I missed my trip to Vietnam by about a year. I always hung out with guys that were several years older than I was, so a good portion of my friends went off for duty while I was still in school. I can remember the period before these guys left, nobody appeared to be afraid and they all tried to act like there was nothing to it... but I remember the sudden maturing of my friends. They were 19 and 20 year old boys going to do a man’s job. I was lucky because all of my buddies came back home.

I don’t really know any of you personally, but I know you’re all good men for doing your job and you deserve special thanks and all of my gratitude for your service.

Dan J