Vehicle Commander's Hatch

Read on... "10 Years later", some reflections of mine and an article from the Buffalo News as they interview Dave's parents 10 years later....

January 29, 2001

I spend tonight, much as I spend every January 29th, grateful that I am indeed alive, thankful for my family and my life and forever indebted to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. I spend time looking at my photo album, sifting through old pictures, maps and nick-knacks from another age, a world and a life-time away. I think about the events leading up to that fateful night, the reports of an overwhelming Iraqi force moving through the area, the Frag-O just prior to moving out. I read through my notes, I still have the notes which I took during the Frag-O. I think about what we heard on the net that night. I can remember hearing that we had lost a TOW and we never found out until the next day that it was 521845 or Caligula. For those who don't remember, Cotto had written that on the rear of the LAV, just above the gunners door, making light of what he thought was a rather 'rag-tag' crew.

Going back some, I knew Dave probably the best of the bunch. He and Cotto where both in Weapons company in '89 when I joined the LAI Bn. Cotto went on WESTPAC later and I didn't see him until later. Walker and Shroeder joined prior to our deployment and although I didn't know them really well, still feel the loss.

I spent many years trying to contact Dave's family, off and on again. I finally contacted quite by accident, the sister of PFC Moline, 3rd LAI who was KIA as well. She put me in touch with the organization which sets up the memorial serviced for The Gulf War KIAs who in turn put me in touch with Dave's mom. My first contact with them was the phone, which I answered and there she was. We chatted and now email quite often. I am planning a trip to PA/NJ this spring with my wife and kids to visit family, and am thinking about seeing them.

In closing, I want to share something with you all. The image which is attached to this message, I hope it worked) is of a dog tag. I found this when I came back from the middle east with the crest attached to it. I had the other side engraved with the inscription, In memory of Vehicle 521845, 29 January 1991. For those who remember, I have had this along with one of the dog tags I wore the entire time over there, hanging from my rear-view mirror since our return from the middle east. This year, we bought a brand new 2000 GMC pick-up. When we got it home, the very first thing I transferred over from my other truck to my new one, was this set of dog tags. Every time I get in my truck, I am reminded of the price they paid and how fortunate we are, as well as superstitious, my dog tag kept me safe over there, so hopefully keep me safe here. I am glad to see people writing here, getting out and sharing our thoughts about those days. Keep it up, and keep posting.