When I was young Memorial Day was just the holiday that ended the school year, the day on which the Indy 500 was run and the day to honor our service men who died defending our country. At that time of my life the first two associations with the holiday meant more to me than the last. I couldn’t wait to be out of school and have fun. Living just down the street from Johnny Rutherford meant you had to watch the Indy 500 to see if he would win the race. Remembering our service men who had died during a time of war was important as well, but when you had no personal involvement, not knowing anyone who had died, it just didn’t have a lot of emotional impact or personal meaning. With the onset of the Vietnam war all that changed in what seemed like a heart beat. On November 4, 1966 I lost my best friend from 3rd grade through high school. Then on March 25, 1967 I lost a good friend and high school classmate. Since then Memorial Day is only about remembrance. The other things pale in significance. I will never forget these two fine young men.
In Memoriam
Thomas Lee Blackman - USN
February 10, 1945 - November 4, 1966
Died in an explosion and fire below decks on the U.S.S. Roosevelt in the South China Sea. Vietnam Memorial Wall - Panel 12E - Line 018
I remember warm summer days when we rode our bicycles all over the neighborhood and dreamed of what we’d do when we were grown. Once you went down the hill on Westwick gathering speed and made the turn onto Almena yelling ‘look, no brakes’. Not to be out done I did the same and wound up on the rear fender of a pickup truck half scaring the driver and myself to death. We had a good laugh about that once we realized that neither the truck nor I had been damaged. I remember winter days spent inside, building model cars and airplanes, talking of what kind of car we would get when we could drive, how we would customize our cars and of course girls. I moved from the old neighborhood, but not too far, as high school started but we remained close and as usual talked of our future. We did not know of Vietnam then, nor how it would affect our lives. We were still innocents, relatively untouched by the world. Yet the Vietnam war will be forever imprinted on our generation. You were the best friend a person could ever have. I believe that somehow we are still close, and somewhere our bicycles are still streaking down the hills of River Oaks. May God bless you and your family.
Gary Ken Newman - USMC - Semper Fi
April 23, 1945 - March 25, 1967
Died during a fire fight in Quang Tri Province when their position was being overrun by VC. Vietnam Memorial Wall - Panel 17E - Line 046
Ken and his sister moved into our school district when we were in junior high. He was a fullback on our football team earning honorable mention all district his senior year. He was also picked as best all around student his senior year. You could always count on Ken for a big smile and being in the middle of the action. May God bless Ken and his family.