What do you remember most about a Fallen Comrade?

SGT Jose Perdelia-Torres — Sun, 12 Sep 2021 14:51:25 -0400

Tell me how you keep their memories alive.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 12 at 2021 3:20 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Sep 2021 15:20:57 -0400

I don't have to try very hard because I'm still here and they're not anymore - saved my life (not in the act of saving my ass, but they're gone anyway - 'nother story). That's something you always feel guilty about, and you never forget.
Warriors Forever!
-Ed Boles

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Sep 12 at 2021 7:22 PM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Sun, 12 Sep 2021 19:22:14 -0400

SGT Jose Perdelia-Torres Dear Jose, (If I may indeed address you by your first name) I don't have any fallen comrades. If I did, I most certainly would say a Fervent Prayer; for them. My Love is with: All of You; Fallen Comrades.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 12 at 2021 8:16 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 12 Sep 2021 20:16:53 -0400

A buddy I knew was just bad luck to me and himself. One day we were watching TV then it just died. We were going fishing and got into a car accident. He was riding his bike on Ft Campbell and got hit by a car and was ticketed. We were in my car on post, there was a big lawn mower by the side of the road so I sped up to minimize my exposure to that machine. Well hell. I got clocked by the MPs. He was working on a Chinook helicopter and fell from the top. Amazing.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Sep 12 at 2021 8:58 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Sun, 12 Sep 2021 20:58:11 -0400

I see their faces in my head, normally at night, I remember attending their memorials,etc.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Sep 13 at 2021 2:06 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 02:06:28 -0400

What they taught me.

Response by MAJ Jim Woods made Sep 13 at 2021 11:35 PM

MAJ Jim Woods — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 23:35:21 -0400

Cpt. Jeffery Hults. KIA Vietnam 1969

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 14 at 2021 3:20 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 15:20:01 -0400

It is very hard to forget a comrade with whom I spent every day for two years. We were roommates and team leaders in the same squad. I think of those good days and not Gander 1985.

Response by CPL Adam Schoenwald made Sep 14 at 2021 3:40 PM

CPL Adam Schoenwald — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 15:40:46 -0400

I remind myself of How they Inspired to to be better than I ever dreamed I could be when I don't feel like I matter.

Response by SPC Douglas Bolton made Sep 14 at 2021 4:09 PM

SPC Douglas Bolton — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 16:09:50 -0400

Shy, but loyal

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Sep 14 at 2021 4:14 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 16:14:13 -0400

That they had your back when the chips were down brother SGT Jose Perdelia-Torres

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Sep 14 at 2021 4:40 PM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 16:40:55 -0400

The good times! Classmate that I went through FB-111 training with flew into the side of a mountain in Maine. Not much left of him but many things will trigger memories of the crazy things we did while in training.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Sep 14 at 2021 5:10 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 17:10:59 -0400

Thank you SGT Jose Perdelia-Torres for posting a poignant question.
Thank you my friend SGT Private RallyPoint Member for mentioning me.
I had to pause to think. I have many comrades in arms who were killed or who died since 1974.
I think about friendship, lessons learned - good and bad; conversations we had; and time spent together.

Response by SPC Lyle Montgomery made Sep 15 at 2021 12:49 PM

SPC Lyle Montgomery — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 12:49:11 -0400

I was home from Viet Nam on my 30 day leave before finishing my 2 year hitch stateside. One of my best friends, who I went through grade school and high school with died in Viet Nam.He signed up for a 3 year hitch in the Army while I volunteered for the draft and only did 2 years so he was still there and I was home. I was a pall bear at his funeral in uniform. To this day when i think of him, I get all upset. Now as an old man I get upset whenever a soldier or any service member gets killed.

Response by SPC Kieran Jackson made Aug 4 at 2022 1:10 AM

SPC Kieran Jackson — Thu, 04 Aug 2022 01:10:36 -0400

One of our brothers killed by a hit and run drunk driver back in the states. Roy Mittelstadt, on the right. Great dude. We keep Roy's memory going along with his family of course.

Roy on the right, with another great friend, Kevin Landry.

Roy was a true soldier, and an even better family man. Around the mid 2000's, one of Roy's kids started college. Roy, being the selfless and devoted person he was he sold his car and took on a night job as a janitor at a high school. To make extra $$$ to help with his kids college expenses.

Riding a bike to work in the winter time, some drunk driver hit Roy and left him on the side of road. I hope the offender is still in prison.

Response by Lt Col W Scott Arnott made Mar 5 at 2023 8:36 PM

Lt Col W Scott Arnott — Sun, 05 Mar 2023 20:36:27 -0500

I escorted two Brothers home while in the USAF, 1 from Vietnam as a 19 year old E-4 while enlisted. The second as an L/C and Commander of the ACC E-8A Joint STARS Flt Test Det. When we escorted him home, his Dad (retired USMC troop) pulled me outside after the burial. He said, "I thought only Marines took care of their own". I think that might have been the highest compliment I have ever received!