Lost a very good one: Labor Official Found Joy in Family and Kept Pain Under Wraps

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/21/AR2007072101259.html

A Local Life: Michael Lescault
Labor Official Found Joy in Family and Kept Pain Under Wraps

By Matt Schudel
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, July 22, 2007; Page C07

In the mid-1960s, Michael Lescault was one of the finest high school athletes in Massachusetts. He was the quarterback of his football team, captain of the lacrosse team, a talented baseball pitcher, an excellent skier and, with his older brother, a champion doubles player in tennis.

Upon graduating from Holyoke High School in 1965, he accepted a scholarship to the prestigious Hotchkiss prep school in Connecticut, where Lescault (pronounced LESS-koh) spent a year as what he called the "ringer" on the football, lacrosse and rugby teams. Notre Dame was said to be interested in him for football, even though he was only 5-feet-7 and 155 pounds.


Michael Lescault, shown during Army service in Vietnam, saw combat. Returning home, he joined Vietnam Veterans Against the War.

What he lacked in size, though, he made up for with a fiery, determined spirit. Over the years, his injuries included six concussions, nine broken noses and one ear torn off in a rugby match. (It was sewn back on.)

"Mike was incredibly competitive," said a longtime friend, Phil Comstock. "He was also the most courageous person I've ever met."

After a year of college, he went to Vietnam as an Army sergeant and saw combat. Returning home, he promptly joined Vietnam Veterans Against the War. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts and, in 1975, received a master's degree in labor relations from Cornell University.

Early in 1986, after more than five years as an AFL-CIO labor organizer in southern Africa, the 39-year-old Lescault -- still in his athletic prime -- climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. Within weeks, he became seriously ill, and his wife, Elisabeth, drove him to a hospital in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

FULL 2 page story at link.

Fading light dims the sight
And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright
From afar drawing nigh,
Falls the night.

Day is done, gone the sun
From the lake, from the hills, from the sky
All is well, safely rest;
God is nigh.

Then goodnight, peaceful night;
Till the light of the dawn shineth bright.
God is near, do not fear,
Friend, goodnight.



:patriot: :cry:



Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav’d a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev’d;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ’d!

Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promis’d good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call’d me here below,
Will be forever mine.

it is indeed a deep loss...

But the part that made me gasp and cry was the fact that he lived just past his 60th birthday....

Just as his wife had asked......

RIP, Mike Lescault...

Stand down; you are relieved...:patriot:

:cry:


On edit: K&R

A real Hero and Patriot!

made a difference....sigh...RIP.