SUBMITTED BY STEVE SIPOS ON THE 53rd ANNIVERSARY OF ROGER FULKERSON'S DEATH IN VIETNAM IN 1968

Today is the 53rd anniversary of the death of Roger Fulkerson September 25, 1968 near Duc Lap Special Forces Camp in Vietnam. I was coordinating artillery fires in the area at a C/P outside the perimeter of DucLap SF Camp. I believe I was on the radio with Roger when he was killed. His RTO (Radio Operator) took the radio and advised the Forward Observer (FO) was just killed. In war, many units are involved. We generally did not know the names of who was on the radio. We responded for calls for artillery fire and tried our very best to deliver it quickly and accurately. Through the process of elimination I came to the conclusion Roger was the FO killed during the fire mission I was running. DucLap was my last field assignment in Vietnam. It was a terrible place. Too many lost their lives there and in the war.
While I did not know him, I think of him at this time of year.

Steve Sipos
5/22 Artillery 175-8" SP
Vietnam December 1967 - November 1968

On the 53rd anniversary of Roger's death in Vietnam, the following memory was submitted by Steve Sipos, from Arlington HS in LaGrangeville, NY:

Today is the 53rd anniversary of the death of Roger Fulkerson September 25, 1968 near Duc Lap Special Forces Camp in Vietnam. I was coordinating artillery fires in the area at a C/P outside the perimeter of DucLap SF Camp. I believe I was on the radio with Roger when he was killed. His RTO (Radio Operator) took the radio and advised the Forward Observer (FO) was just killed. In war, many units are involved. We generally did not know the names of who was on the radio. We responded for calls for artillery fire and tried our very best to deliver it quickly and accurately. Through the process of elimination I came to the conclusion Roger was the FO killed during the fire mission I was running. DucLap was my last field assignment in Vietnam. It was a terrible place. Too many lost their lives there and in the war.
While I did not know him, I think of him at this time of year. 

Steve Sipos
5/22 Artillery 175-8" SP
Vietnam December 1967 - November 1968

Posted on: Mar 13, 2017 at 1:33 AM

Betsy, Happy Birthday
Dave Dickinson

Leo Derkowski wrote this tribute to his best friend, Pete Herman:

When I got a phone call last night from my high school classmate and friend, Betsy Savery, I at first thought, as the consummate organizer that she is, she wanted me to volunteer for something … or it was bad news. Sorrowfully it was the latter. Betsy informed me that my best friend from childhood, Pete Herman, had been called home to heaven. Needless to say, it was shocking and very, very sad news.

I first met Pete in the fourth grade at Public School 16 in Troy, New York, but we did not really become close friends until high school. I think we got along well together because we shared a bizarre and unique sense of humor, eagerly anticipating the next issue of Mad Magazine, which we discussed endlessly after its arrival. I remember the joy of writing what we hoped were very funny “commercials” for the prom that were broadcast over the PA system under the stern eye of the principal, Mr. Enfanto, who once greeted us with, “Ah, my young thespians” to which Pete replied indignantly, “I take exception to that!” As we dissolved in laughter Mr. Enfanto just stared at him open mouthed. My favorite was the Chipmunks parody. Pete, Roger Fulkerson and I sang into a tape recorder and then played it back at a faster speed.

To say that Pete was smart and talented, especially musically, is a woeful understatement. I was amazed at how easily even the most difficult school work came to him, but underlying that was a work ethic that to this day I envied. After school we would retreat to his house where we invented stupid games to play, encouraged by his father, Otto, who would gleefully join us. However, the time came for homework, and his Mom, “Tilly,” would make me sit down and work alongside Pete. If it weren’t for them I doubt that I would have made it through school with a B average. Of course, it was Mrs. And Mrs. Herman to me.

We stayed close through college and the Army, but afterwards drifted apart and I soon lost contact with him. Then, it must have been around 1992, Betsy got us back together again and we worked on planning our first ever high school reunion (after 39 years!). It seemed as if the intervening decades never existed and we picked up our friendship right where it left off. Since then we stayed in touch and visited each other when we could. Whenever I had a bad day I knew a dose of Pete Herman would cheer me up and I gave him a call.

One of the things we discovered is that we shared was a strong Christian faith. Pete was very involved in his church as I am with mine. That brought us even closer together. So even though I am profoundly sad, I know that my friend is waiting for me in heaven. How do I know this? Because we both believe in Jesus Christ as our savior from sin. Because of his death and resurrection we know we will have everlasting life with the Lord. No matter how bad we have been, we know our sins are forgiven though our faith in Jesus.

On his last birthday I continued our tradition of reminding him that he is older than I am and he replied, “Maybe I’ll just stop and let you catch up.” I told him that the only way I would catch up with him will be in heaven and he said, “I will definitely see you there PTL (praise the lord).” I just didn’t know the Lord planned to do this so soon.

Marcia and I are praying constantly for Carolyn and Pete’s family. Be comforted in knowing that Pete is finally home where he belongs and we can confidently look forward to seeing him again when our time comes.

Pete was the best friend anyone could ever have. We loved each other like brothers and I am really going to miss him. When I am hurting, I read the Bible. And there I find peace for my troubled mind. When I think of Pete, I like the following the best:

John 14:1-4
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Pete knew the way.

I am in absolute shock and grief over Pete's death. I have known him since the fourth grade when he and his parents arrived in this country from Germany. Pete spoke no English but learned very fast from his friends in school. I went to school with him from grade school through high school and we have kept in touch over the years. He is one of a kind and one of the most beloved members of our Troy High Class of 1963 alumni group. My deepest condolences to Carolyn and to his mother, who we designated years ago as our Troy High School Class Mom. Heaven has just gained an amazing angel in Pete. Finally he and his very best friend from his youth, Roger Fulkerson, are back together laughing and joking and enjoying one another.