yesterday as some folks here know was the 42nd aniversery of the death of one fine young man. Tom was KIA at about 5:30am, but officially it was 7:42am on the 22nd day of February, the year of 1969. As usual some folks drank a toast to him with atear in their eyes. I chose to have a wake, and we partied till midnight (I was ready for oxygen). The Devine Ms G. and I danced till the clock struck twelve bells, and folks at the VFW came over to see what we were upto. I told them, and we all danced and partied! I placed an open can of Budwiser on a table top in the center of the place (Tom drank a Budwiser every once in awhile), and when we left there must have been two dozen cans setting on that table top

I'll see Tom again next year, and your all invited!
gary

Gary,
Although Tom maybe gone it's nice to see that his friends haven't forgotten him.
Regards
David

Thats a nice tribute Gary- we should all remember their service and sacrifice.

a brother in arms is a brother forever

What most folks don't understand about Tom was that he didn't have to be there. But it was his duty to God & Country to be there. Then he took it a step further and volunteered to help a gun crew that was down to three men (he was posted in the motor pool) that was shooting 155mm WP rounds inside their perimeter. He had no idea what he was doing, and was learning as they went along. The gunner was the First Sargent, and the AG was the XO Officer. They put Tom on the telephone and also installing fuses plus helping the guy loading with the rammer staff. (The loader was a cook) He could have simply stayed back down there in the motor pool, but showed up asking what he could do? Tom and that cook were my kinda men! About five in the morning a 122mm rocket had his number, and opened him up like a can opener.

Sometimes life is a bitter pill to swallow, but Tom will always be with us
gary