[VIETNAM 1968]

Well another year has passed and I still remember the death of my Best Buddy, HM3 Alan R. Gerrish, just as if it had happened today. It was forty-two years ago, September 7, 1968, that Alan died from wounds received in Vietnam. Today, September 9, 2010 would have been his sixty-second birthday.

Some of you already know the story as I have placed it on this fine forum a few years ago. For you that don't know the story I would like to tell it again.

Alan and I grew up together in Woburn, Massachusetts and were the best of friends. We were always together and most people mistook us for Brothers instead of just good friends. We worked together at the same Supermarket after High School and even dated the same girls. We both loved to work on cars but our limited knowledge of them usually resulted in not fixing what we were trying to fix in the first place.

Alan was one year younger then I was and graduated in 1966 from Woburn High School. I graduated a year earlier and took a dead end job as no real employer would consider hiring a kid with the draft hanging over his head. As a result I received my notice to report for my Pre Induction Physical the first part of 1966 and knew the Draft would not be far behind the notice.

Alan and I started to talk about enlistment in the military as neither one of us had any desire to serve in the Army. I wanted Alan to join the Air Force and he wanted me to join the Navy. Both branches had a Buddy System in effect at that time and we could have gone through Boot Camp together and a promise to station us together at the same military base after special training was completed.

Neither could get the other to agree on the same branch of the service and I then joined the Air Force in May 1966 while Alan took a delayed enlistment in order for him to finish High School. He then reported for Navy Boot Camp in September 1966.

After we both finished up Boot Camp, Alan was then trained as a Navy Corpsman and I learned to handle and store aviation gasolene and Jet Fuels. We both got leave after our respective training periods and managed to see each other before reporting to our first permanent military stations. That was the last time I ever saw Alan alive.

Alan received orders for Vietnam first and was assigned to the 3rd Marines, 3rd Military Police Battalion--H&S Company--Medical Department which was stationed just south of Danang Airbase. I follwed him to Vietnam in January 1968 and was assigned to Cam Ranh Bay. We kept in close contact by letters and even planned to go on R&R to Sidney Australia together but I could not get my application approved because I did not have sufficient time in country to get the same week that Alan had been assigned. Something that still bothers me to this day.

When I finally got back from my own R&R I immediately wrote Alan to tell him all about it. He did not answer that letter which I found rather strange because he always wrote right back after receiving a letter. I really did not worry about it howerver as I just thought that Alan was out in the field with his unit and could not write me back.

I then received a letter from my Mother and she broke the news to me that Alan had been severly wounded towards the end of August 1968 and had died on September 7, 1968. I was devistated and the sorrow started to reflect in my every day duties on the Flight Line. I was almost demoted in grade at one point for not doing my job correctly but the intervention of one of my NCOs saved me from any further problems. He knew just what I was going through and stuck his neck out for me with the higher up brass. I still owe that NCO a lot.

After I finished up my Tour I then returned to Woburn, Massachusetts and the first thing I did was go see Alan's mother and father. They asked me if I would accompany them to Boston, Massachusetts because they were to receive a Posthumous NAVY CROSS for bravery that Alan had shown while attempting to get to, and then treat a very badly wounded Marine. I still have a copy of that Navy Cross citation so every word of what I am about to write I know to be completely true.

On a combined Republic of Vietnam and Marine operation just south of Danang Airbase Alan's unit came under intense small arms and hand grenade attack. Several Marines were immediately wounded or killed. Alan then attempted to reach a very badly wounded Marine and ran across an open enemy fire swept field to reach the Marine. While doing so a hand grenade went off near Alan and he received shrapnel wounds to both legs. His wounds were severe, but not life threatening, at that time. Alan could have taken cover in an open bomb hole and taken care of his own wounds, but he chose not to do so. Instead he dragged himself to the location of the Marine as he could no longer run or even stand up.

When Alan reached the Marine he then used his own body as a shield to protect the Marine from small arms fire still being directed at him and then started to treat the Marine's wounds while still ignoring his own. While using his own body as a shield, Alan was then repeatedly struck in the lower torso area by enemy small arms fire. Alan then continued to ignore his own serious wounds and continued to treat the Marine until he passed out from lack of blood and shock. Just before passing out completely, Alan then placed two dressings against two of the Marines most serious wounds and then threw himself on top of the Marine in a further attempt to protect the Marine further, leaving himself completely exposed to the enemy fire.

When the enemy fire was finally eliminated other Marines and a Corpsman were then able to reach Alan and the Marine. Alan was more dead then alive and was immediately evacuated to an Aid Station where his wounds were found to be far too severe to be treated locally. He was then Air Evacuated to the Hospital Ship "Sanctuary" where he clung to life for almost two weeks before dying of his wounds.

I tried to get Emergency Leave in order to return to Woburn from Vietnam for Alan's funeral but that request was denied because I was not a Blood Relative of Alan's and therefore not eligable for Emergency Leave under those conditions. Alan's death still bothers me to this day and will until I join him in Death. I lost the Best Buddy I ever had and will ever have in the future.

Alan is now buried in the Woodbrook Cemetery, in the Veteran's Section, located in Woburn, Massachusetts. I visit his grave every anniversary, of either his death or birth, in order to insure that it is decorated. That is the least I can do as Alan's Mother is now elderly and living in the far North of Maine. His Sister now lives in Florida and is also unable to get back and decorate the grave either. Alan's name is located on Panel number 45 WEST, last name on the right side of the row, three rows up from the bottom, on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial. I would consider it an honor if any of my Vietnam Veteran Brothers and Sisters would stop by that location if they are ever in DC.

I know that every one of you has lost a good friend or relative during the Vietnam War. In most instances Alan's story is not very unique but I did want to tell his story again. I have been told that NO MAN EVER TRUELY DIES IF HIS NAME IS KEPT IN MEMORY BY OTHERS. I have made it my goal to do just that for Alan. Thank you for taking the time to read this entry. It meant a lot to me and Alan's family.

To all of my Vietnam Veteran BROTHERS and SISTERS I again want to wish you a MOST SINCERE and HEART FELT

WELCOME HOME


VIETNAM 1968