It is with profound
sadness that I pass on the news of the death
of a Vietnam Veteran, POW activist, business
partner, and my brother.
Most of you
don't know of him or have heard of him only
in passing. But, in almost everything I did,
he was right there, urgin g me on. He helped
provide for the funding and publication of my
book, Trails of Deceit.
He was the source
of my original information on the cross border
operations in the original book, Missing in
Action: Trail of Deceit.
He served in
Vietnam, HQ 7th Air Force, Out Country Division
(That is the place where all information concerning
AF Operations that took place outside of SVN
went through). His job was "last man out."
That means - if the base were to be overrun,
his job was to make sure all documents, equipment,
etc. was destroyed with thermite grenades before
he could evacuate himself.
He volunteered
for Vietnam because his older brother (me) had
received orders for Vietnam and by God if I
was there, he was going to be there. I could
not have done many of the things I did unless
he had volunteered to watch our family business
while I was out on the road (often with Earl
and Patty Hopper in the immediate past years).
For those of you who don't know - that means
running our business on a 24 hour a day 7 day
a week basis.
He did that
up until the time emphysema (he had been born
with bronchitis) and astma almost took him from
us 3 years ago (he literally died on us then).
Slowly, the
toll was taken. However, he never let up on
the support for Veterans and our causes. A little
over a year ago, he died once more when with
a 90 percent blockage, his heart stopped and
he had to be put on a breathing aparatus again.
Once again, God sent him back home, this time
on oxygen.
Finally, it
took cancer (on top of all the other things)
to take him out and God, in His mercy, decided
Leroy's time on earth was done. Even in death,
he was a fighter.
Services are
pending - a memorial service date - with full
military honors - are pending.
Just remember,
everytime any work I ever did is mentioned -
He was my strong right arm.
An officer is never worth his salt without his
strong sergeant. Leroy was mine.
Best to you all -
Larry
J O'Daniel
former CPT Military Intelligence USAR
Former Phoenix Operative
******************** **********
We convey our
condolences and our prayers to Larry and his
family on the passing of his brother, Leroy,
our fellow Vietnam Veteran.
