I was with Robert the night before he died. I hadn't known him that long, I had been in country 4 months when he died. We worked side by side, night after night and day after day, in heat and rain, sun and dark. He was my friend who always had a smile on his face. I felt no closer to anyone in Vietnam. The night before he died he was listening to a tape from home, his sister or girlfriend, someone he loved. He was happy then. The next morning he took a convoy, to Pleiku as I recall. I don't know why I didn't go, guess it wasn't my turn to get away, to get out of Dakto. But he never came back. I guess it was a landmine. Another buddy was wounded and had a plate put in his head, but Robert was dead. All I remembered was his happiness and smile the night before. I wanted to share with his family what a fine person he was, and maybe now I can.

 

A memorial from his buddy, John Irvine 2744 Custer, Las Cruces, Nm 88011 jirvine@nmsu.edu  30 Jun 2001

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