TAPS ...... 2009

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....

TAPS Tribute to a Fallen One

What moves through you is a silence, a quiet sadness, a longing for one more day, one more word, one more touch, you may not understand why he left this earth so soon, or why he left before you were ready to say good-bye, but little by little, you begin to remember not just that he died, but that he lived. And that his life gave you memories too beautiful to forget.

Remembering Vietnam Veterans
Over 2.6 million served
Over 58,000 gave their lives
They fought for freedom
They fought with honor
In the end they fought for one another

A Soldier Died Today

Mike Pacholka

Mike Pacholka passed away at home on January 16, 2009 following a long battle. While in Vietnam he served as a 20mm gunner with River Assault Squadron 11 onboard C-112-1 from January 1967 to February 1968.  You may contact the family at:  Betty Pacholka, 4239 Shawnee Trail, Jamestown, OH 45335 - (937) 675-6142

"It is with a heavy heart that I must share with that at 8:23 AM this morning, the passing on of a truly wonderful man - Mike Pacholka.  He fought a long and hard battle but now God has called him home. I know for a fact that Mike is now with our Lord.  We lived and served together for a year in Vietnam. We have spent our time in hell. Mike will be missed by so many of us." - Rev. Larry Lyons

Hugh J. Young

  
Michael Salaba

"Another Muddy Water Brother makes it back to the Big Blue.  It took me 35 years to find him again and then only through the efforts of the MRFA.  Since our first reunion together 5 years ago we've enjoyed many more.  For all who remember him, Mike was a big man, with an even bigger heart, I will miss him greatly." - Christopher Emerson, CWO USA (Ret) - (RM3 - the voice of Plain Genius A-4)

John F. Gilhooley

Robert L. Taylor

Michael E. Schaming

Larry L. Hunter

David B. Alderman

Jonathan H. Randall

"Jon was really looking forward to the next reunion. He will be missed. He was my good friend and fellow boat crew member." - Rev. Larry J. Lyons

Geraldo Gapol

Hung Woon Ahn

Alvin L. Carter

Leroy Clement, Jr.

Michael Milne

Dallas Hartline

Fred Kohr

William McLiveen

Edward J. Reiser

Douglas Bates

Ronnie Salyer

Julian Johnson Ewell

Gary D. Roberts

Benjamin Acevedo, Jr.

Harold Clark

Richard D. Faddis

Ernest Mitchell Perdue

Frank J. Fabian

Leonard B. Keller

Dale C. Ogdahl

"Dale carried my radio and the platoon leaders radio.  He came home as a Sgt E-5.  Dale had planned on coming to the MRFA reunion in September, but the cancer had the best of him.  He was a damn good man.  I loved him truly, as a Brother.  May our Brother rest in peace…" - Dave Schoenian - hschoenian@comcast.net

Larry D. Rodgers

Robert C. Martin

Andrew Wampler

George W. Schneider

Leon Buenaflor Viado

James D. McCaughan

BMC  James D. McCaughan, (USN Ret.) passed away on April 12, 2009.  While in Vietnam he served with River Assault Squadron 9, River Assault Division 92 onboard R-92-3.

James W. Crew

James W. Crew, BM1, passed away on March 31, 2009. 

Randall C. Gilbert

Randall C. Gilbert, GMG3, passed away on January 1, 2009.  While in Vietnam he served with River Assault Squadron 11 - River Assault Division 111 onboard A-111-7.

Grover P. Forney

Grover P. Forney, GMG1, passed away on February 3, 2009.  While in Vietnam he served with River Assault Squadron 15.

Douglas M. Martin

Douglas M. Martin, ENC (USN Ret.) passed away on December 10, 2009.

Karl Ackerman

Norman E. Pully

Delbert Goben

Carl Simons

James L Hamilton

James L Hamilton passed away on September 1, 2009.   While in Vietnam he served with River Assault Squadron 9 - River Assault Division 92.

Eugene Coker

Alvin Birdsong

Larry Ruthrauff

Jerry H. Curtis

Alton L. Woolard

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?

Or the ordinary fellow who,
In times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his Country
And offers up his life?

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.

Perhaps just a simple headline
In the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."