A Call to Action from a lost Hero of VietNam! Please remember him!

BikeWriter

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Mon Dec-13-04 09:36 PM
Original message

A Call to Action from a lost Hero of VietNam! Please remember him!

"If you are able, save for them a place inside of you and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go. Be not ashamed to say you loved them, though you may or may not have always. Take what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own. And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind."
Major Michael Davis O'Donnell
1 January 1970 Dak To, Vietnam
Listed as KIA February 7, 1978

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BikeWriter

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Mon Dec-13-04 09:46 PM
Response to Original message

1. Please reply to this and let this Man's words be read...

...by as many of us as possible! He died piloting a chopper in a rescue attempt into a known ambush and firefight. Please nominate the topic for the Homepage, too. The only immortality Major Michael O'Donnell has now is in our memories!

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pleiku52cab

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Mon Dec-13-04 10:07 PM
Response to Original message

2. 8 years between statement and listed KIA

Edited on Mon Dec-13-04 10:09 PM by pleiku52cab

Sounds like what happened to my friend Rosie. If I remember correctly, you could be listed as MIA for 7 years before the pentagon had to make a final determination on your status. Seven years before they had to pay any survivors benefits. Pentagon sucks, not only now but also back then.

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BikeWriter

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Mon Dec-13-04 10:17 PM
Response to Reply #2

3. Yep, it was years before they made it in to search for remains, too.

This site has a picture of him, and more particulars.
http://www.virtualwall.org/do/OdonnellMD01a.htm

This site is about the mission they died on.
http://www.specialoperations.com/MACVSOG/Tales_from_SOG/Killing_Zone/Default.html

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CornField

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Mon Dec-13-04 10:20 PM
Response to Original message

4. My brother resides on the wall now

My heart still aches for all the young men and women who did not come home -- and those who came home changed forever.

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BikeWriter

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Mon Dec-13-04 10:26 PM
Response to Reply #4

5. I am so very sorry you lost your Brother!

I lit a candle for him and I'm saluting him with a drink. Damn, I have to clean this old house. I got dust in my eyes and they're all teared up...

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CornField

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Mon Dec-13-04 10:36 PM
Response to Reply #5

6. Thank you

Here a link to his information on the virtual wall site: http://www.vvmf.org/index.cfm?SectionID=110&Wall_Id_No=7620

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BikeWriter

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Mon Dec-13-04 11:01 PM
Response to Reply #6

8. Thank you. I've not been able to visit the Wall yet...

...except like that, online. It's been thirty-five years since I got back, but I still get very emotional about those Brothers and Sisters we lost.

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anonymousdemocrat

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Mon Dec-13-04 10:37 PM
Response to Original message

7. kick

:kick:

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BikeWriter

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Mon Dec-13-04 11:02 PM
Response to Reply #7

9. Thank you, Pard.

We appreciate your help. :-)

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CornField

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Tue Dec-14-04 10:16 AM
Response to Original message

10. kick

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