Don Graham posted some photos and a story commenting on his stateside friend, Randy Milligan dying in Vietnam. No one else has told the story that you both know first-hand about. I for one would appreciate a reading an account of what happened to Randy that night. Please consider writing it out so the details will not be forgotten and lost to us. It could be as short and tragic as your paragraph, but I think there is more to be told considering you both have carried that in your hearts these many decades. If you can do so, let’s honor his memory so that others will know he is more than just another name on The Wall.

Don Poss

Author: Den Cook
To: Joseph & Steve:

I mirror Don Poss' message, and if completed, would like to place something in Guardmount. My heart goes out to you and Don Graham.

Denis

Author: Joseph DonoHue

Well, it seems like yesterday, but it happened over 35 years ago. I remember Randy as a real descent person and always had a smile on his face. I remember being driven out to my outpost "Oscar 3" and when I got there to relieve him he just fell to the ground. I started cpr, with someone i guess it was steve or Gary,I can remember giving him mouth to mouth and him throwing up in my mouth. I remember someone calling for a chopper to fly him to the hospital, but none showed up. I remember him dying in my arms and then carrying him down the hill to the jeep. One thing i do remember he was either reading a letter from his girl at the time or writing her because i found the letter by the machine gun mount. I have a scraping of his name from the wall which i have in a frame. If anyone knows his family please tell them he was a good man, and i am sorry after all these years not telling them myself. Like I said it all came back when I saw his picture on this web site. So Den, I hope this helped you get some kind of picture of what really happened that night.

From a brother till death,
Joseph DonoHue

Author: Don Graham

I met Randy at Wurtsmith AFB, MI. may have been early 1967. We were room mates until his departure for 'Nam. We always hungout together, went horseback riding and canoeing on the local lake near Oscoda. I remember we had a big party for him when he left. That may have been the time my other room mate Paul Picard Pena wanted to lock me out of the room. Seemed I had a bad habit of drinking too much and getting sick. After that night it took me a week to get the shine back on his shoes.

Randy was a great guy and very popular with the young ladies. His girlfriend at the time was a young lady he met one night when we went out partying. I believe she was either a nurse or nursing student.

I didn't find out about his death until I arrived at CRB in June of 1968. A few years ago I had tried to find his parents or any of his relatives but had no luck. If anyone could locate them I'd appreciate an e-mail.

My first VSPA reunion was in 1998 when we went to The Wall. While I was doing a rubbing of Randall's name someone came up behind me and asked if I'd also do one for him. That person was Gary Linebaugh. Gary explained that he was with Randy when he died and it got a bit emotional for me. I considered Randy a true friend-- probably my best friend while stationed at Wurtsmith.

I also keep the rubbing of his name framed and on my desk. If anyone would like to see other photo's of Randy while at Wurtsmith I would be glad to share them. I think Randy can rest in peace knowing that so many of the friends he had made over his short life still think of him.

Don Graham