THE WALL OF FACES

Earl was only 12 years older than I was in Vietnam, but he seemed a lot older. I met him in Tinker AFB, OK, and he was indeed a super sgt. Despite me knowing nothing of the service, as most new 2nd lts, he was kind and long in patience as he showed my the technical part of our communication trouble shooting job. In RVN, he kept the 7 man team running and went everywhere. I was supposed to go on that mission to Cambodia the day he and Sgt Lanzone left, but our boss wouldn't let me go with them, since we were the top three ranked on our TDY team. I had to be his court officer when he died, and will never forget trying to write to his family with anything like any sense in my words. Each day, I think of him and three other friends from RVN that did not come back, and hope that somehow they know of my happiness in life. Thanks for teaching me so well, Earl.