 His legacy |
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~ Remember the Vietnam Veteran ~
THE THINGS THEY CARRIED
They carried P-38 can openers and heat tabs, watches and dog tags, insect repellent, gum, cigarettes, Zippo lighters, salt tablets, compress bandages, ponchos, Kool-Aid, two or three canteens of water, iodine tablets, sterno, LRRP-rations, and C-rations stuffed in socks. They carried standard fatigues, jungle boots, bush hats, flak jackets and steel pots. They carried M-16 assault rifles. They carried trip flares and Claymore mines, M-60 machine guns, the M-70 grenade launcher, M-14's, CAR-15's, Stoners, Swedish K's, 66mm Laws, shotguns, .45 caliber pistols, silencers, the sound of bullets, rockets, and choppers, and sometimes the sound of silence. They carried C-4 plastic explosives, an assortment of hand grenades, PRC-25 radios, knives and machetes. Some carried napalm, CBU's and large bombs some risked their lives to rescue others.
Some escaped the fear, but dealt with the death and damage. Some made very hard decisions, and some just tried to survive. They carried malaria, dysentery, ringworm and leaches. They carried the land itself as it hardened on their boots. They carried stationery, pencils, and pictures of their loved ones - real and imagined. They carried love for people in the real world and love for one another. And sometimes they disguised that love: "Don't mean nothin'!"
They carried memories. For the most part, they carried themselves with poise and a kind of dignity. Now and then, there were times when panic set in, and people squealed - or wanted to, but couldn't when they twitched and made moaning sounds and covered their heads and said "Dear God" and hugged the earth and fired their weapons blindly and cringed and begged for the noise to stop and went wild and made stupid promises to themselves and God and their parents, hoping not to die.
They carried the traditions of the United States military, and memories and images of those who served before them. They carried grief, terror, longing and their reputations. They carried the soldier's greatest fear: the embarrassment of dishonor. They crawled into tunnels, walked point, and advanced under fire, so as not to die of embarrassment. They were afraid of dying, but too afraid to show it. They carried the emotional baggage of men and women who might die at any moment. They carried the weight of the world.
THEY CARRIED EACH OTHER
~Author Unknown ~
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In Memory of Dave Dickinson
Donald "Skeeter" Pettibone (Friend "brother in arms" )
To ALL the Dickinson Family'
It is my honor and priviledge to be allowed to pay tribute here to your Son, Brother, Uncle and My brother in arms. David was my friend, a wonderful person, a leader of men and a courageous hero. He will always be remembered by those of us who served with him, for his steadfast encouragement, humor, inteligence, leadership and love of family. We who knew him during our time in Viet Nam, even if ever so briefly, will always remember his larger than life personna. Dave Dickinson was a Man's man and a hero to all. This world is a much better place for having had the gift of the likes of a David Dickinson. Such a very short period of time here with so much affirmed by those that came to know him. America lives and continues to thrive and prosper thru the heroics of people so willing to lead and sacrafice. I will never forget Dave, and I am ever so thankful to have been his friend. The pleasure was all mine.
Donald "Skeeter" Pettibone
 
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Tribute from a Friend and Team Medic
Doc Gilchrest
Friend and team medic
China Spring, Tx
From our first day on the hill, until our last mission together, in the mountains above Dalat, You were my friend and my mentor. It was you that made the names of LRRPS and RECONDOS stand out above the rest. From Underdog to Tom Terrific, there were none better than you. Your face shines as brightly in my memory today as it did then. My mourning has turned to pride, and I pray that it will never dim with age.
Monday, May 22, 2006
(Taken from tribute on The Wall-USA web site)
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We will Remember
How can one have much legacy in 19 short years?
David was well known around our neighborhood and
well liked. A lot of people that knew him around Denver,
came up to me, for many years after David died, to talk
about him or share their memories of him. It amazed me that
this still happened, over 30 years after his death.
What he did leave behind from my perspective, was a
grieving mother, which I know now, is a tremendous grief.
Something I could only assume at the time we lost David.
I only knew I lost my brother and it was most devastating to
me then and still is to this day. He was my friend.
He helped me so much with my girls, when he was staying
with me and the girls all adored him. He was as much of
a kid with them, as they were kids themselves. They had a lot of fun
together. I am thankful for the fact that my kids did know him,
and he knew them. Unfortunately, my brother Bobby's and my sister Diane's children didn't have that luxury.
Just recently, my daughter Carol, who now has a son 21 years old,
said to me, "Mom when Uncle Dave was around, I was so little then
and I always looked at him, as a grown man. Oh Mom, I realize now, he was so young....so young"
I truly hope others will take the time to put remembrances here, of the David they knew.
They shall grow not old,
as we that are left grow old;
age shall not weary them,
nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun
and in the morning,
We will remember them.
"For the Fallen" September 1914
~ R.L. Binyon~
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