31 Dec 2003 Buddy was my Brother-In-Law. We were both in the Navy, but never met until I married his sister. We were able to hook up several times over the next couple of years. Nice guy. Never heard a negative word out of him. He had already spent one tour in Vietnam and was heading back for another. He flew back to Vietnam with my squadron (VR-883) out of Naval Air Station Olathe, Kansas, and worked just like he was one of the aircrew. If I had known the ultimate outcome of that ride, I never would have let him get aboard that plane. Nearly a year later, as fate would have it, I was shipping out of San Francisco for Vietnam the same day the Navy brought his body into San Francisco on his way back to Belton for the funeral service. The Navy wouldn't let me go back home for the service. I read the account of what happened in the Stars & Stripes when I was in Vietnam. He had so much life left and so much potential, but he died defending freedom; something he felt was worth dying for. We wish we could have seen what he might have done with his life, but are so proud of what he did do. He will always be remembered and missed. From his brother-in-law, Terry Doepke terry.doepke@oesc.state.ok.us

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall 3rd Bn, 7th Marines Command Chronology 7th Marines Operations Log The two entries above explain what happened - the vehicle carrying a MACV Chaplain, the photo team, and their driver and "door gunner" was destroyed by a mine, killing all six men. They were HQ Co, 7th Marines LCpl Roger L. Young, Cocoa, FL, driver Pfc Gale L. Barnes, Marshall, MI, security man HQ, MACV Chaplain (LTC) Don L. Bartley, Rockbridge Baths, VA Photo Team PH1 Robert G. Stricklin, Santa Ana, CA JO1 William R. Wilson, Kansas City, MO PH2 Carl W. Hudgins, Belton, MO

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