I would like to take the time to remember my cousin who died in the Vietnam War. He passed 3 yrs. before I was born. I don’t know the exact details about his death, but it was from a grenade accident.
When I was little I used to go through my mom and dads picture drawer. I remember reading the letters that Fletcher had sent them while he was over there. I always wondered what happened. Because all I knew was that he had died. It really just wasn’t anything that we discussed. It upset the family too much.
Then I moved to Tennessee from Illinois. My ex and I had took on the job of mowing the little cemetary in Frost Bottom. Once again, I was faced with wondering exactly what had happened to him as we mowed that little cemetary. That was in '89.
Then in January of this year my dad was telling me about a book that he had received that had different memorials in it and I read Fletchers story. It was the first time I really got a glimpse into something that I didn’t know anything about. I came home and thought I would key it in the computer and thanks to the guy Neil Wilson was able to find this story on line. I wished I could have had the chance to thank him for telling the story, but sadly he passed away last year.
I would like to say thanks to all who have made my freedom possible. You maybe gone, but you are not forgotten.
Papa Tiger lost something like 26 guys he went through basic training with in Vietnam. Half his class got picked to be security police, and their average lifespan in Nam was about six weeks. Plus his cousin was killed there.
Needless to say, when we were in DC we did Memorial Day each year at the Wall.
Thank you, Ashkicker, for sharing and reminding us all of what Memorial Day is really for: to remember those who served and paid the ultimate sacrifice for all of us. That was a very moving tribute to your Uncle; I don’t know what more to say other than tears are still in my eyes.
To those who have never been to The Wall, go see it … it’s indescribable, and people leave all sorts of memorials there, which makes it even more moving than it already is.
Here is another link on the many casualties of war. It doesn’t include the current war statistics. I didn’t know WWII held that many deaths.
This site doesn’t give the current war numbers. I will be thinking of your friend Zebra. My thoughts are with all those serving now and those that have served. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I haven’t been to the permanent Vietnam memorial. But they did have the moving wall come through Pigeon Forge and that is where I had the chance to see it. I held the paper up and traced his name with pencil. I ended up giving it to my dad who lived in Illinois at the time. I know it meant so much to him. His sister and the rest of the family was never the same.
