Tom Garcia:
CLASS OF 1948
Ridge Street Elementary SchoolClass of 1948
Newark, NJ
Borman Elementary SchoolClass of 2001
Tucson, AZ
Potter's School for GirlsClass of 1976
Tucson, AZ
Seton Hall UniversityClass of 1956
South orange, NJ
Bloomfield High SchoolClass of 1952
Bloomfield, NJ
Tom's Story
BATH MAINE
JULY 2009
By Tom Garcia
It was early one morning in McDonalds, Bath, Maine. The customer in line behind me was wearing a cap with Vietnam and an embroidered Combat Infantrymans Badge. I said Hello, plus a few other pleasantries. He sat alone at a table in the back of the store while I sat nearby hooking my laptop computer to McDonalds WiFi network. A couple sat down in a booth behind me and I couldn't see them. The man behind me was wearing a ball cap with something on it that indicated a military connection and the man I had spoken to got up and walked over to the table behind me. He was talking to the couple and I wasn't listening 'till one word came through that got my attention, Kontum. With that I turned around and said, Kontum? One of you was there? The man I had not previously spoken to said, "That's me. I said, So was I. FOB II. Helicopter pilot." The man said "Me too. FOB II. Special Forces." Well, it was like old home week then. After a bit the wife said, "The more you guys get talking the more I learn about [pointing at husband] him." Maybe they haven't been married too long or she [like my wife] wo...Expand for more
uld have heard all the stories many times.
One subject likely to come up at some time among SF people is that of Jerry Mad Dog Shriver.
A new story I heard that day was as follows: Jerry was called down to Saigon for an award presentation. He was always getting awards. This time it was a Bronze Star. He stood in line waiting for the Colonel to call his name and when it was called he moved up to the Colonel and saluted. The Colonel looked and grimaced. If you knew Jerry you can picture the scene. The Colonel looking sharp and well dressed as is the case with the usual Saigon REMF. And Jerry? He is in his boonie clothes. Boots maybe more muddy than shined. Shaved head. Ear ring in left ear. The Colonel said in a gruff voice, "Soldier. When you can be dressed looking like a soldier you can come back" and he motioned for Jerry to move on so the next awardee could take his place. (I asked my informant if Jerry had his dog with him [Klaus] and was told that he did have him.) When the Colonel told Jerry to move on Jerry smiled, saluted, and said, "I already have six of 'em. I don't need no more."And away he went. Pure Jerry!
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