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>Don & Larry > >Last October, when I was back in Norfolk visiting Josh >[USN on his way to Iraq], we took a side trip to Rocky >Mount North Carolina. That is where Rick, my best >friend from the war, lived. We were both 23 years >old, divorced and he had a son and me a daughter. >When I came home I tried to contact Rick Rogers based >on what information I had. I did find his parents >phone number and phoned them. After explaining who I >was and that I wanted to see Rick. His father told me >Rick had died in a car crash while he was under the >influence of who knows what. His father told me that >he did not want anything to do with the war and that >he blamed the war on his son not being able to adjust >when he came home. Rick got involved in drugs and >alcohol and never got over the horrors of War and the >things he did at a young age. I did not pursue the >matter and hung up. > >While in Rocky Mount North Carolina I looked up his >father’s telephone and called again. I told Mr. >Rogers I would like to stop by if it was ok and share >memories of his son, my best friend. He said, "I >thought I made my self clear that we want nothing to >do with any part of the war” --and it would not be a >good time for me to come over now or at any later date. > >I guess I needed the visit more that his parents. >Maybe I needed to just say goodbye to a dear friend >and brother for one last time. I did not get that >opportunity to ease my own pain and guilt. My >memories of Rick are vivid in my mind, only I am now >62 and he is still 23. The bond Rick and I shared was >very strong and we helped each other get through our >365 tour. Every night we would say goodnight to each >other, no matter if we were in our tent at base camp >or sleeping on the red latte rite mud. > >I told Rick’s father that I would like for Rick’s son >to contact me if he would like to know what his Dad >did in the War. Rick’s father said he would think it >over to decide to tell him, or not. As I was leaving >Rock Mount North Carolina with my own son, Josh, I >felt I was close -- but it does not appear I will >break through the bitterness of the loss of a son to a >War that was only supported by the young men and women >who then served an ungrateful nation. With my son >Josh serving in the United State Navy, USS Theodore >Roosevelt, I pray and ask God that no soldier will >ever come home without a grateful nation saying, >Welcome Home and Thank You. > >[Don Poss' brother] > >Jerry Poss, >USArmy, 18th Engineer Brigade >84th Engineer Battalion >Bong Son Valley
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