Dennis Latham
dennislatham@embarqmail.com
Served with him in Vietnam.
PO Box 105 Guilford IN 47022 USA
http://www.combatptsd.net
David died along with my best friend Charles Searles during an ambush while they were gun truck security on a convoy going to the Arizona at An Hoa south of Danang. I was supposed to be on the truck but because I was a short timer, the Captain made me get off because I had been the gunner the day before.
The lead truck broke down, and David took the lead with his gun truck. The ambush took out their truck. David had a grenade tossed into his lap and Chuck died in the back of the truck from recoiless rifle fire and mortars. The enemy soldier with the grenade was killed by a grunt in the truck behind them.
I spoke with David's brother a few years ago and gave him the details of how David died because no one had ever told the family. It was one of hardest things I've ever had to do.
I think of David every day. He had dark hair and crewcut he always combed back, but it still stood up all over. He had a good sense of humor and we got along great. He was a Marine. Semper Fi.
Dennis Latham
May 12, 2008
Dennis Latham
dennislatham@embarqmail.com
With him the day he was KIA
Po Box 105 Guilford IN 47022 USA
Charles Searles/PTSD Blog
http://lathamcombatptsd.blogspot.com/
I knew Paul Sutherland, Chuck, and David Nelson (KIA) with Chuck. Paul went home, and I was supposed to rotate home with Chuck on July 19. I was with him on the truck that day, and the Captain made me get off because were were both short timers. Chuck and David were killed in the ambush, and Captain Maggio saved my life.
Jan 12, 2009
PAUL SUTHERLAND
PSUTHER598@AOL.COM
SERVED IN VIETNAM TOGETHTER
FRIEND
I REMEBER WELL OUR R&R TO HONG KONG,WHAT GREAT TIME,I THINK OF OUR NIGHT PATROLS, I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERY FOURTH OF JULY- RIDING THE GUN TRUCK TOGETHER ON ALL THOSE OTHER CONVOYS- TO THIS DAY I SHED TEARS ABOUT WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN- I WAS GOING TO FLY TO CA AFTER YOU GOT OUT- SEMPER FI CHUCK
Jun 6, 2007
