WESTERN UNION TELEGRAM
APR 21 1968
MRS MARGARET A LARSON
THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY HAS ASKED ME TO EXPRESS HIS DEEP REGRET THAT YOUR HUSBAND WARRANT OFFICER PAUL N LARSON HAS BEEN MISSING IN VIETNAM SINCE 19 APRIL 1968
HE WAS LAST SEEN AS AIRCRAFT COMMANDER ON A HELICOPTER ON COMBAT OPERATION WHEN HIS HELICOPTER COLLIDED IN MID-AIR WITH ANOTHER HELICOPTER CRASHED AND BURNED
SEARCH IS IN PROGRESS
YOU WILL BE ADVISED PROMPTLY WHEN FURTHER INFORMATION IS RECEIVED IN ORDER TO PROTECT ANY INFORMATION THAT MIGHT BE USED TO YOUR HUSBANDS DETRIMENT YOUR COOPERATION IS REQUESTED IN MAKING PUBLIC ONLY INFORMATION CONCERNING HIS RANK SERVICE NUMBER AND DATE OF BIRTH
THIS CONFIRMS PERSONAL NOTIFICATION MADE BY A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY.
So my life began, and while my father never came home alive, my dad did. The latter was also a Vietnam veteran, and somehow, he came home alive and was able to raise four boys, of which only one was his own.
I never felt like I was anything less than his son (believe me, I felt it) and while my father gave me life, my dad raised me to be a man.
Today this same senerio plays out across our great country every day. Every military mother goes to bed praying that they will not receive a telegram like my family did so many years ago.
Those who are lucky have also to deal with helping their veterans regain a foothold in life and adjust to a “normal” way of living.
Please remember that our government dictates war and our armed service personnel execute it. They rarely have a say, but they always do their job.
Stateside or overseas, please say a prayer of goodwill for all of our veterans still living, and a prayer of thanks for those who are dead.
Cris Larson
Everett
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