Arnold resident Richard 'Dick' James has paid it forward every Memorial Day for as long as there has been a coffee shop in Arnold.
After ordering his daily mocha piled high with whipped cream, Dick gave the young barrista a $100.00 bill with instructions to buy the next $100.00 worth of drinks for customers as they came in. She was also instructed to hand out a leaflet to each recipient of the pay it forward drink with the following information:
Your beverage was purchased for you this Memorial Day 'holiday' weekend to remind you of the many service members who have given their lives for their country. Additionally, it was purchased in memory of my special friends who lost their lives in South Vietnam:
Staff Sergeant Harold G. Bennett, Special Forces (Green Beret) MACV advisor, captured by Viet Cong on 29 December 1964,executed by Viet Cong in June 1965.
Captain Leo M. Donker, Detachment A-412, 5th Special Forces Group (Green Beret), killed 3 April 1966 by a Cambodian artillery round supporting a Viet Cong attack on myself and another team member. Thanks to CPT Donker, we lived.
Staff Sergeant Daryl K. Stannard, Detachment A-422, 5th Special Forces Group (Green Beret), killed 14 May1966 by a Viet Cong boobytrap on the outpost perimeter.
After ordering his daily mocha piled high with whipped cream, Dick gave the young barrista a $100.00 bill with instructions to buy the next $100.00 worth of drinks for customers as they came in. She was also instructed to hand out a leaflet to each recipient of the pay it forward drink with the following information:
Your beverage was purchased for you this Memorial Day 'holiday' weekend to remind you of the many service members who have given their lives for their country. Additionally, it was purchased in memory of my special friends who lost their lives in South Vietnam:
Staff Sergeant Harold G. Bennett, Special Forces (Green Beret) MACV advisor, captured by Viet Cong on 29 December 1964,executed by Viet Cong in June 1965.
Captain Leo M. Donker, Detachment A-412, 5th Special Forces Group (Green Beret), killed 3 April 1966 by a Cambodian artillery round supporting a Viet Cong attack on myself and another team member. Thanks to CPT Donker, we lived.
Staff Sergeant Daryl K. Stannard, Detachment A-422, 5th Special Forces Group (Green Beret), killed 14 May1966 by a Viet Cong boobytrap on the outpost perimeter.
SSG Bennett and I had been friends at Ft. Bragg NC, before he went to
Vietnam and I went to Ethiopia. He was executed for no reason.
CPT Donker was killed supporting SFC Noakes & I, after we were hit by VC. Noakes had gone to reconnoiter the border area. Shortly after, my patrol has hit by heavy fire. The Vietnamese ran, leaving me by myself to find Noakes. I called camp for support and reinforcements. CPT Donker climbed the camp observation tower to direct covering mortar fire for us. Noakes and I finally hooked up, and were able to affect a withdrawal. In the meantime, CPT Donker was struck by an artillery shell, killing him immediately.
SSG Stannard was a friend from Ft. Bragg. We were both demolition (explosives) specialists. He was killed while I was at Camp Cai Cai (Team A-412 location). Upon my tour being over at Cai Cai, I was sent to Camp Vinh Gia (Team A-422), as his replacement (Demolition Sergeant).
Remembering good men!
The photos are of CPT Donker (RIP) and the observation tower upon which he was killed.
CPT Donker was killed supporting SFC Noakes & I, after we were hit by VC. Noakes had gone to reconnoiter the border area. Shortly after, my patrol has hit by heavy fire. The Vietnamese ran, leaving me by myself to find Noakes. I called camp for support and reinforcements. CPT Donker climbed the camp observation tower to direct covering mortar fire for us. Noakes and I finally hooked up, and were able to affect a withdrawal. In the meantime, CPT Donker was struck by an artillery shell, killing him immediately.
SSG Stannard was a friend from Ft. Bragg. We were both demolition (explosives) specialists. He was killed while I was at Camp Cai Cai (Team A-412 location). Upon my tour being over at Cai Cai, I was sent to Camp Vinh Gia (Team A-422), as his replacement (Demolition Sergeant).
Remembering good men!
The photos are of CPT Donker (RIP) and the observation tower upon which he was killed.
