It was 41 years ago today that for the first time in my young life, someone I knew died in Viet Nam. SP4 James E. Reeder was a commo man at A-343 Duc Phong, one of our sister camps. I had been A-344 Bunard for eleven days. Jim died due to an accidental discharge of a shotgun. I believe that when Jim first got to B-34, our next higher headquarters, he was briefed on the procedures for our AO by another member of this forum, Mike Parks from A-341 Bu Dop -- known to y'all as Farmboy.
Jim's death drove home to this then 19 year-old the reality of how fragile our existence was in Viet Nam. I am sad to say, Jim was not the last of those I new that died during my brief time there. Eight of my classmates from my SF Phase II class also died in Viet Nam.
RIP Jim, Bill, Richard and all of our brothers that have answered the call, and now stand for the final formation.
Robert
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