I Knew Eddie Riggins

THE MARINE CORPS SERVED TO STRAIGHTEN MY IDEAS AS TO WHAT IT WAS TO BECOME A MAN AND ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. ALWAYS FAITHFUL IS A RELIGION TO ALMOST ALL MARINES. SEMPER FIDELIS. THE STORY I HAVE SUBMITTED IS MY TRIBUTE TO A MOST COURAGEOUS AND DECENT YOUNG MAN WHO DIDNT HAVE ALMOST ANY OF THE ADVANTAGES THE REST OF US NEW WHILE GROWING UP. IT WAS AN HONOR TO KNOW HIM. I'M SURE GOD HAS BLESSED HIM. WE HAVENT BEN ABLE TO LOCATE ANY OF HIS FAMILY AND CAN'T EVEN FIND AN OBITUARY FOR HIM IN THE CLEVELAND NEWS PAPERS. I ONLY HOPE THAT ANY RELATIVES OF HIS GET THE OPORTUNITY TO READ THIS STORY AND THE TRIBUTES TO HIM FROM THE VIET NAM MEMORIAL WALL. FRAZIER

ABOUT THE AUTHOR; THIS WILL BE THE SECOND STORY OF MINE PUBLISHED BY AUTHOR HOUSE. THE OTHER IS RUFF AND TRUSTY, WRITTEN UNDER MY MIDDLE NAME AND MOTHERS MAIDEN NAME FRANKLIN WOOD. I'M A 71 YEAR OLD APPLE PEAR AND CHERRY ORCHARDIST RETIRED. I'VE BEEN A US MARINE, A 24 YEARS VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER, A CONSTRUCTION OWNER AND OPERATOR. COACHED MANY YEARS OF LITTLE LEAGUE SPORTS AND SERVED 9 YEARS ON THE MONITOR COMMUNITY COUNCIL. I ALSO SERVED ON THE FIRST FOREST SERVICE FIRE SUPPRESSION CREW AT CASHMERE BEFORE LEAVING FOR THE MARINE CORP. MY MAIN INTEREST IN LIFE IS HISTORY AS I BELIEVE IT GIVES YOU SOME INSIGHT TOWARD THE FUTURE. I'M A SINGLE MAN AND THE FATHER OF FOUR GREAT KIDS AND AT THIS TIME 7 BEAUTIFUL GRAND CHILDREN.