Gary Freedman
Platoon Leader, Second, Lieutenant (2LT)
229, Jamestown Ave., Jonesboro, GA., 30236, USA
REST WELL, BRAVE SOLDIER!
PFC., CURRIER TRAINED, WITH OUR UNIT, THE 981ST., M.P., COMPANY, (SENTRY DOG) AT FORT CARSON, CO. AND AT LACKLAND, AFB., TX.. WE (MEN & DOGS) DEPLOYED, TO VIET NAM IN DECEMBER, 1967, AS A SEPARATE PLATOON AND JOINED, THE 212TH, MP., COMPANY, (SENTRY DOG) WHICH WAS ALREADY, IN-COUNTRY, AS THEIR 4TH, PLATOON. HE WAS, AS I REMEMBER, AN INTELLIGENT YOUNG MAN, QUIET AND UNAFRAID. DURING, THE TET OFFENSIVE, OF 1967-68, HE WAS WALKING, HIS PATROL POST, WITH HIS SENTRY DOG, AT THE LONG BINH, AMMO., SUPPLY POINT, (ASP.) WHEN THE ASP., WAS OVER RUN, BY VIET CONG. HE DID NOT, LEAVE HIS POST AND WAS KILLED ALONG, WITH HIS SENTRY DOG, WHILE DEFENDING, HIS POSITION. HE NEVER STRUCK ME, AS THE "HERO," TYPE, SINCE HE WAS, A BIT SHY, BUT PROVED HIMSELF ONE, WHEN HE HELD, HIS POSITION AND DIED HONORABLY, DOING SO. OUR COMPANY COMMANDER, CPT., TOM ROBERTS, WROTE PFC., CURRIER'S PARENTS, A NICE LETTER. I WAS JUST, A YOUNG 2LT., IN COUNTRY A FEW WEEKS, AS WAS GORDON AND SINCE THERE WAS, SO MUCH DEATH ALL AROUND, NEVER REALLY REALIZED THE LOSS, HIS PARENTS MUST HAVE FELT. NOW THAT, I'M A PARENT WITH A SON, ABOUT THAT AGE, IT'S EASY TO IDENTIFY, WITH HOW THE LOSS, OF A SON, IS A TRAGEDY, FROM WHICH PARENTS, NEVER FULLY RECOVER. REST WELL, BRAVE SOLDIER!
Wednesday, June 16, 1999 |
