THE WALL OF FACES

I miss you every day

Dear PFC Theodore Jay Whitlock, sir

Remembering you and those you served with on this upcoming Memorial Day holiday, Monday, May 28, 2018 You are not and will not be forgotten.

May my family and I never, ever forget the price that has been paid for the freedoms we have in this country- and may your family, friends, and fellow vets know Americans will always care.

With respect, Sir

THERE AREN’T MANY DAYS IN MY LIFE THAT I DON’T THINK OF YOU. YOU WERE MY “Little Big Brother AND BEST FRIEND FOR MANY YEARS WHILE WE TRAVELED ALL OVER THE WORLD. DAD WAS IN SAC AND WE MOVED ALOT UNTIL DAD JUST SAID NO MORE. I WENT TO 1ST GRADE IN FORTWORTH TEXAS, 2ND GRADE IN LIMESTONE MAINE, 3RD GRADE IN LAS VEGAS, 4TH GRADE IN LANDSBERG GERMANY AND FINALY HOME TO LAS VEGAS FOR THE REST OF OUR SCHOOL LIFE. MOSTLY WE WERE NEVER ANYWHERE LONG ENOUGH TO MAKE OTHER BEST FRIENDS

YOUR FIRST BEST FRIEND WAS BOBBY ROBERTS ONE OF THE BOYS NEXT DOOR AND MY FIRST BEST FRIEND WAS SHARON EDMONDSON AND WE STILL HAD A LOT OF FUN TOGETHER….YOU AND BOBBY TEACHING SHARON AND ME THE LATEST DANCE MOVES (OR WAS IT SHARON TEACHING US ALL)

GOD I MISS YOU EVERY DAY…I MISS THE BABIES YOU WILL NEVER GET TO BE DADDY TO. YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN THE BEST FATHER IN THE WORLD… I REMEMBER HOW MUCH YOU LOVED BRENDA AND TONY’S BABIES (AND BRENDA) THOSE BABIES ARE ALL GROWN NOW WITH BABIES OF THEIR OWN. AND TRACY IS A GRANDMOTHER I THINK.

THIS IS LIKE TALKING TO YOU EXCEPT I CAN'T HEAR YOUR VOICE BUT DON’T DO ANYTHING LIKE LET ME HEAR IT CAUSE I AM NOT READY TO HAVE A HEART ATTACK YET.

AND I MISS SITTING ON THE FRONT POURCH AND PLAYING GUITAR AND HARMONIZING...OR TRYING ANYWAY.

HOW I MISS YOU MY BEST FRIEND BROTHER PROTECTOR IT'S NOT BEEN A LOT OF FUN WITHOUT YOU… OR AT LEAST5 THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT MORE FUN.

YOU WANTED TO BE A RECON MARINE AND YOU DID IT NOT SO EASY FOR MOST….BUT YOUR LOVE OF THE OUTDOORS AND STUDY OF THE UNIVERSE MADE IT EASY FOR YOU.

YOUR NAME IS ON THE WALL, YOUR PICTURE IS ON THE VITUAL WALL WHERE YOUR FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES LEAVE MEMORIES, YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN, YOU GO DOWN IN HISTORY LITTLE BROTHER….I AM GONNA LEAVE ONE OF THESE ON THAT WALL SO HUNDREDS OF YEARS FROM NOW SOMEONE WILL SAY TED WHITLOCK WAS ONE HELL OF A GUY AND THE BEST BROTHER EVER AND AN AMERICAN HERO.

Thank you for your service and sacrifice, private. Between this Vietnam memorial site and Face Book, you will NEVER be forgotten.

I think of you from time to time, your patience with this little punk kid playing ball at that Tonpah park. You had so much to give when your life was cut short. It was a damn shame.