Re: Ray Graver From: Debbie Ingersoll Sent: Sat 11/29/08 10:24 PM To: Bill Hatch (blueghostred@msn.com) . Thank You so much Bill. I really appreciate it. I know my Mom is so grateful to have Ray's videos out there for people to see. I think for her and Ray's other siblings, it keeps him alive in a small way. Hopefully someday we will come across some other Blueghosts who knew him. Some of them I do know are around, but they keep very quiet, so I do not ask them. I respect that if they wanted to talk about Ray they would have by now. One of his buddies helps us the best he can, and one of the Blues who tried to rescue Ray when he crashed did speak to me about what happened from the time he diverted his mission to try to rescue the 3 crewmen. Unfortunately, the ammo caught on fire and exploded and he could not get Ray out in time. The pilot, Mr. Norton lived but he does not want to speak about that day. Again, I respect that fully. The other crewman died 3 days later from his burns. The only other Blueghost that came forward that knew Ray was his hootchmate Mike Lane. He still can't talk about Ray, so I don't know too much. He did have his sister contact me to say Ray was his best friend and he gave us Ray's dog tags, he took them after he identified Ray's body and wore them for his tours in Vietnam with his own. I now have his dogtag together with Ray's, so they will never be seperated. Maybe someday he will be able to tell me something, maybe not. That is OK though, just knowing he was Ray's buddy is nice for the family anyway. Joe Brown was so helpful to us too. He took all of the pictures and slides and super8 I found in with Ray's belongings and made the videos. We were so grateful to him for doing that, he was there the same time as Ray, but he did not know him. Other Blueghost members have also helped us even though they did not know Ray, nor were they even there the same time. They just wanted to help because he was a Blueghost. Thank You to you too...I will be up on the site again, it is a great site and it helps me get insight into what was going on and learn a little of what Ray's life would have been like over there. You guys are great. I just try to hang back a bit because I am not sure how the guys feel about family members poking around and I don't want to seem pesty. It is a strange position to be in, but I am grateful for those who have come forward. I don't even know how to tell them how much it means to the families that are left behind. Take care and Thanks. DebbieDecember 13, 2008 Debbie, I am taking the liberty of posting your comments here so others might see what you have expressed in regards to your inquiry about your uncle Ray Graver and the circumstances of his death in Vietnam. Make no mistake about it, you have every right to make inquires and indeed it has been your duty to do so. You are always welcome to post or say whatever is on your mind. Regards to your Mother and family, Bill Hatch
Debbie Ingersoll From: dlharrigan@hotmail.com Sent: Sat 12/13/08 9:52 AM To: blueghostred@msn.com Do you if she is coming to the next reunion? It would be good for her to meet everyone - I plan on coming Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Debbie recommend if you can do it to attend the next blueghost reunion. Seeing and meeting these guys will give you even more of a feeling of the type of unit and the people with whom he served. David "blueghost blue" Harrigan 979-575-5595
This message has been deleted by the manager or assistant manager.
ReplyDeleteRe: Ray Graver From: Debbie Ingersoll Sent: Sat 11/29/08 10:24 PM To: Bill Hatch (blueghostred@msn.com) . Thank You so much Bill. I really appreciate it. I know my Mom is so grateful to have Ray's videos out there for people to see. I think for her and Ray's other siblings, it keeps him alive in a small way. Hopefully someday we will come across some other Blueghosts who knew him. Some of them I do know are around, but they keep very quiet, so I do not ask them. I respect that if they wanted to talk about Ray they would have by now. One of his buddies helps us the best he can, and one of the Blues who tried to rescue Ray when he crashed did speak to me about what happened from the time he diverted his mission to try to rescue the 3 crewmen. Unfortunately, the ammo caught on fire and exploded and he could not get Ray out in time. The pilot, Mr. Norton lived but he does not want to speak about that day. Again, I respect that fully. The other crewman died 3 days later from his burns. The only other Blueghost that came forward that knew Ray was his hootchmate Mike Lane. He still can't talk about Ray, so I don't know too much. He did have his sister contact me to say Ray was his best friend and he gave us Ray's dog tags, he took them after he identified Ray's body and wore them for his tours in Vietnam with his own. I now have his dogtag together with Ray's, so they will never be seperated. Maybe someday he will be able to tell me something, maybe not. That is OK though, just knowing he was Ray's buddy is nice for the family anyway. Joe Brown was so helpful to us too. He took all of the pictures and slides and super8 I found in with Ray's belongings and made the videos. We were so grateful to him for doing that, he was there the same time as Ray, but he did not know him. Other Blueghost members have also helped us even though they did not know Ray, nor were they even there the same time. They just wanted to help because he was a Blueghost. Thank You to you too...I will be up on the site again, it is a great site and it helps me get insight into what was going on and learn a little of what Ray's life would have been like over there. You guys are great. I just try to hang back a bit because I am not sure how the guys feel about family members poking around and I don't want to seem pesty. It is a strange position to be in, but I am grateful for those who have come forward. I don't even know how to tell them how much it means to the families that are left behind. Take care and Thanks. Debbie December 13, 2008 Debbie, I am taking the liberty of posting your comments here so others might see what you have expressed in regards to your inquiry about your uncle Ray Graver and the circumstances of his death in Vietnam. Make no mistake about it, you have every right to make inquires and indeed it has been your duty to do so. You are always welcome to post or say whatever is on your mind. Regards to your Mother and family, Bill Hatch
ReplyDeleteDebbie Ingersoll From: dlharrigan@hotmail.com Sent: Sat 12/13/08 9:52 AM To: blueghostred@msn.com Do you if she is coming to the next reunion? It would be good for her to meet everyone - I plan on coming
ReplyDeleteSent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Debbie recommend if you can do it to attend the next blueghost reunion. Seeing and meeting these guys will give you even more of a feeling of the type of unit and the people with whom he served. David "blueghost blue" Harrigan 979-575-5595
ReplyDelete