From The Top
During the past month a lot of E-mail has been generated
by the doers of our association. I am going to use this forum to express my
opinion regarding our memorial service at our reunions.
At our first meeting in Baltimore hosted by Bruce Sartwell, Bruce read off the
names
of our KIAs. A few words were said by others, including myself.
I noted then that emotions were running high for some members. I was affected
deeply in Las Vegas by the service that Clancy organized. I read off the names
and was emotional when I read the names of those that I personally knew. Some in
attendance broke down and were comforted by others. At reunions that I have
attended I have noticed that some
attendees elect not to participate.
When I rotated from the unit in Dec 67, I could proudly say to my self that no
one was KIA on my watch as First Sergeant. In 1968 reading the KIA list in the
Army Times I came across names like Lancaster, Hodge, House, Piaskowski, Dunlop
and Jones which caused me to stop reading that paper. Granted, in combat, you
will suffer casualties
both wounded and KIA. How we remember those comrades in arms is how we are able
to cope with those losses.
When you lose a loved one, the bereavement counselors talk about steps in
getting on with your life. For me, it was very difficult in 2000 when my wife
passed away. My memorialization for her went on for an extended period and
really did me no good. Finally, I broke from that routine of every Sunday at the
grave site. I finally realized that she was not there and I moved on. My therapy
became working and learning to train race horses.
My recommendation is that our future services become a "celebration of the life"
of those who are no longer with us.
As of this year, I could attend reunions of six units that I previously served
with in Viet Nam. The reason I do not attend them all is that it becomes too
emotional for me. An example is while I was a Platoon Sergeant and Platoon
Leader in the 2/4 Cavalry in Germany, six of my section leaders were later KIA
in the 3/5 Cavalry in Viet Nam. That for me is a "tough nut". My last tour in
RVN, during '70 and '71, I was in three different units. The count mounted up
during that period. Cambodia, stand downs, and the Laos Incursion. When you lose
the friend that stood up for you when you were married---that is tough. To this
day I do not visit the "The Wall". When you lose someone you have only known for
a short period of time, that is one emotion. When you lose someone
you have known and served with for many years and tours of duty, that is
altogether
different.
As I grow older, I find myself more emotionally attached to my family and
comrades in arms.
Simply put: The clock of life is wound but once. And no man has the power, to
tell just when the hands will stop, a late or early hour. Now is the only time
you own, Live, love, toil with a will. Place no faith in time. For the clock may
soon be still.
We also need to recognize those among us who have put forward extra effort in
keeping us together. Bruce Sartwell started this Association in 1992 by getting
us together in 1993. We are kind of ad hoc, but we are still here, and people
like Bob Copeland, Ken Mullinax (who started the newsletter), and all the hosts
of our reunions, mini and special have done yeoman labor. I toast you all.
My hunt and peck is wore out. Think about it, put it on the web site, let us
talk about it.
Take care,
Roy (12 Sep)