THERE HAVE BEEN DAYS

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by Michael Bradshaw

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To my closest friend and brother Charles Richard Pyle. Killed in action on March 22, 1968 in Thua Thien Province, R.V.N.


There have been days, there have been weeks and perhaps even a month or two.

But never, never in three decades has there been much more than a fortnight that I have not felt the pain or suffered through the anguish of your death.

Charlie, you are my soul mate. A bond of friendship more everlastingly eternal than that of blood kinship.

An event so rare that I surmise it can only be experienced for brief periods. Hence why was it your fate to die as you did and mine to mourn so very long?

I really miss you, my friend, and if fate were to be truly understood then there must be a much greater purpose in my still being with the living than I have yet to discover.

So there have been days and there have been weeks, but until such time as I come to realize my fate you are still and eternally will be a good portion of my being.

And I miss you.


Michael Bradshaw, Sgt. E-5
E Co.- Recon, 1st/501st Inf., 101st Airborne Div.
I Corps, RVN 1967-1968