On this day I remember the older brother of a childhood friend, Jim Rudd

[Botany]

JAMES EARL RUDD

PFC - E2 - Marine Corps - Regular

Length of service 1 years
His tour began on May 7, 1968
Casualty was on Aug 6, 1968
In QUANG TRI, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
OTHER EXPLOSIVE DEVICE
Body was recovered

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Through the "internets" I have reconnected today w/ his "baby sister" and today she is feeling kinda
blue .... Can you DUers send Susan your love .... I will pass them on .... NO POLITICS please

[classof56]

1. Please send Susan my love, comfort, encouragement...and regrets.

My regrets have to do with the fact that I once supported the Vietnam "conflict". Bought into the whole domino theory crap, keep the world safe for democracy, keep the commies at bay. I am eternally sorry I did so, and desperately sorry that James Earl Rudd and his 58,000-plus fellow soldiers paid such a terrible price. My oldest daughter was born a month after James Earl Rudd was killed, and now I live in fear that my grandsons might be sent off to die in an equally pointless "war". I have been against the Iraq fiasco from the moment I heard about it, and I stood in protest on a street corner in the town where I lived in early 2003. For that, I am proud.

Blessings to Susan and her family. Thank you, Botany, for giving me the chance to tell her this.

Tired Old Cynic

[shraby]

2. I know what she's going through..I came from

a small town of around 250 people and my brother's best friend lost his leg in Nam and also lost his brother. Two hits in one family from a town that size was two too many. Give her my condolences.

[kdmorris]

3. Send her my condolences

How old was he when he was killed? It must be very hard on any family today that has lost a loved one in any war so young.

I've been really lucky and terribly thankful that I've never lost anyone in combat, even with all the people in my family who have served. My heart goes out to those that have. Send her hugs from me.

[havocmom]

4. Peace and Strength to you, Susan.

Will remember James when it is time for candles and my form of prayer this evening. I cannot imagine how much you have missed him these many years.

If the soul survives (and I have come to believe it is so) then the love survives too. We hope for the occasional sign. I hope you get such a comfort from some hint that the love survives.