My friend Don Scott and I in a rather worn photo from sometime during the Summer of '67. Don and I both arrived a week or so of each other and forged an exceptional friendship as we survived our internship in the Battalion Aid Station. When we went on line, Don went to Alpha Co. and I went to Bravo Co. In this photo, taken by one of our friends and given to Don, we were standing together in combat gear. A note on the back says that we were getting ready to go out on night ambush patrol. Neither of us has any recollection of the time or circumstances. Since we were both carrying M-16s it was some time after we went on line. Before that I carried a .45.

When I moved from 2/2nd to 2/28th in September '67 Don was out on patrol and I didn't have a chance to say goodbye. After that, the two units were frequently in combat and rarely in basecamp at the same time. We were not able to connect again during our tour in Vietnam.

Don had a distinguished and lengthy tour on line with Alpha Co. After serving as a platoon medic he was the Alpha Co. senior aidman. He was pulled back into that role at least twice, due to the need for his skills and experience, combined with his dedication to the guys in Alpha. Don was decorated twice for heroism. He never hesitated when he was needed.

Don was not only a great friend, he was one of the nicest, bravest and most unassuming guys that I had the privilege of serving with in over 20 years of military service. Considering the quality of the people I encountered during my career, that says a lot.

Photo courtesy of Don Scott