As Memorial Day approaches , my thoughts turn to our comrades who died in service to this country. I want to take this opportunity to document a remembrance of the men that I personally knew and served with who died in Vietnam.
Blue Ghost comrades who died in 1967-68 were, Ranier Ramos, James Phipps, Warren Newton, Fred Secrist, Ralph Consavage, Louis Bradley, George Canamare and Richard Watson. Other men whom I knew that died were, Tom Oliver, Earl Michaels and James Moody. The latter two men were college classmates of mine and although Michaels was killed in 1968, he was not brought home to Arkansas until 1996. Moody was the first soldier from my hometown killed in the Vietnam war. We were school mates and friends.
Three of the Blue Ghosts , Ramos, Phipps and Newton are still in Vietnam, their remain scattered on a small hill in the Que Son Valley. A while back I read that Ramos’s mother passed away a few years ago and until the end she held out hope that her son would be brought home. The fact that these three Blue Ghosts have never been brought home is a disgrace and speaks volumes about what some in our national government thought about the men that they sent off to a war on the other side of the world.
At this point in time the most appropriate thing to do is to remember and honor these men and the sacrifices that they and their families have made. Our thoughts and prayers should be with the surviving family members. Attached to this entry is a list of Blue Ghosts who were killed in action from 1967-73.
Over the years I have come to rely on scriptures to bolster my faith and see me through difficult times. There are many scriptures that are relevant to war and the men sent forth to battle. I would like to share some of my favorite scriptures with you.
There is no Biblical directive against war, in fact in Exodus 15 Moses says “The Lord is a man of war” and in Deuteronomy 20 “who goes with his people, to fight against their enemies.”
All men during Biblical days who were from twenty years old and upward, if able to go to war, and not exempt from service had to go forth “armed to battle.”
War was a necessity apparently for in Deuteronomy 23 stress is laid upon the need of maintaining good conditions on the field of battle. Definite directions are given for the guidance of troops in the field.
Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight. Psalms 144
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted: A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up: a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance: a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together, a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing: A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silent and a time to speak: a time to love, and a time to hate: a time of war, and a time of peace. Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works: for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him? Ecclesiastes 3
Have a very happy Memorial Day.
