NONE WILL BE FORGOTTEN
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In Memoriam...
Robert A. Fred
(posted Feb 10, 2012)
This from Jerry Gandy:
leaves a deep void to fill. We will miss, mourn and remember him in fondness. Go with God and rest easy our Brother!
Jerry
Capt.Robert H. Fred
Norfolk - Robert H. Fred, Capt. USN, Retired, passed away Feb 9, 2012 at DePaul Medical Center. He was born Oct. `16, 1934, in Gardner, Ma. and was the son of the late John and Gabriel C. Fred.
Bob Enlisted in the US Navy shortly after graduating from high school. His Navy career spanned 36 years. From Airman Apprentice to the rank of Captain. During this time he was the commanding officer of the USS Hunterton County (LST 838) as a unit of TF-116 in Vietnam; the USS Opportune (ARS-41); the USS Newport (LST-1179);Commodore of Service Squadron 8, Little Creek, Va.; and Commodore of Mine Group 2, Charleston, S.C.
During his Navy career, he was the recipient of the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star (two awards with Combat V), Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal (two awards), as well as numerous other decorations, medals, awards, citations, and campaign ribbons.
Bob was a lifetime member of Foreign Legion, and was a lifetime member and active participant of the Gamewardens Association. He was an avid woodworker and enjoyed his fellowship with the Tidewater Woodworker's Guild. He was very interested in photography and the computer and thoroughly enjoyed these hobbies.
Bob is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Geraldine A. Fred, two daughters, Judith R. Fred, and Jacqueline M. Powell, and her husband Terry; two sons, Robert H. Fred Jr., and James E. Fred. He had five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Michael Fred and his wife Lana. He was predeceased by his sister Sandra Simkewicz, and his first wife Marie E. Janssens.
The family will receive on Saturday Feb. 11, from 7 to 9p.m. in Smith and Williams Funeral Home Norfolk Chapel, 818 Norview Ave. A funeral service will be held 12:30p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12th in the funeral home. Burial will be at Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery at a later date. You may pay condolences at www.smithandwilliamsnorfolk.com .
Clarence G. Cooper
(posted Feb 4, 2012)
Published in The Virginian Pilot on February 1, 2012
Please click to Visit Guest Book
Virginia Beach - Clarence G. Cooper, 78, of Virginia
Beach, Va. Beloved Dad, Grandpa, Navy and Vietnam veteran,
Bronze Star (valor)
recipient, veterans advocate and dear friend, "Coop" passed away January 29, 2012 in Va. Beach surrounded by family and friends. He
was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 36 years, Evelyn. Coop is survived by a brother, Ronald Cooper of Granbury, Texas;
daughter, Vicki Hughes of Newport News Va.; a son, Eric Cooper of East Hartford, Conn.; grandson Derek Hughes and granddaughters
Jessica and Elena Cooper. He will be greatly missed. A memorial service will be held for Coop, Friday, February 3 at 11 a.m. at the
PBR 109 Gamewardens of Vietnam Memorial located on the Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story. Please enter the base
using gate #3. In order to attend the service, the Base requests you call the funeral home at 428-7880 and provide your name and your
driver license number for entrance onto the base. Following the service the family will host a reception from 1230-1430 in the
Willoughby Room at the Norfolk Hilton located at 1500 N. Military Hwy, Norfolk, Va. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to a
veterans or troop-support organization, or simply thank a veteran. H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Laskin Road Chapel is handling
arrangements and online condolences may be made to the family
hdoliver.com here.
COOP, we will truly miss you.
Jennifer Shuler Wooten May he rest in peace and I hope he finds my Dad in the afterlife. God bless the family
============ Compiled Memorial email messages ============
From: Nancy & Frank Re COOP, we will truly miss you.
From:JEREBEERY
Veterans Rights Advocate
OFFE National Public Relations Director
AREA 5301 Founder & Pointman
From: Ron Laratta
From: Dick Godbehere
On Sun, Jan 29, 2012 at 10:42 PM, Dick Godbehere <gsd.hawaii@hawaiiantel.net> wrote:
From: James and Cheryl GRAY
All,l God Rest his Soul I will Light a Candel in his name at my Church.
Jim G.
From: Gerald Gandy
It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that I must tell you that we lost Coop at 9:30 this evening. Coop will be cremated as per his wishes, and final arrangements will be forwarded when all plans are finalized. Please join me in prayer for the family.
Gerald Gandy
This picture brings back GREAT
memories!!
This picture was taken in May,
2009.
Bob and Coop addressed the men and
women of SBT-20, along with Medal of Honor Recipients
Mike Thornton and Tommy Norris.
Then, Bob and Coop headed to the
pier. They both got on two Rigid-Hull Inflatable
Boats. They were gone for over an hour and we couldn't
figure out what was taking so long.
They both come back laughing and
soaking wet. Both were at the helm of the two
boats, going toe to toe out there, showing off their
expertise :)
In this picture, you will notice
that Coop is pretty wet. Bob thought it would
be funny to let Coop have it, and did an All Stop, and
soaked Coop.
They had soooo much fun and
were sooo happy:)
It is comforting to know that Coop
was there to help Bob through his transition.
With much love, Adrienne
Richard (Dutch) Schultz
(posted 10/2011) - This from Alice Schultz.
"TO ALL PLEASE NOTE THAT MY HUSBAND RICHARD HAS PASSED AWAY AFTER A LONG ILLNESS. HE DIED YESTERDAY (Oct 1, 2011) AFTER A LOT OF SUFFERING." PRAY FOR HIM.ALICE
Vaughn S. Shuler
(posted 10/2010) - Gamewardens', Vietnam to Present, 1st Vice President was laid to rest in the Veteran's Cemetery, Culpeper VA, with full military honors on October 20, 2010. His interment followed funeral services at Preddy Funeral Home, Gordonsville, VA.
There, in support and remembrance of Vaughn, was his loving family and the following; Gamewardens of Vietnam and wives: Clarence Cooper, Craig Vanderhoef, Dennis Scully, Ed Vick, Gary Marker, Ham Duncan, Jerry Gandy, Jim Morgan, Laurence Bissonnette, Larry Weatherall, Newel Butts and wife, Pat Doyle, and Allen ("Wes") Weseleskey and wife.
Vaughn, noted for his out-spoken and candid manner was loved and highly respected by us all and, his absence will leave a vacancy within Gamewardens' Vietnam to Present, that can never be filled. We will all miss him. Hooooyah shipmate!
William Hedrick, Sr.
(ABCS)(posted 10/2010) - Gamewardens' Association, Vietnam to Present River Division 553 passed away Nov. 6, 2010 at 0230 hours.
Chief Robert “Willie” Wilson
River Division 592/ RPG-56 (posted 11/2010)
This by way of Ralph Christopher.
It is with heavy heart that I send this letter out and feel free to pass on. My friend and fellow river rat brother Don DeCrona sent me the sad news this morning that another Naval Legend has passed on.
ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ Police have identified the two people involved in a fatal one-vehicle crash on Wednesday as a married couple from the Port Monmouth section of Middletown. Robert Wilson, 75, died after the crash at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank, according to Chief Jerry Vasto. His wife, Elizabeth, 73, was flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where she remained listed in critical condition today, Vasto said. At about 12:31 p.m., Robert Wilson was driving a van with his wife in the front passenger seat, heading east on Route 36, when he crashed into a tree, according to Vasto. An investigation is still ongoing and an autopsy on Robert Wilson is scheduled for later today, Vasto said.
I first met Willie at the Wall in DC with his son Chet and he was very kind to me and gave me a PBR ball cap that I will always cherish in the memory of him. We spent the next two years emailing and talking on the phone while writing River Rats and he volunteered all his info to me in memory of the river rats and the brotherhood we share. Willie was a chief mineman and patrol officer with RIVDIV 592 and when they turned their PBRs over went on with them to serve in RPG 56 of which he was immensely proud. He had been stationed on YRBM 21 with me and my NSA brothers and we spent many hours recalling those days of duty honor and sacrifice on the Mekong, Grand Canal and Vam Co Dong. Willie lost his CO, LCDR John Poe in Nam but never forgot him or any of his shipmates and spent many hours helping me record their stories of which I will always be in his debt. He never treated me like a E4 support puke and supported me and my work for many years and so did his wife Betty and son Chet. I have been so blessed to have had men in my corner like Willie and the rest of you and thank the lord for this. With the passing of my buddy and silent partner Tom Glickman who was my mentor and worked hard with me thru two books, GWVN East Coast Vice President Vaughn Shuler and now Willie Wilson we have all lost three brothers who were our leaders in Nam and remained our friends through life. It seems only fitting to me that I end this sad note with the poem that Willie wrote and donated to me and my book River Rats and I have already requested that my wife do the same for me as Willie requested on the last two lines of his heart felt poem.
HE RUNS THE RIVER NIGHT AND DAY
UPON HIS HEAD A BLACK BERET.
COMBING WATERS FILLED WITH DEATH
KNOWING FEAR WITH EVERY BREATH.
FIGHTING FOR A CAUSE THAT’S RIGHT
A CHANCE OF NOT LIVING THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT,
SAILORS OF A DIFFERENT BREED
TRAINED TO FIGHT BORN TO LEAD.
FIGHTING BOATS WITH HULLS OF GREEN
THE VERY BEST YOU’VE EVER SEEN.
WE STANDS’ UP STRAIGHT WITH HEAD HELD HIGH
WILL ALWAYS LOOK YOU IN THE EYE.
SO MY FRIENDS WHEN I’VE GONE TO REST
LAY A BLACK BERET UPON MY CHEST.
by
Chief Robert “Willie” Wilson
River Division 592/ RPG-56
Tom Glickman
(posted 11/2010) - Captain, U.S. Navy Retired - Gamewarden member passed in August, 2010.
This by way of Jerry Gandy.
It is with a heavy heart that I must let you know that a most loyal and loving Chapter Brother has passed away. Tom, who lived here in Virginia Beach was quite active with Gamewardens and the local
chapter. He will be missed by those of us who held him so dear to our hearts.
Don English
(posted 11/2010) - Passed away on Friday night, November 12th, 2010. (Thanks to Herb/Lorie Stephan)
EN3 Robert L. Blais
PBR 139 - KIA 31 January 1969
HE WAS A MATE
He was a mate, a real good mate 'e was,
A friendly sort of feller, liked a joke;
And if it had to happen, it's a shame
It had to happen to such a decent bloke.
But - ah, fair dinkum, don't it make you wonder
What God in Heaven's thinkin' about up there;
The way He chooses who to sacrifice
To me somehow it doesn't quite seem fair.
You'd think He'd want to take a bloke like me
Who'd be no loss to no-one here on Earth;
But no, He always seems to pick the best
Whose life amounts to ten times what mine's worth.
But I suppose He'd say it's not His fault,
It's us and how we treat our fellow man;
And if too many good blokes' lives are lost
We can't just blame it all on His great plan.
He slung us here on Earth and said "Righto,
Get on with it you blokes, the world is yours";
But all we've done is fight among ourselves
And destroy each other with our endless wars.
Now, there's a sort of aching here inside,
I can't quite put my finger on what's wrong;
But a sailor can't afford to feel this way,
He's got to grit his teeth and carry on.
So how's a bloke supposed to deal with this?
I know they trained me well, I can't complain;
But this is somethin' you don't learn about
When they teach you how to play the sailor's game.
They teach you how to shoot and how to kill,
You even learn which enemy to hate;
But nowhere in their training do you learn
How to live with the loss of a real good mate.
