TAPS ...... 2006

Those gone but not forgotten

Our prayers and best wishes go out to those left behind. The Brothers and Sisters of the Mobile Riverine Force Association wish the departed fair winds and following seas and our thoughts will always be with you....

A Soldier Died Today

Lt. General William B. Fulton

Gen. Fulton was born in Berkeley, California, on 31 October 1919. He attended the Berkeley school system and graduated from the University of California--Berkeley in 1942 where had received his "C" for varsity crew. Immediately upon graduation, he took a regular commission in the U. S. Army resulting from his participation in the Army ROTC. He joined the 91^st Division in Oregon and went to Italy as a company commander where he was decorated with a Distinguished Service Cross by General Mark Clark. In 1945, he returned to the Command and General Staff School in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. He then returned to Europe in 1946 to serve on the staff of Gen. Huebner. Other posts include: Ft. Benning, Georgia, on the Infantry School’s faculty; U. S. Army Far East in Korea; the 38th Infantry at Fort Lewis, Washington; a Staff Officer in the Special Weapons Directorate at the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia; student at the Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama; Secretary General Staff, I Corps, Korea; faculty member of the Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania where he received a Masters Degree from George Washington University; 2^nd Brigade Commander of the 9^th Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas, and the Mobile Riverine Force (MRF) Commander in Vietnam; assistant division commander of the 9^th Infantry Division, Vietnam; deputy division commander, Ft. Polk, Louisiana; Commanding General of the 9^th Infantry Division, Ft. Lewis, Washington; and Commanding General of the U. S. Army Recruiting Command, Ft. Sheridan, Illinois. In September of 1975, he became Director of the Army Staff in the Pentagon which led to his retirement in 1977. He subsequently worked for the Association of the United States Army from 1977 to 1985 where he was Director of Public Affairs and Industry Affairs.

General Fulton's decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit w/2 oak leaf clusters, Air Medal w/13 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Presidential Unit Citation, Military Cross of Valor (Italy) and the Purple Heart Medal.

Bill’s family and friends will always remember him as a loving, kind and generous man.

General Fulton requested cremation and his ashes will be buried with full military honors in the spring at a family plot in Pocatello, Idaho. You may contact the family at: Mrs. Nan Fulton, 4734 N 34rd, Arlington, VA 22209 (703) 536-3922

John P. Long

David C. Wilson

Curtis Tomlison

Donald Paul Pfeiffer

Michael Venezia

Tom Veit

Steve C. Moede

Tom "Trees" Forrest

Stanley Bartkewicz

Bill Geraghty

Thomas M. Clemens

The family suggests memorials be given to the Valor House, 2820 Great Northern Loop, Missoula MT.

Harold Foster

You may contact the family at: Charlotte Foster, 925 Estates Dr. Kerrville, Tx 78023 - (830) 895-7752 - clfoster@ktc.com

Jon W. Fisher

Larry Hughes

Carl Calvert

William Fisher

Richard N. Kiesel

Rick J. Chapman

Lawrence P. Blumette

Don Shelton

Vern Eaton

"I had the honor and privilege to have met and known Chief Eaton while serving in Vietnam. He was a outstanding Senior Chief Petty Officer and a outstanding Sailor no one was any better.." - Albert Moore

You may contact the family at: Betty Eaton, 1107 Bradley Cir #2, Antigo, WI 54409 or email eaton@158@aol.com

Larry Hereford

Robert D. Kernechel

Carl Hanker

"Carl he was a real gentleman. He had a great sense of humor and was always joking
or poking fun at something. Hank was a part of the original work party here in San Diego that was responsible for the building of the Vietnam Unit Memorial and the restoration of PCF-104. He truly had more hours of sweat equity in on the memorial than anyone else involved. He loved to keep up the landscaping around the memorial as well since the Navy's contractor always fell short in doing its job. He was extremely proud of his role in taking care of the memorial and it really showed." - Don Blankenship [ See our CCB-18 Work Party page. ]

Dave Magnuson

Dave Magnuson passed away on November 6, 2006 of cancer.  While in Vietnam he served with 3rd Platoon, A Co, 3rd Battalion, 39th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division.  You may contact his family at:  2848 W. Stonybrook Dr, Anaheim, CA  92804 -  magnusonlj@adelphia.net

Larry Love

Pat G. Stauber

Lawrence Ferguson

John P. Davis

David B. Donaldson

Larry Brennan

Larry A. Lail

A Soldier Died Today
Written by A. Lawrence Vaincourt
http://www.vaincourt.homestead.com

He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion,
Telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, every one.

And 'tho sometimes, to his neighbors
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened,
For they knew whereof he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer
For old Bill has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer,
For a soldier died today.

He will not be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary
And quite uneventful life.

He held a job and raised a family,
Quietly going his own way,
And the world won't note his passing,
Though a soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing
And proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell of their life stories,
From the time that they were young,
But the passing of a soldier
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
A guy who breaks his promises
And cons his fellow man?

The politician's stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.

While the ordinary Soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.

It's so easy to forget them,
For many times it's so, 
That our Bobs and Jims and Johnnys,
Went to battle, but we know,

It is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling stand?

Or would you want a Soldier--
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier,
Who would fight until the end.

He was just a common Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his like again.

For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage
At the ending of his days.