Roger Allen De Die Sergeant C BTY, 2ND BN, 17TH ARTY RGT, 41ST ARTY GRP, 1 FIELD FORCE Army of the United States 13 August 1948 - 24 November 1969 Vicksburg, Michigan Panel 16W Line 116

 

18 Apr 2002 REMEMBERED ACROSS THE YEARS by a friend, Iva Neidlinger Markovich E-mail address is not available.

 

27 Dec 2004 I can't believe it is just over 35 years ago that Roger died. I was with him when he passed away. Every time I think of it, I feel hollow inside. I knew Roger from training at Fort Sill. We were both in the same training Battery. After graduation, both of us were assigned to LTC. Although we were separated while we were assigned to a training cadre for our OJT, we kept in touch. However, I guess it was luck or fate that put us back together when we were sent to Viet Nam. Both of us were assigned to "C" Btry, 2nd Bn, 17th Arty. This was a 155 Battery which was then located outside of Qui Nhon. Later, we were sent to An Khe and then on to Ban Me Thuot in the Central Highlands. At Ban Me Thuot we were made air mobile and given 105's. Most of the Battery including Roger's and my sections were sent to a forward fire base we called LZ Anne. This is where we came under fire from a NVA Division. Our howitzers fired support constantly for nearly a week. Our sections, Roger's and mine, were selected and airlifted to a special forces camp called Bu Prang to fire support for them. This is where Roger died during a mortar attack. I was also wounded and was with him when he died. He was a great man. He always talked about his wife and family because he truly loved them. He never got to tell them that. He did not suffer when he went. The Lord was with him. Roger and I were friends. Both of us had similar interests and used to sit around and discuss many subjects. He was well educated and knew how to handle men. It took me 35 years to write this because I could never talk about it. We lost others there. Lt. Mykins, Sgt Brown and another LT who was acting as paymaster. All of those men were good. We the living must never forget them and I will always miss Roger. War is such a waste. Coming home I saw a phrase scratched on a wall. It said something like "Freedom has a special taste that those who never fought for it will never know." How true. Thanks Roger!! Monday, December 27, 2004 From a friend and fellow traveler, Thomas C. Bast 555 Peace Street, Hazleton, Pa 18201 tcbast@epix.net

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