Leaving for the World - 1971

On Thanksgiving day, 1971, I was rushing to outprocess and leave Vietnam that night. Due to a hunting accident my 12 year old brother was in, my DROS date was moved up a week. The night before leaving I was on duty. I remember an ambulance driver crying as he hugged me and said goodbye Since this happened so quickly I didn't have the opportunity to say the things I would have like to have said or to say any goodbyes. How I regret that. Never a day passes where I don't think of those I was stationed at the 24th Evac, especially on Thanksgiving day. Although our paths crossed for a very short time, memories of them are burned in my mind forever and as time passes I miss them even more. It is so overwhelming and I feel so lost and confused. I cannot put into words how much I miss them. They were my friends, my family, etc. I just wanted to say how much I miss them. So as this Thanksgivng day ends, I'll keep you even closer in my thoughts and prayers.

My sister's death.

This has been a horrible week. My 56 year old sister was found dead at home on Monday morning at 8:17 a.m. They believe she died on Sunday night around 8:00 p.m. Her body was released around noon after they determined that her death was probably caused by a new medication but it could have been a result of a heart attack or stroke. When they released her body I and two of my brothers helped pick her up off the floor with the attendants from the mortuary and put her in the bag. I then helped put put her feet in and cover them with the bag so it could be zipped up. Doing this reminded me even more of the 24th and the many many times I prepared and bagged those killed in the field or who died at the hospital.

My sister was single and never had any children. She has served cookies at the VA, baked and was active with some veteran organizations. Although I never really spoke of the war she would give me Army pens, gave me some very good movies regarding Vietnam, discretely passed me a Kleenex when taps were played and within the last couple months gave me a book signed by the Vietnam Veteran who wrote it. I just can't believe this has happened to someone so wonderful and caring.

I wanted to go to Mass this morning but was unable to do so. Vietnam and my fallen brothers has been in my mind and I prayed for them but have been so overwhelmed I could not do what I wanted to do this Veterans Day.

I want let my fellow Veterans that I am thinking of them and they are in my prayers as well as those who have passed. And to my sister I want to say thank you for the many acts of kindness and that you will always be in my thoughts and prayers.