bastogne,
and lost many of his close friends. I was very sad that so many Americans were
dying to fight against the Communists--but I was proud of their courage,
integrity and integrity. We lived in Libya when I was growing up, because my
father worked for an oil company. We had to leave in duress because the
government had been overthrown, and they were hostile to Americans. My father
made me leave my bracelet behind, because he was afraid that it would be
interpreted as subversive and would keep up from getting out of the country. I
never forgot the young man's name--William Copley--and have always wondered what
happened to him. Over the years, I have tried to read and understand what
happened in Vietnam, and have had more time in recent years because my children
are older. I wish I could have changed the tragedy that you all endured. I am
still very sad for the horrors you lived through. But I am very proud of all of
you, each and every one, and I wanted you to know that I will never forget.
Vietnam is a part of me--even though it seems that I am very 'removed' from
it--I didn't have any close friends or relatives who served or died there. But
it has been a continued presence in my life, like a traumatic experience you
never quite get over. I am an American, and very proud to be one. When we lived
overseas, I was so homesick for the USA--and I love my home. I am proud that my
country has fought for freedom. I just wish it was not with such a cost.
I hope that your life has been a happy one, and that you have had joy and
fulfillment with what you have done. Thank you so much for trying to save Mr.
Copley. Thank you for serving our country with your life.
Sincerely, Judy Vaughan
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