Memorial Day 2022......

[crashbandicoot]

There,s a poem-"Death of the Ball Turret Gunner" by Randall Jarrell. if you like poetry and want to get the gist of what it was like to be one,read it.It,s not real pretty,but appropriate on Memorial Day.

 

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[crashbandicoot]

Belly and nose turret would have been too cramped for me.

I,m 6'3" so me too!

 

[Sandog]

I've been thinking lately of an old childhood friend and school classmates, and wondering what would be the best thread to post a mention of one of my favorite photos. This will take 2 posts. This first one is about me too, and I want the next one to be just for him.

The guy on the right is me, the guy at the bottom was a classmate, playmate, and friend. In this small town when we played baseball, cowboys and Indians, and war, we all played. Every kid in town. Our school had three teachers and one of them was the principal. Two of those classrooms had three grades in it. Small, huh? So you can imagine we were all good friends. This guy's mom even cut my brother (1st Air Cav) and my hair. No barbershop in town. When we played war it lasted all day and the whole town was our battlefield. I am incredibly proud to have known Chalky and be his friend.

 

[Sandog]

Please read the attached thread about my friend Chalky Fleek. This tells his story better than I can.

Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Charles Fleek was awarded four other Army medals for heroism

Sgt. Charles Fleek, awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously after being killed in Vietnam, was awarded four other Army medals for heroism.

www.cincinnati.com

Greater love hath no man..........

 

[tamrock]

View attachment 2029561
View attachment 2029562
Please read the attached thread about my friend Chalky Fleek. This tells his story better than I can.

Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Charles Fleek was awarded four other Army medals for heroism

Sgt. Charles Fleek, awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously after being killed in Vietnam, was awarded four other Army medals for heroism.

www.cincinnati.com

Greater love hath no man..........

A true hero. Thanks for keeping the memory of your friend out there.

 

[T.C.]

"If you are able,
save for them a place inside of you
and save one backward glance when
you are leaving for the places
they can no longer go.

"Be not ashamed to say you loved them,
though you may or may not have always.
Take what they have taught you with their dying
and keep it with your own.

"And in that time when men decide and feel safe
to call the war insane,
take one moment to
embrace those gentle heroes
you left behind."​

---

Major Michael O'Donnell
KIA March 24, 1970 - Dak To, Vietnam

 

[crashbandicoot]

View attachment 2029561
View attachment 2029562
Please read the attached thread about my friend Chalky Fleek. This tells his story better than I can.

Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Charles Fleek was awarded four other Army medals for heroism

Sgt. Charles Fleek, awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously after being killed in Vietnam, was awarded four other Army medals for heroism.

www.cincinnati.com

Greater love hath no man..........

Words fail me.A fine and fitting memorial to your friend.May he rest in peace!

 

[T.C.]

I finally found the courage
to walk up to The Wall
And when I found your name,
my tears began to fall.
In my mind I drifted
to another place and time
When our futures were determined
by the tossing of a dime.
In my mind I fight again
the battle where you died
And I feel again the anguish
and the pain I've tried to hide.
If the coin had landed differently
would the end have been the same?
Or would you be here instead of me,
crying as you touch my name?
A thousand times I've tossed the coin
and fought that battle in my head
But it always ends the same, my friend,
you walk among the dead.
But your memory is safe with me,
tucked away with guilt and pain,
And here in this hallowed place
my tear drops fall like rain.
I'm sure I'm not the only one
to ask the question "Why?"
Why did I come back alive?
And why did you have to die?
So I want to say "I'm sorry",
but the words are hard to find
To tell you you'll live forever,
in my heart and in my mind.

I'd trade you places if I could,
and I would have at that time,
But who would have thought our futures
rested on a dime?

 

[crashbandicoot]

I finally found the courage
to walk up to The Wall
And when I found your name,
my tears began to fall.
In my mind I drifted
to another place and time
When our futures were determined
by the tossing of a dime.
In my mind I fight again
the battle where you died
And I feel again the anguish
and the pain I've tried to hide.
If the coin had landed differently
would the end have been the same?
Or would you be here instead of me,
crying as you touch my name?
A thousand times I've tossed the coin
and fought that battle in my head
But it always ends the same, my friend,
you walk among the dead.
But your memory is safe with me,
tucked away with guilt and pain,
And here in this hallowed place
my tear drops fall like rain.
I'm sure I'm not the only one
to ask the question "Why?"
Why did I come back alive?
And why did you have to die?
So I want to say "I'm sorry",
but the words are hard to find
To tell you you'll live forever,
in my heart and in my mind.

I'd trade you places if I could,
and I would have at that time,
But who would have thought our futures
rested on a dime?

Nice T.C.