Lemme tell you a true story that breaks my heart. · 5:16am Aug 3rd, 2014
Two days ago, July 30, 2014, I went to see my aunt and cousins who I haven't seen in eight years and was also volunteering myself to the traveling Vietnam wall that came to the Chehalis, WA. This trip was enjoyable, but also heart-wrenching. As some of you know, I am with the JROTC (Junior Reserves Officer Training Corps) and I decided to wear my ACU (Army Combat Uniform) during the time I was there. It felt right and it was right. When I was down there I met my-I supposed you would call-Uncle-in-law (if that's where I'm going or if it exists): Clarence Dieu (say dew). He was very pleased to meet me and I was in return. His brother, also known as my grandmother's first husband, served in the 1st Calvary Division for the US Army. He was a PFC (Private First Class). He died January 28, 1967. His name was Gary A. Dieu. Yesterday, August 1, 2014, I got to the National Veteran's Museum (where the wall was being held) at 0800 (8:00). It was me and a few older gentlemen (Vietnam veterans who volunteered). They introduced themselves to me and I did as well. It was all good. Then, the cars started coming and people were asking for names from the walls........I watched many, many people walk up to that wall, fall on their knees, and cry. I don't know how long they were there. Many were there for hours, some were there for at least twenty minutes........It made me want to cry, but I didn't. I had to help the museum with the ceremonies. There first ceremony was the opening ceremony. It started at 1800 (6:00). I was their for 11 hours. There were many flowers on the wall. During one of my breaks, I took a tour in the museum and heard a hundred stories. Many of them were tragic. I ran into one section that caught my eye and a picture from my camera. It was a whole panel about Gary A. Dieu. I read whatever was left of the old newspapers behind the glass. I saw his picture and I swore he looked no older than 22. Later, I found out that he actually died at the age of 22. My grandmother saw the picture and stood motionless. I was shocked is to how she was still standing. The next day, August 2, 2014, the museum was holding two ceremonies. I volunteered to help again. The first ceremony honored the veterans who came back home. I met many of them and blessed them. They blessed me for the career path I'm choosing (to join ROTC and become a 2nd Lieutenant and join the US Army Infantry). I left for about two hours to visit my cousin, Kaytie, who is in a Safe Family Ministries for quitting drugs and raising her son, Jayden. My new baby cousin. I got back and helped out with parking cars (directing them where to go). Then, the second ceremony came. What I found out was that the second ceremony was honoring the veterans who died in Vietnam. I didn't want to stay for the whole thing so I went into the volunteer's RV where there were snacks and drinks. I hanged out with CAP (Civil Air Patrol) cadets. I didn't stay for long because I four out of the (I guess) thirty found out that I am Bisexual. I sensed homophobia and excused myself. I didn't need the insults of what others think of a curse. When I went outside, I looked up at the speaker and saw a gentleman walk up to the microphone. He said that he drew portraits of fallen heroes for free. A very generous offer. Only because he was an art teacher at the PLU (Pacific Lutheran University) and he quit his job just to do this. Bless his soul. Another gentleman took his spot, who was on the verge of tears, told us a story. What I didn't expect was the man he was talking about: Gary A. Dieu. "This is the story about Gary A. Dieu. Gary was a young man who joined the US Army in 1965." I looked in the crowd and was searching for my grandmother. I laid eyes on her and saw her removing her sunglasses. She was in the front row and was on the right side of the crowd. (There were chairs for them to sit on for the audience) I walked around the entire crowd and started to hear her sob. "During a firefight, Gary's troops sprang into a Vietnamese booby trap that activated a live hand grenade. When Gary picked up the grenade to throw it back at the enemy, the grenade went off. It instantly killed Gary and a few of his fellow soldiers." When the man on the microphone said that, I knelt down next to my grandmother and wrapped my arms around her. She cried into my arms and I won't lie. I was on the verge of tears myself. The man on the microphone could barely keep it in anymore. He gave up the microphone and gave it to someone else. Another gentleman took the microphone and said "Gary's brother, Clarence, volunteers at the museum and we will be presenting him a portrait of his brother Gary." He looked down at me and my grandmother. A First Sergeant of the US Army with his ACU approached my grandmother with a red rose in his hand. "First Sergeant (I can't remember his name) something will be giving Gary's wife Sharon a rose." I notice a flash of a camera being taken somewhere. There was a Sergeant Major taking pictures of the event. "And to her side is Sharon's grandson Cameron." I heard my name, but my grandmother's sobs were more important than being notified that my name would be heard on the radio (they recorded the speeches live on the radio for all the ceremonies). In five minutes, the ceremony was over. My grandmother's first husband's name was the last man they mentioned for the ceremony. Many people walked over to my grandmother and gave their condolences. A lot of people knew Gary. Mainly because some of the men served with him and the wives of the husbands who just couldn't bare to come. Once they were gone, I walked my grandmother over to the wall. She placed a rose in my water bottle that I gave to her. She placed it on the ground next to panel 14E underneath line 90. The rose was one pedal too short from touching Gary's name. She bent down on one knee, still crying, and kissed her finger and wiped her finger across his name, first to last. I watched her and thought how strong she was to marry an American Soldier. She got stood up and said she was gonna say goodbye to Clarence and leave. I told her that I would join her in a moment. I walked around the museum and gave my blessings and thank yous to the veterans. They blessed me with a good life. I told thought to myself, these men gave everything to their country and there are people in this country that hated the Vietnam veterans for the war they were sent in. How disgusting. What broke my heart even more, if my heart was still intact, was a retired US Army Staff Sergeant crying. He had red puffy eyes and tears rolling down his cheeks. He had a napkin in his left hand and wiped the tears. I shook his hand and said "God Bless you for everything you've done and everything you've gave." He said thank you. I turned around and went to say goodbye to Clarence. When I did this, he said he wanted to give me something. I went to his truck and he gave me a plastic bag with a square piece of wood in it. I turned the bag around to see a white plack in it with black carving: Gary A. Dieu PFC. US Army 1965-1967 Co. C. 2/12 1st Cav. KIA Jan. 28, 1967 Vietnam. I looked up at Clarence and he asked if I wanted it. I looked down at the bag. Tears were welling up in my eyes again. I looked up at him and grabbed his right hand with mine. "I would be honored." He said thank you. "I won't ever forget this man who gave his life to his country," I told him. I could tell that this made him want to cry. Clarence had nieces, nephews, and maybe children who didn't care to remember Gary A. Dieu. He smiled, "a young man who seeks to join the military, I wouldn't have asked for anyone better to remember him." With a firm shake and a farewell, I left that museum. I looked back on the museum and saw more people by the wall. Many more crying. My grandmother drove us out of their and told me that she was proud of me. She said she was very blessed to have a grandson like me. I opened up one of my (many) ACU pockets and reached in to pull out a patch I got from the gift shop. My grandmother bought it for me many hours before the second ceremony started. I looked at the patch and decided to get it velcrowed as soon as I can and attach it to my ACU. No matter what sergeant will tell me, I will put it on. It said "only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you......Jesus Christ for your sins and the American Military for your freedom!!!!" On the right of the text is an M16A2 sticking up from the ground with a soldier's helmet on the butt end of the gun. Next to the rifle is a soldier's boot. Behind the rifle is a cross. I will never have a clue why men fight still fight even after going into battle, but I will when my time comes. I will be more than honored to do so. I also learned that freedom comes with a price that many have to pay for. Take a moment to think about these men who have died for your country and remember that they shall not be forgotten. Just like I will never forget Gary A. Dieu. Thank you for taking the moment to listen to my story about my weekend. And thank you for all the followers. Thank you so much for the support and god bless you. Now I must take my moment to try not to cry again.
My great uncle...
2340796 Gary A. Dieu. Thank you for pointing me to that website. It really helped me feel like I left a letter for him. It means a lot. Thank you. Your great uncle made a great sacrifice to protect his men. God bless him.