Ann Rupert (Shannon)

Francis "Red" Klassen...you and I were always in trouble with Sister Petronella at IC...we were the standouts...all that life force and not knowing how to contain or direct it.  We all loved you, and were heartbroken when you died.  Blessings and love to you. 

Carolyn Connelley (Simmons)

Ann Rupert (Shannon)

Paul, thank you so much for doing the research and sharing these records on "Knobby" and how he died. Going through the In memory section, I feel so haunted by not knowing the details of how people died. I know that sounds weird, possibly even a little sick! Why is it important?  To simply have no idea of what happened to a person, any hint of the texture or the reality of what they had to endure in something as huge as their death and dying, somehow drives home the magnitude of the loss in a way that I cannot name.  I loved Knobby.he was in my IC class from 5th-8th grade. I never knew exactly how he died in Viet Nam, only that he did, and what a blow that was. It gives me a way to honor his memory in some way, to know. It seems like an important thing to know about someone in your life, because it was such an important part of theirs, and that somehow, in my spirit at least, even though it is outside of the time frame of their dying, to send them love and the comfort of caring.   

Terry Kerr

Ann,I echo all of your comments regarding Francis Klassen . I can picture him taking Vietnam Nam head on , he was that kind of guy. He was one of 4 guys from CHS that I remember dying there,others were Mike Elledge,

Joe Severs, &  I believe John Purifoy? I have prayed often for these guys over the years. They are on our Wall of Vietnam Nam vets on our Capitol grounds  here in Ark.

Tom Kresse

What a waste of life that terribe war was. Young men and women's lives were thrown away like so much dirty tissue. The only thing I came back with, of any positive feeling, was the camaraderie of my fellow soldiers. There was courage, sacrifice, and kindness - but no glory. Just death and injury, and the permanent emotional damage to the psyche that inflicts virtually everyone who was there.

Robert Miller

I still find myself, all these years later, having strong emotions about that awful war.  Whenever I'm shopping for clothes, and the tag reads VietNam, I put it down; I won't buy it, I can't buy it.  Tom Kresse is right, such a waste of all those young men.  The best advice I can offer, to anyone who still carries the weight, is go to the Wall, find your friends, and say goodbye.  On my last day in the Army, I took one more run out that morning from the Pentagon to the Wall, and looked at Jay Purifoy's engraved name - I always called him Jay, and my first paying job, in 8th grade, was to be a Math tutor for Jay and his brother George.  Going to the Wall has always been cathartic for me and for other soldiers I have known who struggled with a sense of loss and guilt and grief.  Whenever I would stop by during a lunchtime run, I frequently helped strangers locate their loved one's name before running back to work.  I recall helping a woman look for her nephew's name in the book, and I wrote down the panel number and line for her before walking with her over to the Wall, and I stood by quietly as she counted down the lines and moved her finger over his name.  On my last trip to Washington, I visited the Wall late in the evening with a good friend, and I helped her trace her cousin's name onto a piece of paper.  Just that simple act helps people say goodbye, and I am always appreciative of other visitors who stand quietly aside while a tracing is being made.  If you haven't already, go to the Wall - you will feel the presence of all those fine young Americans.  Pardon my emotions.....bob

Linda Dopieralla (Lee)

As a woman serving in the  Vietnam era, I found that I was where I needed to be at the time.  My senior trip gift from my parents took me took me to Washington DC and  seeing all of those white headstones from Vietnam made me want to volunteer as I did.  I worked with the Pilot  Training Squadron out of Keesler AFB.  It was at this time I realized what a big picture the world really was.  It saddens me too, that we trained Iranians, which at the time was our friend.  Not so much 50 years later.  Yes, those who served were brave.  Those who died their families still carry on the hurt of their soldier's ultimate sacrifice.  I am so proud that I was able to serve.  It made my prospective of what is truly important in life so clear. 

Ann Rupert (Shannon)

Yes, Linda, it is a comfort to know that many Vets have been able to carry those burdens with dignity and strength and have ultimately to come to peace and wisdom through it.  All of our experiences are a fire for the soul, that is the point of our suffering. I just don't want anyone ever sent into a war that isn't absolutely necessary, and far too many have been!  Thank you for sharing what your service has meant to you!  Ann 

John Allison

Our helicopter squadron had a reunion in DC. If it hadn't been for my Brothers I don't think I could have gone to the wall.  All those young men cut down in their prime. Many more have died and are dying because of ailments caused by agent orange. That doesn't count the suicides or the wasted lives caused by PTSD. 

The shame of it all is that it was for nothing. Of course every police action or war we've been in including those now, post World War II, have been for nothing. I guess Korea did save South Korea so far, but the rest have saved nothing.

I believe it was Robert that talked about made in Viet Nam labels. I wanted to buy a couple of grandsons hunting clothes one Christmas.but I couldn't find any camo that wasn't made in Viet Nam.

Welcome Home to all My Classmates who served.

John Stutsman