Lawrence...Larry...Obrist (letter-1968-07-10)
Memorial Day reflection from 1968 Vietnam
a letter home to mom and dad, Chuck and Agnes, of July 10th that year. Co. D, 25th Medical Bn., 25th Infantry Division:
"Sunday, just before going to Mass, I drove a Capt. and two of his men in an ambulance over to Graves Registration. He was from an outlying artillery unit. Had flown in on a chopper to identify the body of one of his men. When they viewed the body it was no doubt that he was their buddy, a Negro soldier. Just 21 years old and with 87 days left in country. He was the passenger in a jeep and was tossed out and hit his head or the jeep rolled in on him. The Capt.'s words were:
"Such a waste.
"About a month ago, when they were without a clerk, I had to type the death certificates of five guys (after viewing the bodies with the MD)...two were just new in country. They had been on their way to the French Fort artillery base and were hit by a land mine. A few days ago a Capt. and two of his men were brought in KIA as Charlie had detonated a mine on the bridge they were patrolling."
Lawrence...Larry...Obrist (letter-1968-07-10)
Memorial Day reflection from 1968 Vietnam