To My Friends Who Didn’t Make It Home

     For many of us here in the US this Memorial Day is a time to spend with family and enjoy cookouts, but the real meaning of the holiday is for remembering and honoring people who died while serving in the United States military. 
     In remembrance of my friends who were killed in action in Vietnam...I remember them like it was yesterday. 

Andrew Alderman, Hospital Corpsman Third Class (Fleet Marine Force), Navy, Mar 17, 1967 
Claude Howard, Sergeant, Marine Corps, May 26, 1967 
Thomas Gopp, Corporal, Marine Corps, Aug. 3, 1967 
Larry Walton, Lance Corporal, Marine Corps, Jan 7, 1968 
Joseph Wiltsie, Hospital Corpsman (Fleet Marine Force), Navy, May 31, 1969
Gregg Heidrich, Private First Class, Army, Sep 21, 1969 

Special tribute to: James E. Soliday, Commander, Navy, April 1, 2012. Commander Soliday served in Vietnam as a Hospital Corpsman Second Class (Fleet Marine Force) from 1967-68, where he received two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star with Combat V. He suffered serious wounds and his death at the age of 66 was, in part, due to the wounds he received.

More information on Navy Corpsmen (aka "Devil Docs")