Veterans Day makes me think of my brother Gordie. G (as we called him) was drafted in 1965 and at the age of 20 went into the US army. He served in Germany and wanted more excitement SO HE VOLUNTEERED FOR VIET NAM. He wound up in the 25th infantry as a combat foot soldier. He saw lots of action and was seriously wounded at one time. After recovery he again volunteered and went back into combat. G finally completed his tour of duty and came back to the states. He then worked at Ford Motor Company as a robotic electronic technician until he retired in 2005. Gordie never talked much about the war. However, it changed his personality somewhat. He suffered the post-war depression that many VETS had following combat experience and G became a bit of a recluse as a civilian. We owe VETS like Gordie much gratitude for the physical, mental and emotional price they paid for our country. On Veterans Day especially, I want to thank G for his sacrifice. P.S. - Gordies heroic actions in Viet Nam earned him the Purple Heart, but he never actually received it due to a governmental oversight. My older brother Arne and I pleaded with G to get what he rightfully deserved and we wanted to get this injustice made right. However, Gordie did not think that this was such a big deal and would not pursue it. This was Gordie. Humble, Quiet, Intelligent, and a loyal, dedicated soldier in the U.S. Army. Gordie passed away on June 12, 2012 and I miss him dearly.
Posted on: Tue, 12 Nov 2013 03:12:06 +0000
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