Tonk, you were one of the pillars of FR. I'll miss you, but I'm glad you are at rest with all your cares gone by.
Posted on 06/12/2007 7:18:59 PM PDT by MoJo2001
The FReeper Canteen Crew sadly announces the passing of Mr. Tonkin. (68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub).
If you would like to leave a message for his family, please direct them to amom.
Also, we ask that you send prayers to amom, his son Matthew, family, and friends.
We love you, Mr. Tonkin. Say 'hello' to Texas Cowboy for all of us.
You're missed and will never be forgotten.
We hope to make this an online memorial book for his family.
Details will be provided later regarding funeral services.
Please, the least we could do.
Tonk, you were one of the pillars of FR. I'll miss you, but I'm glad you are at rest with all your cares gone by.
Damn, Tom. Makes me proud to know both you and Tonk.
I raise a glass to you as I wish you "bon voyage."
An Old Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Although I never met him in “real” life, his thoughtful responses to my posts told me much about him: a thinker, a man who cares, deeply, and one who will be missed by all who knew him.
Prayers for Tonkin and his family and loved ones.
Oh, dear!
Farewell, brother in arms.
Pray for us, Tonk.
Rest in Peace.
A great participant in the forum and appreciated by all that knew him, after the Armed Forces went into action, he saw a need and filled it with twenty-four hour a day devotion.
We are in his debt.
Rest in peace, Mr Tonkin; you will definitely be missed here.
Prayers for Tonk, his family and all who loved him.
My thanks to him, to his dedicated service for his family to his nation and his God, and my memories of his nearly impossible-to-remember screen ID .
Thank you. Godspeed.
God bless Mr. Tonkin and his family.
My Condolences Tonk,
You were one of the great ones and I was honored to have chatted with you. When this forum was new you were a great inspiration to me.
Wow, I did not know he did all that!
Prayers up!
Very sad news. So long, Tonk. God bless you.
Prayers for Tonk!
Tonk say “hello” to 4theFlag for me!
GG
FROM THE OTHER SIDE
By Patrick Camunes
At first there was no place for us to go until someone put up that Black Granite Wall. Now, everyday and night, my Brothers and my Sisters wait to see the many people from places afar file in front of this Wall. Many stopping briefly and many for hours and some that come on a regular basis. It was hard at first, not that it's gotten any easier, but it seems that many of the attitudes towards that war that we were involved in have changed. I can only pray that the ones on the other side have learned something and more Walls as this one needn't be built.
Several members of my unit and many that I did not recognize have called me to the Wall by touching my name that is engraved upon it. the tears aren't necessary but are hard even for me to hold back. Don't feel guilty for not being with me, my Brothers. This was my destiny as it is yours, to be on that side of the Wall.
Touch the Wall, my brothers, so that we can share in the memories that we had. I have learned to put the bad memories aside and remember only the pleasant times that we had together. Tell our other Brothers out there to come and visit me, not to say Good-Bye, but to say Hello and be together again, even for a short time and to ease that pain of loss that we all share.
Today, an irresistible and loving call comes from the Wall. As I approach, I can see an elderly lady and as I get closer, I recognize her......It's Momma! As much as I have looked forward to this day, I have also regretted it because I didn't know what reaction I would have.
Next to her, I suddenly see my wife and immediately think how hard it must have been for her to come to this place and my mind floods with the pleasant memories of 30 years past. There's a young man in a military uniform standing with his arm around her.....My God! It's...it has to be my son. Look at him trying to be the man without a tear in his eye. I yearn to tell him how proud I am, seeing him standing tall, straight and proud in his uniform.
Momma comes closer and touches the Wall and I feel the soft and gentle touch I had not felt in so many years. Dad has crossed to this side of the wall and through our touch, I try to convey to her that Dad is doing fine and is no longer suffering or feeling pain. I see my wife's courage building as she sees Momma touch the Wall and approaches and lays her hand on my waiting hand. All the emotions, feelings and memories of three decades past flash between our touch and I tell her that it's all right. Carry on with your life and don't worry about me......I can see as I look into her eyes that she hears and understands me and a big burden has been lifted from her.
I watch as they lay flowers and other memories of my past. My lucky charm that was taken from me and sent to her by my CO, a tattered and worn teddy bear that I can barely remember having as I grew up as a child and several medals that I had earned and were presented to my wife. One of them is the combat Infantry Badge that I am very proud of and I noticed that my son is also wearing this medal. I had earned mine in the jungles of Vietnam and he had probably earned his in the deserts of Iraq.
I can tell that they are preparing to leave and I try to take a mental picture of them together, because I don't know when I will see them again. I wouldn't blame them if they were not to return and can only thank them that I was not forgotten. My wife and Momma near the Wall for one final touch and so many years of indecision, fear and sorrow are let go. As they turn to leave I feel my tears that had not flowed for so many years, form as if dew drops on the other side of the Wall.
They slowly move away with only a glance over their shoulder. My son suddenly stops and slowly returns. He stands straight and proud in front of me and snaps a salute. Something makes him move to the Wall and he puts his hand upon the Wall and touches my tears that had formed on the face of the wall and I can tell that he senses my presence there and the pride and the love that I have for him. He falls to his knees and the tears flow from his eyes and I try my best to reassure him that it's all right and the tears do not make him any less of a man. As he moves back wiping the tears from his eyes, he silently mouths, God Bless you, Dad..... God Bless, YOU, Son..... We WILL meet someday but in the meanwhile, go on your way..... there is no hurry..... There is no hurry at all.
As I see them walk off in the distance, I yell out to THEM and EVERYONE there today, as loud as I can, .......THANKS FOR REMEMBERING and as others on this side of the Wall join in, I noticed that the US Flag that so proudly flies in front of us everyday, is flapping and standing proudly straight out in the wind today...THANK YOU ALL FOR REMEMBERING.
I VOW to the 58,000 + Brothers and Sisters on The Viet Nam Wall who never came home and to those who died at home from injuries and from broken hearts. I will do everything I LEGALLY can to expose Hanoi Kerry once and for all. I will not tire, I will not falter, and I will not fail. I solemnly vow to do all I can to restore your honor until I give my last breath on earth.
68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
We got your back Tonk.
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