13 Feb 2008 Hello, my friend, I wondered what happened to you... I did not know until the summer of 71. It was at a gas station, and a basic mate recognized me. He said it was good to see me again... and we laughed about basic. About how you were such a good guy to us. He asked me if I knew about Larry. My heart sank, and I knew without him saying it. I did not know when for a long time... when I saw you at the Wall. Many years ago. I did not know where... until 2001. I did not know how... until yesterday. There were tears in 1971... there are tears every time I see you at the Wall... there are tears now... I miss you... I will always miss you. As I grow old, I always see you as forever young. It will be good to see you again... From a comrade-in-arms, Joe G. Lawrence 15 Feb 2008 I often go to the Vietnam Memorial sites to see the new additions, and to visit my wonderful friend Lawrence C. Hawley of Miami, Florida. I met him on my induction day of June 18, 1968 at Coral Gables. He became one of the best friends I ever had, and one of those friends who would be forever young. In Dec 68 I got a letter from Larry telling me that he had volunteered to go to Vietnam. I never heard from him again. I did not find out until 1971 that he had been killed, and just 4 days ago I talked for over two hours with the man who loaded Larry onto a helicopter just east of Hue in Thua Thien province. Larry was a replacement Radio Telephone Operator assigned to an infantry unit. Larry was actually an artillery man, such as myself, and was assigned to an artillery Forward Observer, Lt. Kim Scharmen. He was assigned on Feb 7, 1969 to Lt. Scharmen. The next morning, the squad went on a recon. Within just a few hours, Larry was killed. He had stepped onto a land mine and was killed instantly. Later that same day, Lt. Scharmen also stepped onto a land mine. It had a few seconds of delay before it exploded, just enough time for Kim to roll over onto the sand. When it blew, it killed a young infantry man next to Kim, Donald Kipp. By fate, Kim was not injured bodily. Larry had been 'in country' for only 19 days. He was 26, and left behind a wife and young son who I saw at Fort Gordon during basic training. From a brother in arms, Joe G. Lawrence 2326 Gordonsville Road, Russellville, Ky 42276 golojo@bellsouth.net

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