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Vietnam Veterans Memorial Committee of Lorain County |
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*Lost and Found* |
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  This is an awesome site,
I am Richard Irvin's
daughter. I never got
the chance to meet him.
Maybe someday I will meet someone
who knew him.
 If anyone remembers Richard please let me know. His helicopter crashed in Lam Dong,
South Vietnam. All I know is that he and the pilot were the only two that perished from that crash.
 ROXI POSTED THE NOTE ABOVE QUITE SOME TIME AGO AND HAS
BEEN SEARCHING
FOR EVEN LONGER - I'M MORE THAN PLEASED TO TELL
YOU - SHE HAS FOUND NOT ONLY PEOPLE THAT KNEW HER DAD - SHE FOUND FAMILY! WHEN I ASKED ROXI IF I COULD PUT SOMETHING
IN HER WORDS FOR AN UPDATE TO HER POST, BELOW IS HER RESPONSE. THANKS ROXI AND GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!
Oh of course you can put in what is happening now on the page... It is so exciting and I want to be able to share my story.. to give others hope. Because you know that I am not the only one out there, and with the current conflicts there are going to be future children that will run into what I have...I want the hope out there for all to see. I first posted a message 6 years ago on the-wallusa.com... and then last year you scanned his photo and posted a message, and about a year ago also you did the lost and found page. I looked every day at first and then I started looking less and less. But I still had hope... It just takes time I kept telling myself. I have been searching for info, I have found a lot of things and I even posted a message on Military.com. I would go into bursts, I would hit everything hard and often, and then I would back off and wait, then I would start up again. 2 years ago I was at the Elyria Apple Festival, a friday afternoon tradition I started with my current man. I would meet him for lunch and take a 1/2 day vacation and we would wander around together while he was working patrol. I walked past the lorain county 98 booth. I always gave a donation to any Vietnam fund, I picked up a brocure, I talked with a very nice gentleman. I got your e-mail address from the website. I asked you for help. I was so scared to send my only picture to be scanned, but I felt comfortable with you and I sent it. You scanned it for me and put it on the lost and found page. I was lost and now 2 years later, because of a silly 'girl' tradition I started with my boyfriend, I found family that I wasn't all to sure existed. I am now going to be able to learn about that 'other' side to me. The one that was missing. All because of a wonderful person like you! Someone to take time and help someone she never met, to have compassion and an understanding of what I feel. Someone to care enough to try. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! My father will be honored in the way he deserves. I'd have to say Thank You to all of those boys/men that gave their lives, either entirely or just for a tour of duty, for us to have our freedom, even those who didn't believe. Use whatever you want to create the page.. it is working! It is so AWESOME :) Roxi 
PLEASE HELP THIS BRAVE MAN WHO SERVED IN HIS SEARCH FOR VETERAN
BUDDIES......
I am looking for some of my buddies that I served in Vietnam with
from 1969 to 1970. I was in the army in the 2nd of the 35th infantry around PLE KEU. I am looking for Gerard Seabert,
Chris Spradling, Danny Gallion and Benny Beatix. If any one can help me re-unite with them before we are too old, I would
be very grateful. thank you and god bless. Robert Adley
Lost and Found - let me explain where this page came
from.....
I always felt so cheated because I lost my brother when I was only 9 - and I've
searched for people that knew him all of my life - to help fill in the gaps - and get to know him better now that I'm kind
of grown up. Thanks to joining this committee - I've run into several of his buddies, and have also gotten in touch
with the awesome men from the Air Cav 5-7, Company A - in which my brother served. Talking to these guys just helped
me so much - that I want to share that experience with others. I've met other family members and we have a bond, it's
not a happy bond - but but a bond nevertheless. We all seem to do the same things....we all have a wall or a room dedicated
to our loved one, shrines if you will. We guard what little we have left of them - with every fibre of our beings.
Now you know if you've read any of my writings, I'm long winded, but I had to
give you a little background so you would understand where I'm trying to go with this page. Well, I came across a message
in our guestbook (see below) - this message really really struck a cord with me - and I can totally relate to her wishes.
It also made me feel very blessed - I got to know my brother at least a bit, our family was graced with having him for 21
years - this gal never got to meet her Dad. I love meeting friends of Pat's - sure I get all teary eyed - but sometimes
tears are good - and besides - I just love hearing about his shenanigans growing up, and it helps to keep him alive for me.
It helps..... SOOOOOOO if any of you guys or ladies out there
knew Roxy's Dad - Richard Irvin - from Sheffield - please drop her a line - if you feel weird about contacting her
directly - let me know... I'll be more than happy to play go between. I haven't gotten a chance to meet this fine gal
yet - but know that she has a big hole in her heart - just like mine - and just like the thousands out there just like us.....if
I can help in some tiny way - that's a wonderful thing. :)Dawn
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For Veterans Day - I have something else very special to share. For those
of you who are a Veteran, or are a friend or loved one of a Veteran, or lost someone in Vietnam, or any other war for that
matter, this will need no introduction, but because I'm long winded, you're going to get one anyway.....
Over the last few years, I've received some wonderful emails, mostly from men who
didn't know my brother, but were still his brothers, and many have told me they were even thicker than blood, because
they had to be. Each and every one touches me to my soul and I love them all...but this one - I felt compelled to share
for Veterans Day. James says it so much better than I - his words echo in many of our hearts.."The words belong
to all of my brothers - they were giants - each of them"
Dear Ms. Dixon:
A busy day must be put aside for a few moments so that pen can be put to paper. I did not know your dear brother, Pat, but he is my brother. During the Autumn of 1967 through the early Summer of 1968, I had the great privilege of commanding a rifle platoon with Charlie Company 3rd Battalion 1st Infantry 11th Light Infantry Brigade. We forayed out of LZ Liz in Quang Ngai Province and up into Quang Tin Province. This was Southern I Corps and a very, very nasty place. We were in regular contact with North Vietnamese troops and Main Force Viet Cong Guerillas. Your brother operated in III Corps. This was quite far to the South of where I was located. I was a nineteen and a half year old Army Infantry officer. The greatest job in the world was commanding a rifle platoon. I was authorized 44 soldiers in my platoon. The most I ever had was 32 and at one point in time, we were down to 14. 1968 was the bloodiest year of the War with 16,489 Americans KIA. God only knows how many Vietnamese died. There were some weeks when 400-500 Americans were KIA. I cannot imagine it. There was no oxygen in the Jungle. We breathed Death. It dictated our every move. There were no politics in that Place So Far From God. We simply tried to keep each other alive. One brother took care of another brother, took care of another brother... There was no one to help us. We only had each other. I was terribly wounded during combat in June of 1968 at age 20. I spent 18 months getting pieced back together at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C. I was retired at the ripe, old age of 23 due to my wounds. I then went to college and law school on the G.I. Bill. I have been a career prosecutor for 20 years and am running for Superior Court Judge in the March, '04 elections. I have been married to a miracle named June for 32 years and we have been blessed with 4 children: Caitlin 21 and a senior at UCLA and 3 sons: James Francis 16, Dolan Christopher 13 and Liam Hennessy 8. We live on a small farm in the heart of the Wine Country of Northern California about 70 miles North of San Francisco. The Good Lord has been more than generous to me. I am humbled and thankful
for it each and every day. I left many, many brothers behind in the Jungle. I carry each one of them, including
your Pat, in my heart. It is where they are closest to me. It is where they belong. He is not heavy because
he is my brother. The courage, love and sacrifice of them on a daily basis stuns me to this day. We reached out
to each other every moment. We gave of ourselves for each other every moment. I cannot describe the Jungle for
you. Combat is like walking on the edge of a razor blade; unless you have done it, it defies description. I can
tell you that I saw and experienced, on a daily basis, the brightest bright of the human condition and the darkest dark of
the human condition. People will never ever know the beauty, honor and love that managed to exist in the Jungle.
I think that the Good Lord only desires that we try and lift ourselves above the human condition, if only for a moment.
In doing this, we can experience, if only for a moment, what is beyond this life called the human condition.
I can tell you, Ms. Dixon, that all of my brothers lifted themselves up, if only for a moment and saw wondrous things. Please know that, at the moment of his death, the Good Lord reached out his hand to your dear brother Pat and said "Take my hand, my brave, brave child." Please know that at the moment of his death, your brother was with his brothers who loved him and honored him. Please know that at the moment of his death, Pat lifted himself up and saw wondrous things. I am so very sorry for your loss and all the years you have spent without your brother. He was several months older than me. I grew up in Pennsylvania not all that far from Pat's neck of the woods. I loved cars and I sure did like to slow dance with pretty, young ladies. I trust that my words have not upset you. My intent is quite to the contrary. All these years later, I am absolutely amazed that I made it out of that Place So Far From God. I am amazed that I, somehow, now look over my shoulder and see it all. I take enormous pride in doing what few human beings had the courage to do. I am blessed by my fallen brothers. I will speak of them. I will tell of their greatness. When you feel sad for your dear brother, please remember that he sleeps the sleep granted to those who placed love above fear. We were afraid every moment of every moment, but we carried love in our hearts. Never, never again must our precious youth be cast aside for half hearted political folly. "I have beheld the agonies of War through many a weary season;
seen enough to make me hold that scarcely any goal is worth the reaching
by so red a road."
Thomas Hardy "The prayers are said And the people rest For sleep is there And the touch of dreams Is over all." Carl Sandburg "The thundering line of battle stands, And in the air death moans and sings; But Day shall clasp him with strong hands, And Night shall fold him in soft wings." Julian Grenfell "Think where Man's Glory most begins and ends, and say my Glory was I had such friends." William Butler Yeats God Bless: James Patrick Casey First Lieutenant Infantry United States Army Retired Republic Of Vietnam 1967-1968 Senior Deputy District Attorney Sonoma County District Attorney's Office Santa Rosa, California. PLEASE HELP US COMPLETE OUR
MEMORIAL PAGE
NO MEMORIAL PAGE IS COMPLETE WITHOUT PHOTOS
AND OURS IS NO DIFFERENT.
THESE 98 BRAVE MEN ARE MORE THAN JUST NAMES
- THEY ARE MEN WHO GAVE ALL AND ARE ALIVE IN THE HEARTS OF THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR FRIENDS, AND THEIR VETERAN
BROTHERS.
THEY ARE ALIVE IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE WHO
LOVE, HONOR, RESPECT AND REMEMBER WHAT THEY SACRIFICED FOR US ALL.
THEIR NAMES ARE ALL LISTED HERE -
BUT NOW, WE HAVE BEGUN TO ADD PHOTOS.
MANY, MANY THANKS TO THE FAMILY MEMBERS
WHO HAVE BEEN KIND ENOUGH TO SEND ME PHOTOS FOR OUR MEMORIAL PAGE.
PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE A PHOTO AVAILABLE.
I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO PAY POSTAGE OR ARRANGE FOR PICKUP AND RETURN IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A COMPUTER FILE PHOTO AVAILABLE. I'LL
BE GLAD TO MAKE YOU A COMPUTER GENERATED COPY SO THAT YOU CAN PAY TRIBUTE TO YOUR LOVED ONE ON OUR SITE - OR ANY OF THE MANY
WONDERFUL VIETNAM VETERANS DEDICATION WEB PAGES AVAILABLE. ALL PHOTOS WILL BE RETURNED IN SAME CONDITION AND AT
NO COST TO YOU. THANK YOU! ANOTHER VERY MPORTANT PART OF THE MEMORIAL
PROJECT INCLUDES CONTACTING FAMILY MEMBERS AND/OR FRIENDS OF EACH OF THE 98. EVEN IF THEY WANT NOTHING TO
DO WITH THE MEMORIAL AT ALL - THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW THAT THEIR LOVED ONE IS PART OF THIS MEMORIAL.
IF YOU ARE A FAMILY MEMBER, OR KNOW A FAMILY
MEMBER - PLEASE CONTACT ME.
THANK YOU :)
DAWN DIXON
440-967-0613
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