Memorial Day 2017: Are most of your friends alive or dead?

This time of year is challenging for me as memories of those who have passed before me flood in. When I was younger death came as rude awakening and a shock as the young were killed. Over time, I learned to become jaded to death. Far too often, death seemed welcome when excruciating pain debilitated friends and family members.
I am posting images of soldiers that impacted me who have died. I hope that my post will nudge you to post images of those who influenced who have already died.
Images: SSG George Brewster; Reggie Johnson 1980 Howitzer Image; GEN Wayne Downing; Lance Corporal William John Field [1884-1963] Ford
I first served with George Brewster in 1981 in 1/52 Infantry Battalion when he was an infantry squad leader in my platoon. Later I became reacquainted with his when he was Drill Sergeant at Fort Benning, Georgia in 1989. On October 22, 1992 SPC Gregory Radcliff was upset with SSG sergeant Elijah Miller over something that happened during the military maneuvers at Fort Campbell killed him. Then he killed 1SG George Brewster
I first met Reggie Johnson in Beast barracks at West Point in 1976. We became friends. Since we were assigned to different regiments we didn’t see each other every week. He drowned in the Sandhurst military stages competition on 11 April 1980. Eulogy to Reggie Johnson by. “Reggie and his land navigation team partner and my land navigation team met fifty yards short of the finish line. We both were racing the 2 1/2 mile course for the best time. My team was up hill about to cross the sixty foot dam while Reggie's team was below the dam, heading straight for the swollen spillway stream. I still remember to this day that Reggie's magnificent smile from under his steel pot combat helmet as our friendly, sprint to the finish line began.
My team crossed the dam and then the finish line. About thirty seconds later, Reggie's teammate ran up telling us that Reggie fell into the swift water and went under. I looked around the immediate area and found a couple of ten foot long, 1 inch thick cotton climbing ropes left over from an abandoned obstacle course in the area. Quickly, a crowd of cadets tied the ropes together and tied my team leader, Drew Shearer, to the end of the rope. Drew entered the water with me and a half dozen cadets holding on in an attempt to fish Reggie out of the stream. Drew could not make any progress. The water flailed him around in the current like a rag doll. The officer in charge of the obstacle course saw our rescue attempt. The officer in charge recognized the danger. We could have easily lost more lives. No doubt all of us on that rope would have held on until the water dragged us in. It's what any cadet would do for a fellow soldier. The officer in charge and gave the legal order "Cease Work!" So we ceased work. Then we knew the Soldier's hell. The hell one knows when all your ideas, all your strength, all your efforts, are not enough to save a fellow soldier from death.
I know Reggie was a magnificent long jumper. He set the West Point record. I now know that he was the ultimate long jumper. With that unforgettable smile he made his last jump. Reggie jumped from earth and landed in heaven.
Reggie, someday I will see you again in heaven. God Bless, my brother.”
I served under Wayne Downing when he commanded 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division from 1981 to 1984. He influenced me in many ways. Col Downing was an inspirational leader which challenged those who served under hi to accomplish more than they believed they could. He commanded SOCOM and died soon after he retired of spinal meningitis on July 18, 2007, Peoria, IL.
My grandfather Lance Corporal William John Field Ford died after I became acquainted with him in August 1963 at age 6. He influenced me tremendously though his only son, my dad.