George William Pepe
Warrant Officer
170TH AHC, 52ND AVN BN, 17TH AVN GROUP, 1ST AVIATION BDE, USARV
Army of the United States
East Granby, Connecticut
May 06, 1948 to September 10, 1969
GEORGE W PEPE is on the Wall at Panel W18, Line 65

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George W Pepe
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29 Dec 2001

George

It was early in the morning
on a warm day late in May
when he shook my hand and said goodbye
and then he went away.

He was no more than just a lad
of 20 years or so
but all of us who were close to him
knew why he had to go.

Since he was just a little boy
with his eyes turned to the sky
he knew that someday very soon
he would simply have to fly.

It was a sunny day in Georgia
early in the spring
when we stood and watched him ever so proud
as he received his flyer's wings.

Then off he went to fight a war
in a place called Viet Nam
to the heat, filth and chilling rain,
red dust and grimey sand.

He was an excellent pilot
and his job he did so well
in endless days filled with battle
and nights that were pure hell.

Twas on his 56th mission
when his God came to call
for George was not to fly again
from the sky his plane did fall.

I know he had no selfish dreams
of immortality
but he will forever be a hero
to his loving mother and me.

On a quiet day in autumn
a stillness lay o'er the land
as the flag was neatly folded
and placed in his mother's hands.

He lies on a peaceful hillside
away from shot and shell
and I know he dwells in heaven
for he served his time in hell.

It is a quiet day forever
as he lays beneath my feet
and the tears that fall like raindrops
will never cease their beat.

George would now have said to me
"Dad, wipe away those tears
It's far better to have lived one day as a lion
than a lamb for a hundred years."

The last two lines in the poem were taken from George's high school year book.

From his parents,
William and Emily Pepe
billpepe@webtv.net


 
17 Sep 2002

To family and friends.
In remembrance



10 Sep 2003

In remembrance



Sincerely, Martin Kristensen
martin_homer@hotmail.com

 
31 Jul 2007

A few years ago I rekindled my relationship with my long lost cousin Bill Pepe and his wonderful wife and family. I had often wondered what had happened to them and when I stumbled onto this site and e-mailed Bill I was pleasantly surprised to find him.

Having met George only as a child I fondly remember him visiting my Uncle Nick with his sister and family. Even though it was only a memory to me it was vivid in my mind.

As a result of this memorial I have renewed my association with this wonderful family. Their love for each other and for all the members of the Pepe family are amazing. I thank God for the internet and the ability to rekindle some unity from this tragedy.

With love and compassion and a multitude of prayers for George and his devoted parents,
Bill and Rosalie Pepe.

From a cousin to George's father,
William Pepe
williampepe@webtv.net


 

A Note from The Virtual Wall

Two men of the 170th Assault Helicopter Company were killed when their UH-1D HUEY (hull number 66-16602) was shot down west of Pleiku:
  • WO1 Peter Thomas Lundberg, aircraft commander, and
  • WO1 George William Pepe, copilot.
They are remembered by their comrades-in-arms on the 170th AHC Memorial page , part of the 170th AHC site .

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