|
We all have “best friends”. Some “best friends” survive for many years or even a lifetime. Frequently, though, distance and circumstance curtail these relationships. These past “best friends” remain in a cryogenic state. There is no doubt that should you find yourselves together again, nothing would have changed. This is a test of best friend status.
Jonesy and I met at Princeton where we joined the same eating club (fraternity). Bill had come from a wonderful “salt of the earth” family in Quincy, Massachusetts. I came from the Bronx. Jonesy rowed crew. I played golf. We were close friends. We stayed up to listen to WBZ play “Alice’s Restaurant” and “Light My Fire”. We fantasized about starting a school in a land free of snakes and bugs. In 1966 we ran against each other for club president. I voted for Jonesy. He won by a single vote.
On graduation in 1967 there was one thing on our minds; Vietnam. Jonesy was concerned with getting drafted out of law school. As with all things he treated the problem head-on and enlisted in the Marines. I kept a low profile in Harvard’s hallowed halls.
During his entire tour of duty we wrote each other. These letters are among my most treasured possessions. I gave him my very lucky t-shirt to help him return home safely.
2/LT. W.A. Jones 0102835
A Company 1/27
1st Marine Div. FMFPAC
FPO San Francisco 96602
July 4, 1968
Dear Dave:
Things have been hectic for me the last week and a half. In June I was personally, those bullets were actually aimed at me, shot at for the first time (but not the last). It was a particularly unpleasant sensation. The next day the same thing happened (maybe I should stay away from the radio operator).
And we made a two platoon, in line, John Wayne type assault, movie style. I had my 45 in one hand and a grenade in the other and I was leading the platoon in a movie-like charge. You should have seen it. It’s exciting when you don’t stop to think about how you could be killed or your men could be killed or maimed. For the moment, for the charge, there was nothing but adrenaline and excitement. I still enjoy being in the field, but the odds are starting to catch up. On the last operation, seven platoon commanders and two company commanders got hit. That’s out of a total of sixteen officers. Anytime I’m offered an office job, I’ll take it.
Of the five Princeton Marines to come straight to Vietnam, I’m the last one left. Davis caught malaria and is in Cam Ranh Bay. Bill Black, Bill Dakin and John Tritsch have all been wounded.
Some f---ing Independence Day. My troops want to set off all the fireworks we have; flares, star clusters illumination, smoke, grenades, tracers. I’ll keep you posted. Meanwhile, keep looking for that snakeless, insectless island.
Jonesy
What a wonderful reunion on his return! The t-shirt looked like the Shroud of Turin. Pandy and I were married with Jonesy in the wedding. We didn’t have a honeymoon, so that we could be at Jonesy and Linda’s nuptials a week later. They went to California. We went to Ohio, with promises to reunite.
Bill Jones died of cancer last month. Our reunion will have to wait.
© 2002 David Reiser and The Athens Messenger, where it appeared December 13, 2002. Used by permission.
David Reiser ’67 has lived in Athens Ohio for the past 30-odd years since receiving his Master’s in Architecture from Harvard. After teaching at Ohio University’s School of Architecture, he opened his own architecture firm, specializing in mostly institutional assignments, with occasional forays into commercial and residential. He and his wife Pandy have two grown children, Aaron and Winter. He enjoys fishing, sailing and paddling and also operates a lead glass studio, producing windows for churches. He keeps up most closely with Philip Lynch and Lou Birenbaum.
-- Lanny Springs
|
