The Twins Platoon

July 4, 2006, almost 40 years later.

Chris, I have just finished your book. I feel compelled to write you.

All dates and times are not exact but close. I was about one month ahead of you in boot camp at MCRD. Upon graduation I received orders for West Pac and MOS 0311. By October I was in Vietnam and assigned to 3/9 3rd Marine Division. We were based out of the Rock Pile on the DMZ. Route 9 from Dong Ha went right thru our perimeter. At the start of Tet, 1968 we were cut off. No one from my squad escaped Vietnam without injury or in a body bag.

I spent 11 months at Great Lakes Naval hospital. I was the lucky one with only a hand injury. Guilt started to set in. I finished my tour of duty at Quantico, VA. as a rifle coach. Honorable discharged as an E-5 in July of 1969.

Like you my return home was strange to say the least. While on convalesce leave from the hospital my best friend on the way to a party at the U of M said “Don’t tell anyone you are a Marine and don’t say your were in Vietnam”. Everyone was having a wonderful time while I knew my brothers were fighting for their lives. The guilt set in, how could I be here when I knew what was going on over there? I wanted to fit in, the guilt was stronger.

Some close friends wanted to hear about the war and I tried to explain about the horror, fear and pain. I soon found out they had no idea about what I was talking about. I should have said nothing at all.

I was a newly wed and slept with a rifle under the bed. What was wrong with me? I tried raising my son too tough, can he ever forgive me? So I slowly and I thought effectivally began to push all thoughts and feelings about the war and my brothers out of my mind. I felt more guilt. I have not been to the Vietnam Memorial. What is wrong with me? I could not make sense of it. Where was Duty, Honor, Country and God? From english class at De LaSalle high school my hero, Ernest Hemingway wrote about war, it was honorable and respectful.

Then Sue, my wonderful wife, gave me your book for Fathers Day. At first I just put is down after reading “boot camp”. Something made me pick it up and keep reading. Then I could not put it down.

After thanking Sue for giving me your book, I would like to thank you for writting this most powerful account about the war but especially the afterwards when we all came home. You tied things together for me. There is Duty, Honor, Country and God for us. I feel proud and I’m glad that I have served my country. I told Sue there must be divine intervention after reading your book. I would like to ask you if you see Diane Finnemann tell her I believe her brother is in heaven and thank he for the Poem “The Silent Heroes” I wish I could have been there for Skip Schmidt’s remembrance ceremony.

Most of all I wish people would read your book for the troops returning now from this new war. I know that no one can know what they went through but we should honor and respect them for serving their country to preserve our freedom.

Thank you, Chris

Semper Fi

Dwayne D. Glodek, Stillwater, MN