"Will They Even Remember My Name??"---MEMORIAL DAY 2006--Thread#1

5/25/06 | redrock

[redrock]

I had done everything I could to save his life.

We had gotten into a fire-fight with some N.V.A. unit somewhere near the border with Laos. (hell...let's be real...we were caught by surprise). Co.'s A and C, along with some attached South Vietnamese troops, had been ambushed along a border trail that we patrolled...and we were getting the stuffing knocked out of us. I had 22 patients in the first 1/2 hour...and they seemed to be coming in regularly. ( I served as a Medic). Most were minor wounds...but then they brought in Ricky.

*************************************************************************************************

I first met Ricky when we both arrived 'in country' about the same time. Both of us were from the Los Angeles area..and both of us surfed...so it was kinda natural that we became friends. We would spend hours talking to each other about which beach had the best waves...and the best looking girls. He always swore that Newport had the best of both...while I naturally thought the waves, and girls, were better around Santa Monica. We would talk about music (we both agreed that Johnny Cash was one of the best)...and about playing guitar. Both of us tho....wanted nothing more than to get out of Vietnam alive....and head to Australia because we both agreed that the BEST was there.

Like me, Ricky was a reluctant soldier. Neither of us were very good at drill....(hated it...waste of time) and both of us felt a natural reluctance to blindly obey orders. But we did our jobs as best we could.

**********************************************************************************************

A mortar round had taken off the lower part of his right leg...just above the knee. He also had taken two rounds in the shoulder. Blood was shooting out of his torn leg...and he was in immense pain. I got some morphine into him....and then tried to stem the flow of blood. His femoral artery had been torn and had retracted into his thigh. There was nothing I could do but reach into his thigh and try and find the artery before he bled out. Working in his thigh was like working with hamburger...it was so shredded. And each time I moved my hand...it would increase the apprehension even more...and that would increase the pain. (note to those who don't know...pain medication works best when you are calm....and doesn't work very well when you are stressed.) The other Medic, Stan, was working on the shoulder wounds at the same time.

I finally found the artery..and clamped it off..and I tried to take a few moments to assess his entire situation.

He was failing.

He was dying.....and I couldn't see why.

Stan had done a awesome job getting the wounds in his shoulder to stop bleeding and had started plasma. I knew that he has lost a lot of blood....but he should be rebounding on the vital signs. But his blood pressure kept dropping.

There comes a time when you KNOW that you're going to die...and Ricky had arrived at that time.

He looked at me and tried to smile...but couldn't.

"Guess you're gonna have to surf for me...ok???"

I tried to tell him that he would be ok...but he knew.

He said that to let his mom know that he did ok...and to let her know that he would see her later.

And then he said..."Funny...No one will even remember my name."...and then he quietly cried out for "Momma"...and passed on to the next world in my arms.

****************************************************************************************

We later found out that the reason he died is that one of the rounds that he had taken in his shoulder has broken off some bone...and that bone had cut the arteries near his heart. He bled to death internally. There was nothing Stan or myself could have done. But it has never stopped the guilt in either of us.

****************************************************************************************

After the War...I took some of my pictures of Ricky that I had taken...to his parents in Southern California. We became friends...and to this day I talk to his brother and sisters at least once a year. His parents passed away in 1997 in a car crash.

**************************************************************************************

In a few days it will be MEMORIAL DAY. A day where the people of the United States pledge to remember those who gave their all. A day that had been set aside to remember all the sacrifice....and all the pain...and all the death that has kept this Nation safe.

It is NOT about a three day weekend.

It is NOT about picnic's and barbecue's.

It IS about this Nation keeping it's word.

It IS about remembering the 'Ricky's' in our past who gave up their future so everyone could be Free.

I guess the question is...can YOU give up one day for them????

[Neoliberalnot]

Yes, exactly. I will be there Saturday with wife, youngest son, and Capt Don Cardiff retired.

[GulfWar1Vet]

Very cool...I will be with some FReepers out on Saturday from opening to whenever :) Look for us! ;)

[AprilfromTexas]

Thanks, redrock, for remembering Ricky. I'll be in DC in a couple of weeks and always leave yellow roses from Texas for my cousin, Daryl, at panel 4E. Let me know what panel Ricky's name is on and I'll leave some for him as well.

God bless our Veterans and may God continue to bless America!

[ImpBill]

Sigh - bump.

Thanks for your service. Welcome home bro.

[deadhead]

Thank You for sharing, redrock. A wonderful tribute you have written. Your buddy, Ricky lives on through you and all his loved ones. God Bless Ricky. May God Bless all those who sacrificed their lives for our great country. My heartfelt Thank You to you redrock and all those who have served. I know what freedom is, thanks to all of you.

I remember, always. Will be going to a Memorial Day parade to honor our fallen hero's, always do.

[Seadog Bytes]

God Bless You,
Veterans!

[kstewskis]

Never Forget BUMP

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"Will They Even Remember My Name??"---MEMORIAL DAY 2006--Thread#1
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1638343/posts
5/25/06 | redrock

PING

I'll add links to the daily threads as they appear.

---

redrock : Thanks Brother, I always look forward to these threads.

Tell the Mrs, MIL and girls I said Hi
I'd love to see you all again this summer.

[Seadog Bytes]

Nice! ...Amen.

[wagglebee]

Thanks.

I know how tough it must be to relive events like this. But know that your sacrifices and those of your fellows were not in vain and that you enjoy the gratitude of our Republic.

[bnelson44]

Thank you

[stephenjohnbanker]

Thanks for the ping. I will tell you one person who will remember Ricky and many other heroes....ME!

Bump!

[ladyinred]

Thank you for letting us know Ricky's name. How sad it is that he thought that. There are so many us, especially here, who honor every single person who serves. We know freedom isn't free, and we are fighting to hold on to it so that Ricky and all of the others did not die in vain.

God Bless all of those who have and are serving in the Armed Forces. We love and remember you!

[xzins]

I'm a veteran and an Army retiree, and I want to say, "God Bless You Americans!"

• What is an American?
• It's a citizen, veteran or not, of the greatest nation the world has ever known, who believes in freedom, hard work, ownership, and chasing a dream. An American could be short or tall, but when the chips are down they stand tall, every single inch of them, ready to lay their life on the line to preserve their independence. An American could be man or woman, but when it's time to be a team, they know that we're in this together and that differences do not an excuse make. They could come from the North, South, East, or West, yet when the enemy thinks to terrorize us, they strike back with a fist from the colossus Uncle Sam, who straddles the continent with confidence that United We Stand!"

anonymous

[jazusamo]

Thank you for your account and your service redrock.

We will remember Ricky and all who gave everything for their country, they are among America's finest.

[Miss Marple]

I will be attending our local Memorial Day services. My late father was a veteran of WWII. I go to honor his service, and also all who have served.

Thanks for the thread.

[jwalsh07]

A friend to the end Redrock, Ricky could not have asked for more than that from you.

God bless you and Ricky and those like you.

John

[Chena]

It's hard to type when the screen is so blurry. God bless you, Redrock. Because of you, Ricky, is remembered right this moment by you, and introduced to many more who are now reading your words. God bless Ricky for laying his life on the line for our country.

Thanks for this thread. God bless our vets! Never forget...

[AZamericonnie]

Thank you for the thread & the ping. God bless & rest our heros......

[daybreakcoming]

Mr Redrock - If you don't mind, I am going to post a note here that I posted on another thread concerning my family's Memorial Day w/e.

We have relatives coming in from around the country and they are bringing pictures of their family Veterans in their uniforms which we are setting up in a display. At last count, eight pictures are WW2 (only one still living), three are Korean War (2 still living), nine are VN war (six made it back), and we also have four (living - thank you God) from the WOT) Our three daughters (who sing like angels) are working on the song by the Kuhlmann Sisters called "You Are The One" which I first found here on FR. A few lines of the song go~~~
"I realize the magnitude of your sacrifice. And I am looking at you through grateful eyes. You are the ones who would have died for this country. You are the ones who watched some go. You are the ones with bravery and pride. You are the ones who left your family and your home. And now I have days of freedom because you have days of fear."

And you have given me an idea - an empty picture frame for the "Rickys" who may have been forgotten to go along with family members pictures.