As we were getting ready to leave, I asked Sheila to dig around her purse and find a penny for me. I never carry change. There is a tradition among veterans. When you visit another veterans grave, you leave a coin. A penny means that another veteran was there showing his respect. Larger coins mean more about your relationship.
I always visit the grave of a young army captain who would have been about about my age. He is buried near my family's graves. I didn't know him but knew members of his family. He was one of the last graduates of the Oklahoma Military Academy. He died in Viet Nam on my birthday in 1970 trying to rescue a number of wounded that had been left behind by their retreating unit. The citation for his Silver Star, America’s second highest award for valor, says that he personally pulled two of the wounded back to safety and died with a third in his arms. Many of the best men of my generation died in that useless jungle geo-political escapade now just vaguely remembered as the Viet Nam "conflict." In years past, I would I would often find other coins on his headstone. This year, there was only mine.
It was a necessary but disappointing trip. But, we had the living to think about as well. Sheila's sister and her husband are both quite ill and were past due for a visit. We took them food and then took them for a little drive up in the hills to visit an old hangout or two. It seemed to cheer them up a bit.
I always visit the grave of a young army captain who would have been about about my age. He is buried near my family's graves. I didn't know him but knew members of his family. He was one of the last graduates of the Oklahoma Military Academy. He died in Viet Nam on my birthday in 1970 trying to rescue a number of wounded that had been left behind by their retreating unit. The citation for his Silver Star, America’s second highest award for valor, says that he personally pulled two of the wounded back to safety and died with a third in his arms. Many of the best men of my generation died in that useless jungle geo-political escapade now just vaguely remembered as the Viet Nam "conflict." In years past, I would I would often find other coins on his headstone. This year, there was only mine.
It was a necessary but disappointing trip. But, we had the living to think about as well. Sheila's sister and her husband are both quite ill and were past due for a visit. We took them food and then took them for a little drive up in the hills to visit an old hangout or two. It seemed to cheer them up a bit.
Maybe next year we can spend more time.
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