I think I'm going to choose to do something a little bit different here, Being that I received all the thanks that I required by being given the chance to live a full life, I am going to post about a Vietnam Veteran that did not. This man ate,slept, and breathed fishing. I can almost hear him chuckle finding his name mentioned in a fishing forum. Dennis was taken captive February 8, 1968, and died in captivity March 7, 1970. His remains was identified and returned in January 2004, I saw him laid to rest in Bremond Texas on May 22, 2004
If you choose you may read much more about Dennis here:
http://www.mcldet471.com/Dennis_is_home.htm
A Shadow on the Wall
It was 2:00 a.m in the morning, when he came upon the wall...
a dark black "V" of granite, it stands not very tall.
The timing was premeditated, he had to be alone...
for it's very hard to hear, a voice that's etched in stone.
He paced those wings of black, looking for a friend...
and to reflect upon a moment in time, to a place where they'd once been.
Then the panel suddenly appeared, and the voice was once again heard...
a long lost friend had been found, among the whisper of his word.
In the silence of the night, it echoed from the wall...
"You can let it go now, and thanks for coming to call"
And then he moved away, the silhouetted wall began to fade...
but looking back he noticed......his shadow.... it had stayed .
Then came May 22, of 2004...
his shadow had moved to Bremond, to see the final door.
No longer only a voice, a voice only etched in stone...
his friend had come home now, no longer all alone.
Thirty-six years had passed, since he last stood beside his friend...
but now in Bremond Texas, a long journey would finally end.
Back once again with family, a family that waited so long...
beside his Mother and Father, that had taught him right from wrong.
Now my friend, my comrade in arms, my shadow can finally rest...
of all the friends I may ever have, you'll remain my very best.
I have met your distant friends, and what a brotherhood they are...
and now we are also like family, and will never stray very far.
And now to the final line, as many hearts begin to mend...
it is a privilege and an honor, to have you "Ham", to have
you as my friend.
Mike "Tiny" Readinger
VietVet68