Ready To Serve
Posted for: EDWARD MORRIS PIKE:
I served at same time. Did not know Pike well, we lived in different hootches. He was part of the maintenance platoon working in the big tents on the flightline. Each ship carried a crew chief as the left side gunner and that person had been trained as a mechanic. Some of the maintenance guys did not want to fly, but Pike was ready and willing when the time came. I think he may have volunteered to become a crew chief in order to go on flight status so another guy could finish his tour doing maintenance. His last mission was only a week or so after he went on flight status. His gunner, on the right side of the ship, was a former infantryman who had done six months in the field and reenlisted so he could do a safe job like doorgunner. Can't remember his name, but he came back from the mission unscratched.......who can account for the irony and fickleness of combat and death? Pike had fewer hours than anyone else flying in our company, but paid the ultimate price. He was the only KIA during my seven months, but it was the big Tet offensive.

We all were young and grew older fast in those times. Anymore I'm like the old soldier looking at graves....wondering if I have lived a good life and made a difference with the "extra time" I got. What's Charlie Sheen say at the end of Platoon as he flies away..."I realized every day for the rest of my life would be a gift, but Vietnam would always be with me.." Pike is with me, too. I wish I'd had a chance to know him better.
Posted by: John Edwards
Email: us5466@yahoo.com
Relationship: We served together
Tuesday, February 17, 2004
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