Paul Denis Kreger

Paul and I grew up together, rode the same school bus, had the same assigned seats. Later on his family moved into Eatonville and we didn't see as much of each other. With his love for high school baseball and his natural ability, I just knew he was going to be a professional some day.

I graduated before him, went in the Army and went to Vietnam. I knew he was going to graduate the following year and go to college on a baseball scholarship. But in February 72, my mother wrote me and said that not only is Paul in the Army, but he is also in Vietnam! She was going to try and find out where because he was my friend, besides from such a small town of 850, and already running into Mike and Rick Lane, this would be like a home town reunion. But the next letter had his funeral notice. That tore me up. When I got home I visited his grave in Eatonville, told him off, and left.

The town dedicated a baseball field in his honor.

A few years ago I was visiting, and went by his grave. I see his mother is placed beside him now. It looks unkept. I apologized for not being by sooner. I cleaned up the area, placed a small American flag by him and a small white rose.

I vow that as long as I am able I will I will maintain his grave site in a respectable manner becoming of the great hero he is to me!