Friday, February 1, 2013

Vietnam and a Son Remembered


Forty-five years ago today I was in Vietnam going into and coming out of Khe Sanh in what was then known as I-Corps.

It was a Marine stronghold not far from the North Vietnamese border and constantly under attack from the opposing forces. I was not certain at that moment that I would survive the experience or the C-130 flight because of rocket fire and heavy arms fire from the enemy.

I was 25-years old. A television journalist. My wife was home with two young children, pregnant and due with my third child.

Flying out of that Marine hell-hole I had a vision that my wife had just had my third son. I mentioned it to my cameraman. It was February 1st. 1968.

Nearly four weeks later I received confirmation that in fact my third son was born on that day.

Like my two other sons he was a good son. Energetic, independent, confident and focused on what was right for him in his life choices. I didn’t always agree, but I acknowledged it was his choice.

His name was Lee. He died 31-years later of brain cancer. We all miss him and today is his birthday.

Happy Birthday Lee.

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