"WHO HE WAS, NOT WHAT HE WAS COUNTED"

Who he was, not what he was, was the only thing that counted. I knew him only a few months. I learned a lot from him. He was also afraid of combat & death. He looked forward to many of the same things I did. Maybe even more as he was 20 years older than most of us younger Marines. The main bond we had was we were all Marines first. Everything else did not matter. We looked out for each other and depended on each other to stay alive. That was what being a Marine meant.

For over thirty years I've relived his death in my "Nam-Mares". I have written about him in many of my writings about how he passed away as I did my best to comfort him.

I have never told anyone that he was black, because it never mattered as he was a fellow Marine. My reason now is I know he and I only wish more of you look at everyone for who they are, because it's more important than what you or they are. I still miss him and was glad to have known him and if what I've written makes you think about what I've been trying to say. Then it was not in vain. You're not forgotten Sarge.

Chaplain H.Flexer

Vietnam War Veterans

Flagstaff ; Memorial

December 6,1996