A Vietnam Vet's Reflections: 'When I Think'

The line that hit Me hard, "Names Obscure, Faces forever" One of My fellow vets, TSgt Rassmussen, I served with at DaNang in 1968-69, that later in life died from Agent Orange exposure was with Me when another guy in Our unit was hit during a rocket attack. That event was blanked out of My mind until He mentioned it about 10 years ago stateside I was stationed with that man that got hit in the states ( Whiteman AFB, MO) and knew Him there but all I can remember is His face, not His name. I see His face a lot. Another that had 46 pieces of shrapnel in Him I see also but still can't remember His name. The guy I spoke with , (TSgt Rassmussan, was also stationed with Me post Vietnam in 1969-70 at Hanscom AFB, MA) that mentioned it I do remember and about 7 years ago I asked His wife how He was and She told me He died of cancer directly attributed to Agent Orange exposure. She asked Me if I had been checked for Agent Orange exposure, I said I hadn't She scolded Me I said I need to , He didn't know He had that problem and died from it. I did take Her advice and got My Agent Orange screening from the VA. I do have a letter from the VA spelling out some things I do have that may be related to Agent Orange exposure. I think most guys My age do anyway though, I seem to be in good health with no physical restrictions. I've never talked about this with more than 3 or 4 people I don't know why I put it in written form here, I've never done that before. That line though got to Me. I'm sorry I can't say any more. I don't have any bad dreams, never have but that one line " Names Obscure, Faces forever" got to me.

PO1 Tony Holland This line is the one that spring out at me: "Time does not diminish with its noise and fog, the flower of the spirit." Hope... the glimmer of hope and the soul untouched. A soul untouched... that is my prayer for so many of you — and a mind that finds solace.

Damn!!! So many lost! So hard to view - we must never forget.