Posted on 11/16/2017 5:16:47 PM PST by Morgana
FULL TITLE: Vietnam War veteran, 83, wears his dress blues to stand guard over his Marine buddy's casket after they made promise to each other in 1968 when they survived a mortar attack
An 83-year-old retired Marine kept a promise he made to a fellow officer while they were hunkered down in a bunker during the Vietnam War.
Retired Marine Master Sgt. William H. Cox and Retired Marine First Sgt. James 'Hollie' Hollingsworth were shielding themselves from rockets and mortars in 1968 as they were fighting in the Marble Mountains during the war on New Year's Eve.
The two men, who were strangers to each other, had decided if they made it out of the bunker and survived the war, they would contact each other every New Year's Eve.
For the next five decades they kept that promise - every New Year's Eve they would catch up.
Earlier this year, Cox traveled from Piedmont, South Carolina, to see Hollingsworth, 80, in Hephzibah, Georgia.
The 83-year-old made the trip so that he could say goodbye to his dear friend who was dying.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
“The 83-year-old made the trip so that he could say goodbye to his dear friend who was dying.”
Outstanding, Marine.
Nice. But sergeants aren’t officers. Of course, we should be grateful the reporter got their branch right.
Sergeants are officers: non-commissioned officers.
The pictures will bring tears to your eyes
You know what I meant.
” Of course, we should be grateful the reporter got their branch right.”
So true, 2ndDivisionVet.
Mr. Cox’s uniform fits him well. Poignant photos.
The reporter heard “Non-Commissioned Officer” once and thought “Oh, they’re officers!”
But you’re right, we should be glad he got the branch right.
I work with a retired Marine O-7 who I see once a week or so. He’s quality people, and they’re serious about the “no Marine left behind” thing. I ran into him at dinner last night, and he and another notable member of the community, who’s also a retired Marine, had just come from a board meeting of the area Marine Benevolent Fund, or whatever the real name is.
When my father passed in 2002 we couldn’t get a firing squad and detail because of 911 and everyone being dispersed. I kept working on it and finally was able to get one with the bugle and everything months later. Really pleased my mother.
Marble Mountains, Vietnam.
I remember the battles there. Those 2 marines were in the air, while my tank battalion was doing battle on the ground.
I remember those battles well.
A great many friends of mine died there.
Semper Fi.
That is one squared away 83 year old Marine.
“had just come from a board meeting of the area Marine Benevolent Fund, or whatever the real name is.”
Most likely, the name is the Marine Corps League. Those Marine vets organize fund raisers like Toys For Tots. It’s a good organization. If you’re Christmas shopping this year and can afford it, pick up a $10 toy and give it to the Toys For Tots organization.
You can drop off the toys at the local Marine Corps recruiting office or at the VFW or American Legion.
That’s probably it. And we have a friend who’s the director of the local Easter Seals organization, and they work with a lot of poor single moms. We fill up a couple shopping carts every year for their toy drive.
After all the sex news today, I read “dress blues” as blue dress.
I’m glad the Daily Mail picked it up...was a U.S. paper too busy with celebrities and their drama, I suppose?
Now, the road all warriors come,
Shoulder-high we bring you home.
And set you at your threshold down,
Townsmen of a stiller town.
“We fill up a couple shopping carts every year for their toy drive.”
You and your friends are outstanding and laudatory.
He’s looking sharp.
Speer Fi
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