Steve’s post, The Final Sacrifice, reminded me of an old newspaper clipping I found packed in a box of old mementos. The clipping came from 1967, the Vietnam era. It announced the death of Alvin Wiles and two others.
I knew Alvin as “Goot.” Being a friend of my older sister’s, he came by our house with a group of friends ever so often. I though Goot was a cool guy and always made a point of talking to him a little when he was around. I have no idea of the origins of the nickname “Goot.”
I had forgotten that I had cut out the newspaper clipping. I had just turned 16 when Goot died. I really didn’t know him that well, but he was the first person I knew who died in Vietnam. Later, my sister’s boy friend, John Balitsaris, and her best friends brother, Bobby McCloughlin (sp?) would also meet their end in Vietnam.
I remember when we found out about Bobby’s death. I was talking on the phone to my girlfriend and the operator interrupted the call saying she had an emergency phone call for my sister from Mary Ellen and could I hand up. I did and called to my sister that Mary Ellen would be calling her in a minute with an emergency phone call. My sister laughed and said Mary Ellen did that all the time. No one was laughing a few minutes later. It was a sad and scary time.
For some reason, I had cut out Goot’s story and stashed it away. Over the years through 4 children, two marriages and a dozen or so residences, I lost a lot of items, favorite records, photos, love letters, books, my class ring and more. But, somehow, Goots newspaper clipping stayed.
In 1989, I visited the Vietnam Memorial. Looking up the locations of their name, I said a little hello and a little prayer to the three guys I knew who died in that war. And, I shed a few tears. I wasn’t alone. Everyone I saw at the memorial wiped their eyes more than once.
I’ll be keeping Goot’s clipping the rest of my life. I hope one of my kids keeps it after that. We need to remember.
There is a special place in my heart for that Vietnam Memorial. After the criticism it took when first chosen, I think it has come to be appreciated for what an inspired and inspiring piece of architecture it is on the Mall. (Thanks for sharing about Goot. We shoul dremember andwe should pass it on to our kids.)
Steve
I second Steve’s motion regarding the Vietnam Memorial. I don’t know anyone who died in Vietnam. However, for some inarticulate reason, it seems appropriate to me that a memorial for a war would list all those who died in that war.