William T Dee Jr.

First and foremost, yet another in the ever-thinning line of Vietnam Veterans passes on to Glory. My condolences to his family and to his friends.

Bill and I grew up together in Bethel Park, and our backyards were adjacent to each other. We had nothing but fun, and his parents were simply marvelous. His Dad pretended to be all business, but Bill shared his Dad's twinkle in the eye, and mischievous nature. His mother tended to our various scrapes, cuts, and other self-inflicted wounds that young kids manage to encounter, and Jessie was a caring and loving Mom to the entire neighborhood.

I suppose we were 13 or 14 when his Dad was promoted and they moved away. In later years, both of us grandparents, we had a chance to meet in Philadelphia and reminisce about our time together as kids.

As it turns out, we served our Republic at about the same time, and both of us had a Vietnam tour under our belt. I was quick to share my tour of duty; rear echelon, living off base in Taiwan, supporting the repatriation of our POW's. Our unit (Air Force) was involved in Linebacker II, bringing the North Vietnamese to the peace tables.

Bill would only share that he was a crewman on Swift Boats in the Mekong Delta, that he served honorably in the Navy, and that was it. I tried to pry information from him, but as most heroes do, he didn't care to brag or glorify his service. I know from interviews that river duty was brutal, and I can't blame him for not being forthcoming.

Part of me wished he would have shared, but I've learned long ago not to press. I hope in this short remembrance, everyone understands that Bill was not only a childhood friend, but a hero in the truest sense of the word.

And so, fair winds and a following sea to you, sailor, Patriot, keeper of the faith. We'll meet again somewhere where the guns are silent and share our stories. For the living, I do so hope they know that for you Duty, Honor, Country were not some hollow words without meaning.

As the days and weeks pass, and as you return to life´s routine, may you continue to feel comforted by the love and support of God, family and friends. Please find comfort in the words found at Isaiah 61: 1,2.