THE WALL OF FACES

Semper Fi, Doc. Thank you for your devotion to our Country and to your Marines.

*

While I've only heard breif stories about Eric, we share a few things. I was born in 1970, to two former Hospital Corpsmen, who served with Eric. Dad was stationed here, Dad was stationed there; heck, I've been nearly everywhere. One late night, the exact year escapes me, I 'snuck' a call to the telethon that was raising money to build 'The Wall' I was just a kid up WAY after his bedtime, but was listening to a local D.C. AM radio station. I counted all my money; 21 Dimes, and 'donated' the $2.10! Dad received a letter sometime later, confirming my 'Unauthorized' late night call, and I presented him my 21 Dimes. I believe he wrote a check for me, and well, I'd like to think I helped out the way a young, American, boy should!
Years later, after dropping out of college-to include a 'bitter' dispute with Dad-I enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1990. Boot Camp in Great Lakes, Corps School in San Diego (with quips from Mom about the 'old hospital' etc., and a few reminders of how she knew Eric.) Off to Quantico I eventually went ('91-'95).
While in Q' Town, I visited 'The Wall' in D.C., and sought out Eric's row. I even purchased a 'KIA' bracelet complete with his name and date of passing. I tossed a coin one evening on duty, and found myself in Field Medical Service School, Camp Johnson, Jacksonville, NC [Camp Lejeune]. Man, the skeeters even sucked in November ('95)! FMSS was a bit longer than the VietNam era 6 weeks, but it was sort of familiar- the Unit 1's we received smelled JUST LIKE one my Dad used to keep in the front of a long gone 'Bug'! The afternoon before graduation, I learned that I had earned the 'Top Dog' award; top of my class- Cool!
More schools and gut checks followed, and I earned a new NEC for myself; Special Amphibious Reconnaissance Corpsman (8427). Off to South America and Africa I went for about 6 or so months. A few more schools and this time with full contact gut checks, I was moved over to Force Company; the 'Big Boys' I thought at the time.
More training, more ops, more Marine Corps. Ending up testing the then 'new' life support equipment developed for ALL Marine personell who flyride on a regular basis. This was due to a 46 going down off the California coast in late 1999. This crash contained, and killed, an entire stick of 1st Force Recon Marines and 1 Navy Corpsman, Jay Asis, the number 2 graduate of my FMSS class.
After a LF6F deployment, in November of 2000, I was injured in the line of duty while conducting night Freefall Parachute operationstraining; found myself in a burn center with follow-on to Walter Reed. Almost immediately, I lost the eyesight in my left eye, and had to learn to walk again; you name it, I said it! 6 months later, I found myself back at 'work' at NNMC Bethesda- hey I know this place! Earned a promotion to HM1, and taught 'Blueside' Corpsmen the difference(s) between 'blueside' and 'greenside'- We walk with a purpose on the Greenside period.
After several periods of Limited Duty, I 'rolled the dice' in 2003, wanting to go back to 'my' Marines down at Lejeune- whether they liked it or not. Fortunately for the Navy, my request for re-enlistment was granted- one eyed wonder Doc was on his way!
On an early August morning in '03, I awoke to near complete darkness- this was NOT in the Plan of the Day! After a few frantic phone calls, I arrived at my ceremony, complete with 2 Greenside Corpsmen who drove ALL night from Lejeune to 'surprise' me. I threw my hand up, gripped and grinned with those at the ceremony; then the Greenside Corpsmen nearly 'firemen' carried my battered soul to the eye clinic, and escorted me into surgery. The Blueside Corpsmen wanted to get a wheelchair first- sheesh. After bandages came off, and a few exams, the eyesight was unrecoverable; Bilat blindness.
Retirement loomed, and an uncertain future was at hand.
Several years have passed since my event, and almost 45 years have passed since HN Radtke gave his last full measure of devotion. What does any of this have to do with Eric R. Radtke, HNUSN, 'I' Corps, Quang Tri, RVN?
Thanks Mom and Dad for giving me such an important name; I hope I haven't let any of you guys down. Semper fricken Fi Doc!
'For those who defend it, freedom has a special flavor the protected will never know.'- 'C' ration box, Anonymous U.S. Marine, Khe Sahn, RVN.

The Juniors at Hayward (WI) High School would like to thank Eric for his ultimate sacrifice. Eric has been added to their US History II classes’ virtual wall.

Eric is buried at Pine Lawn Mem Park in Menomonee Falls, WI.