198 INF BDE

6TH INF RGT

James Gregory Lega

Specialist Four
B CO, 1ST BN, 6TH INFANTRY, 198 INF BDE
Army of the United States
20 February 1949 - 10 January 1970
Canoga Park, California
Panel 14W Line 023



Combat Infantry

National Defense, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign

The database page for James Gregory Lega

29 Feb 2008

In August, 1969 I came home on 30 days leave with orders for Viet Nam. I found out that my friend Jim was also home on leave before going to Viet Nam and managed to get in touch with him two days before he left. We talked for a couple of hours about the past and the future that we both hoped that we had. We talked about mutual friends whose names were already on the Wall. Jim was an 11C (mortars) and I was an 91A (medic). We both knew that we were going into harm's way.

Jim went to the 198th Brigade and I ended up in the 196th Brigade, both of the Americal Division and both in Chu Lai. We were that close to each other and we never knew it. Well, our jobs kept us kind of busy.

Jim was one of the nicest people you could ever know. He had a great sense of humor and the glass was always half full. He always treated people with respect and putting people down was just not his style.

When I found out about his death, I was told that he had stepped on a mine. But the Army has listed his death as non-hostile, died of Other Accident. I hope anyone who was there could shed some light on how he really died.

Rest in peace, my friend, you have earned it. When we see each other again, we will have a lot to talk about.

Jim

James A. Ryel
jamesryel@att.net





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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 29 Feb 2008
Last updated 08/10/2009