[Bob Dillon]

Please attend a Memorial Day service in your town, and TAKE YOUR CHILDREN OR GRANDKIDS.

This is Memorial Day weekend. I am always saddened by this time; during my year in Vietnam, 1968, I treated 9 men whose names are now etched in the black marble of The Wall.

But gifts were given to me by each of these men. One, although he had no idea he was doing so, taught a 21-year-old man how to die. When that time comes for me, I hope to be able to display the equanimity and courage he did.

All gave me insight into how to act and perform when lives were on the line-when 36-hour days were common, and decisions have to be made instantly.

A gallows sense of humor was forged. One Marine who had lost his legs laughed and said the Marines were probably going to discharge him now as he was now only 3 1/2 feet tall. That young man, who did not survive his other injuries, taught me much about the human spirit. It's indomitable.

All taught me something, and I am forever grateful. I sometimes wonder if I will ever do anything as important in my life as I did during that terrible year of 1968.

You know, I don't think I will.

[4zpeed]

Originally Posted by Bob Dillon

I sometimes wonder if I will ever do anything as important in my life as I did during that terrible year of 1968.

You know, I don't think I will.

Sure you will... you just have...

Originally Posted by Bob Dillon

Please attend a Memorial Day service in your town, and TAKE YOUR CHILDREN OR GRANDKIDS.

Thanks for the post!



Frank

[george kujanski]

Well said, Bob.

George

[1965gp]

Very well said - looking at the silver lining of a terrible situation

[ta6point6]

Here is to us and those like us
Damn few left

[thepontiacman]

Thanks to all who have served!



Sent from my Moto Z3 Play using Tapatalk

[RFCOLEMAN]

Many THANKS to all that have and are now serving.

[salem1912]

Peter J Conway
From Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Death October 9, 1918
War World War I
Rank Private
Branch US Army
Group 79th Division, 315th Infantry Regiment
Cause Died of Wounds
Awarded
★ Purple Heart

My mother's "Uncle Pete" 19 years old.


Bob there was a good documentary this morning on early Vietnam '65/66. thank you for what you did back then. I graduated in '75 and thanks to you and others I did not have to serve in war.

[tempest1964]

Thanks for sharing your story Bob. And thanks for serving our country. Thanks to All who gave….and to those who gave All.

[tininjun68]

Well said, Bob! Everyone should read that and share it.

[sdbob]

Thank you Bob. Thank you to all who have served and are serving. Prayers said daily.

[455firebird1969]

Originally Posted by tempest1964

Thanks for sharing your story Bob. And thanks for serving our country. Thanks to All who gave….and to those who gave All.

Well said, thanks to all who have, and are currently serving.

Having served in the US Coast Guard, I will pay tribute to the Coasties that gave it all in Viet Nam.











More to follow.

[455firebird1969]

More Coasties that gave it all in Viet Nam.







https://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/s...ualtyProvince=

Having served in Coast Guard Aviation during my Carrier, the story of Jack Rittichier, is of particular interest to me. He was a true hero, to the very end.

Godspeed Sir.

https://www.check-six.com/Coast_Guar...f_Jolly_23.htm

[fyrffytr1]

I appreciate all the thanks given to us veterans but please remember Memorial day is to honor those that died in service to our country. Veteran's day honor all who have served.

https://www.hfotusa.org/difference-m...-veterans-day/

[455firebird1969]

My cousin is on The Wall in DC.

In the summer of 1967 Dwight stopped by our house in MD on his way to Boot Camp. He had a special relationship with my Dad. Dwight played catch with me and my big brother in the back yard that day, he was a great guy to be around. Dwight slept on the couch that night, and he left the next day, on his way to Parris Island.







I will never forget you Dwight.

[b-man]

Thanks Bob and to all who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

[Ogre]

I was fortunate to return unharmed, but as of the end of March (and probably today) there are 1,584 of our buddies who have not returned from the Vietnam war. Others are probably unaccounted for from WWI, WWII, and Korea. As a continuous and frequent donor to the National League of POW-MIA Families I ask that those not be forgotten.

I donate to the MIA/POW organization in the name of my good friend Paul Vernon (Skip) Jackson, Raven FAC.

Lots of others I try to remember, but Skip will probably never come home, so he gets my thoughts frequently.

Ogre

[sdbob]

Just came from church. We sang 'America The Beautiful ' to leave services. Moving for me.

[vr1967]

I write a week long series every year (1 per day, for the 6 days before, and one Memorial Day) on different men of our county that paid their all. Sadly, other than very few, only veterans show up at our program every year.
In July, we are bringing home the remains of Russell Melton who was killed on the West Virginia at Pearl Harbor. Putting the family in touch with DPAA, his remains were officially identified in Jan of this year, 80 years and one month after his passing.

Below will place one of the stories I wrote this year.

Lest We Forget

Day 5 In Remembrance for the week leading up to Memorial Day 2022

(Warning graphic - yet shows the character of these men that gave the Ultimate Sacrifice for our freedom)

Robert Lee Campbell was born 31 Oct 1919, the son of Jesse and Clara Causey Campbell.

Robert joined the Army Air Corps, and in July, 1943, he was in the 92nd Bomb Group’s 326th Bomb Squadron, piloting B-17 SN 42-29802 “Ruthie II” stationed at RAF Alconbury, England.

On July 26, 1943, Ruthie II took off with Robert, described as “a huge, muscular Mississippian” as pilot, with John Morgan, a 6’2” burly Texan as co pilot. The formation’s target was Hanover, Germany.

Just before reaching the Dutch coastline, the formation was heavily attacked by the Luftwaffe fighter planes, with Ruthie II receiving heavy damage - the intercom was shot out, the tail, waist, and the ball turrent guns quit firing, flak took out the co-pilots windshield, and, a machine gun round hit Robert in the head, splitting his skull open.

Semi conscious, and dazed, Robert initially slumped forward on the controls breaking them from formation, but knew he must continue to fly so instinctively fought to try to keep the controls, as Morgan fought the controls against him to get the craft back in formation. Morgan knew if they fell out, they would be easy prey to the fighter planes.
Unable to communicate with his crew, John used his left arm to hold Robert off the controls, and continued to fly with just his right arm. John could have pulled Robert’s oxygen mask, which would have caused him to go unconscious in a few minutes (probably would have been fatal to the injured pilot) or leave it on, and fight against his semi conscious pilot. John chose to fight.

A second wave of fighters came in strafing Ruthie II again, causing the top turrent gunner (Trye Weaver) to lose an arm at the shoulder, knocking him to the floor by the navigator, Keith Koske. Unable to apply a tourniquet to stop the bleeding, Koske chuted Weaver, and push him out of the plane thinking the cold air would stop the bleeding. (Weaver survived, as he was cared for by German surgeons, and came back stateside in 1944)

For over two hours John and Robert fought over the controls, but no one was able to go to the cockpit to check the erratic flying due to fighting off the fighter planes.

After dropping the bombs, Koske was able to make it to the cockpit, and after viewing the horrific scene, got Robert out the seat and attended to his wound.

After dropping down lower over the North Sea on the return trip, the tail and waist gunners (thought dead) regained consciousness - their oxygen system had been knocked out in the very first fighter attack.

Morgan got the battered bomber landed at a coast base, and Robert lived another hour or so.

Morgan would receive the Medal of Honor for his actions, and directed to fly no more combat missions. He would have none of it. He continued flying missions, and flew in the first raid on Berlin, March 6, 1944, was shot down, and spent the rest of the war as a POW.

1st LT Robert Campbell is buried in Plot E, Row 5, Grave 87, at the Cambridge American Cemetery in Cambridge, England. A memorial marker is also placed in the East Fork Cemtery.

[455abody]

Thanks so much for your service I have a lot of respect for all who have served! I bet you could recount some crazy scary times. Brian