Editor’s note: Vietnam veteran and longtime Marion resident Charlie Brown enlisted in the Army in 1966, was selected for Officer Candidate School and upon completion was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. He was transferred to Vietnam and assigned to the First Cavalry Division Airmobile, with 430 helicopters – their rides into battle. He was combat wounded in December 1966 and again in January 1967. In January 1968, his division was flown just north of Hue and defended against the North’s Tet Offensive. Following nine months in the field, Lieutenant Brown was transferred to the battalion headquarters that would be attacked and partially overrun. Lieutenant Brown received his third Purple Heart and the Silver Star for actions leading his troops defending the headquarters. In the years since, Mr. Brown has made it his mission in retirement to support his combat brothers, their families, and the families of the fallen. The Wanderer invites the keynote speaker of Marion’s Memorial Day observance at Old Landing to share his words with our readers.

By Charles A. Brown, retired U.S. Army

            Our Memorial service in Marion is so special as it reflects the core values of this small town in America. Today is a day to pause and reflect upon our service members who lost their lives serving on behalf of the United States, no matter when, where or which military conflict was involved.

            We are a grateful nation that honors and give thanks to the brave who served and sacrificed, and they were brave no matter the role they had. It is a team consisting of all of our services that has kept this country safe.

            Many here today have likely lost a family member, neighbor or friend in service to our country. For Gold Star families, those who have lost an immediate family member, today is a day to mourn and honor.

            President Lincoln stated in his Gettysburg address, “These dead shall not have died in vain.”

            I’d like to ask you to “remember their names!”

            Someone once said, “Death is not final until you are forgotten.”

            My Cavalry Company, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry (the oldest Cavalry unit in the Army) … First Air Cavalry Division has a reunion each year. Our bond as brothers is stronger today, and they are meeting in Nashville as we speak.

            My service was in Vietnam. In Vietnam, it was hard to get to know each other. I knew my medic (they were all called Doc), my Platoon sergeant, radio operator, squad leaders, jokers and troublemakers. The good soldiers blended into the background. Today we know each other well. We know of their families and their lives lived.

            Sadly, we lost troopers on the first day they arrived in the field, some nine days before they would go home, and 34 great young Americans on one day. At the closing of our reunion’s final night, we remember the 150 of our brothers who died in Vietnam. We state their name, age, hometown, show their picture and the date they were killed in action or passed. It continues to bring tears to my eyes 57 years later.

            These days, I try to spend time talking with the families of our fallen. Although most parents have passed, the siblings, children, fiancés, nieces and nephews, school children, neighbors and fellow veterans are asking about our fallen troopers. The stories are heartbreaking, but the effort to help these family members is beyond rewarding. They are keeping history going by saying – the – names.

            About a month after I came home from Vietnam, a soldier in my company was killed by a sniper. His name was Ronald Charles Bakewell from Pennsylvania. His nickname was “Smokey.” A helicopter came out to pick up his body. The trooper was wrapped in a poncho and hoisted out of the jungle. Another son of America was on his way home.

            Ironically, the pilot of that helicopter was Howard Burbank of Westport, a good friend now. Howard remembered that day, as he was shot down two hours later, his first week flying in Vietnam. Last week, I was honored to introduce Howard to the brother of Trooper Bakewell. They spoke for an hour. Both the family and pilot were thankful.

            “The soldier stops bleeding, but the families never do.”

            I quote an unknown author, “Death is not final until you are forgotten. While I breathe, you will live on, and your sacrifice for our freedom will be remembered.”

            We will remember you “Smokey” Bakewell!

            I encourage everyone here today to take an hour each year to learn a name of someone we honor on Memorial Day. Place flowers or flags at our local or national cemeteries.

            But please, never forget, these sentinels of America.

            In 1918, inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields,” Moina Michael replied with her own poem.

            An excerpt from it said: “We cherish, too, the Poppy red, that grows on fields where valor led. It seems to signal to the skies, that blood of heroes never dies.”

            Memorial Day is about our coming together to honor those who gave their lives, for our country. May they rest in eternal peace … never forgotten.

            Thank you for being here! It has been my honor to be with you!

            Neighbors across the street from an inspiring display of teamwork involving the Rochester Fire Department and support from neighboring Wareham, Marion, Mattapoisett and Acushnet departments described the High Street house that caught fire on Monday morning in Rochester as “cursed.”

            A fire at the address had occurred two years ago, but what had widely been considered an eyesore littered with broken-down cars has since been cleaned up by a new owner, along with a substantial rehabilitation of the house. According to observers, the sale of the home was scheduled to close on Tuesday of this week, the day after the fire.

            According to information posted by the Rochester Fire Department, the 10:18 am call came into the Duxbury-based Regional Old Colony Communications Center while many members of the Rochester Fire Department were participating or volunteering in the Rochester Memorial Day Boat Race that finishes where the Mattapoisett River meets Route 6, over 11 miles from the site of the fire by way of the fastest route.

            An immediate box assignment was requested, bringing automatic mutual aid from the surrounding towns’ fire departments for station coverage. Wareham, which was closest to the address with its Station 2 on Route 28, was first to arrive.

            “Their quick mutual aid response and deployment of two quick attack lines knocked down the heavy exterior fire, and a simultaneous aggressive interior attack put a quick stop to a rapidly progressing fire,” said Rochester Fire in its release.

            The release went on to summarize how Rochester and Marion crews arrived and assisted with the interior knockdown, and “the crew from RFD Tower 1 conducted roof operations, venting and overhauling the dormer area. Crews from Mattapoisett … arrived to assist with overhaul. Tankers from Marion and Rochester assisted with water supply. RFD Engine 191 established a drafted water supply on Forbes Road.”

            The fire was knocked down and officially under control by 10:45 am, according to the release. Crews remained on scene for over 90 minutes, overhauling and cleaning up.

            Firefighters cut into the side of the house with a chainsaw and began tearing away siding. The synthetic clapboard curled up against the house as it melted from the heat.

            According to the release, a witness attempted to put the fire out and was evaluated by EMS but did not require transport to a hospital.

            Mutual Aid Agreements between communities is vital to providing additional manpower and assets when needed, according to the Rochester Fire Department.

            “Today’s quick response shows just how well mutual aid agreements work,” the release stated, offering public thanks to mutual-aid partners from Wareham, Marion, Mattapoisett and Acushnet fire departments, as well as the Rochester Police Department, which assisted with traffic control.

            Former Marion Fire Chief Jon Henry accompanied Chief Brian Jackvony to the scene and could be seen carrying a large case of bottled water down High Street before a uniformed firefighter met him to bring it the rest of the way to firefighters on the site. Before trucks began to pull away, a canteen truck from Providence arrived with refreshments and rehydration.

By Mick Colageo

Mattapoisett’s Florence Eastman American Legion Post 280 hosted the annual Memorial Day Observances with participation from not only the post in the form of Post Commander Rachel Perron guiding the event that included performances from the Old Hammandtown Elementary School Band and the Showstoppers.

            With the passing of Chaplain Richard Langhoff, Tri-Town Veterans Agent Chris Gerrior led the participants in prayer. There followed remarks from Mattapoisett Select Board member Jordan Collyer, a reading of the Governor’s Proclamation by Old Rochester Regional High School student Zoe Motta and a rousing rendition of “My Country ‘Tis of Thee.”

            These beginning points in the town’s Memorial Day Observances set the tone – a mixture of looking back in reverence to fallen military personnel and looking forward to understand the meaning of giving one’s all.

            Retiring State Representative William Straus said that this was the last time he’d be addressing the town in this manner, having made the decision not to run for re-election. He said he wanted to say something different, which was difficult after many years of giving Memorial Day speeches.

            “We have no direct connection to Gettysburg,” he began, “yet Lincoln was looking back and finding meaning in looking forward, because there was unfinished business.”

            The Gettysburg Address, written at a time when the country had much unfinished business to deal with, was read by Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School student Geneva Gerrior, whose tender voice gave new reference to words that still resonate throughout the country.

            Perron read the poem “In Flanders Fields,” written by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, a few poetic lines that describe the darkness of war.

            After the playing of “Grand Old Flag” by the band, local correspondent Linda Ferreira shared her thoughts. She shared the story of her own family’s military service that included marrying into a military family. Her husband Daniel Ferreira is currently serving in the Army National Guard as a Chief Warrant Officer 5 and has served 38 years.

            Ferreira said that Memorial Day was very special for her family and explained the differences between Armed Forces Day, for those currently wearing a uniform, Veterans’ Day for those who once wore a military uniform, and Memorial Day, “…for those who never made it out of uniform.”

            Ferreira closed her comments with a poem by Frederick Emerson published in 1892 and which reads in part: “Wherever we gather today ’neath the stars, let’s honor the living now wearing the scars, which they brought from the fields of battle and strife, while protecting our flag and our nation’s life, let the flowers bear tribute in their simple way, and each one remember Memorial Day, remember the dead and the living though few, who fought ’neath the stars and the red, white and blue.”

By Marilou Newell