Death

[stevedeshazer]

My wife's brother died this morning.

We were with him, my wife, their sister, and my son. He passed away peacefully. His body was full of cancer. His mortal days of suffering are over.

David Roy was 66. He was a Navy veteran of 24 years. Another good guy haunted by his experiences in Viet Nam who drank and smoked himself to death, trying to make it all go away.

His name will never be etched on that black wall. But war and all its horror slowly killed him just the same, and just as surely as all the others.

I never got to take him fishing that one last time. I'll always regret that.

Can we please, for God's sake, stop having these stupid wars now?

Can I live to see that day? For Dave? For all of us and our kids?

Please?

[Faygo Kid]

1. So very sorry. We all face that. Don't have regrets.

Celebrate his life. All of us die.

Even those who put others into unnecessary wars while not serving themselves.

All the best to you and your family.

[loveable liberal]

2. Condolences.

[annabanana]

3. Another casualty of war.

Yes he was.

My condolences to your wife and your families.

[patrice]

4. I share similar experiences with you. Live the love of the Values that you share with David.

The pain will always seem fresh, but if you Live the Love of the things that you share . . . there will always BE Beauty.

[Bluebear]

5. Oh Steve, my condolences...

RIP, Dave :(

[stevedeshazer]

20. Thanks, my friend

I really appreciate it.

It's been a tough day, but I'll be back soon.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

6. I'm very sorry for your loss. May he rest in peace.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. My deepest condolences to you and your whole family...

Death comes for all of us...

I honor his service!

It's so good that all of you were there when he died...

Transitions are tough...Be good to yourself!

I hope that the good times you had with him will sustain you in your grief...

That which is remembered, lives...

:hug:

[Flabbergasted]

8. Sorry for your loss.

[elocs]

9. My father was 49 when he died after 25 years of hard drinking and smoking.

He was just in his early 20s when he was a heavy machinegunner in the Army in WWII, going from North Africa to Sicily to Omaha Beach and on to Germany. He won lots of medals, including a silver star, but he would never talk of them. He just couldn't banish the demons. In reality, WWII killed him, it just took him 25 years to die by inches.

My parents divorced when I was 10 and I lived here in Wisconsin and my dad lived in Texas. He would write me letters, but I never wrote back because, well, just because. Besides, your parents are going to live forever when you are a kid. Until they don't. My father died when I had just turned 18, just when I could have got to know him on my own.
My regret--I never wrote back. Still hurts even though I am nearly 56.

[Faygo Kid]

22. Very touching. Similar story here.

Dad was a WWII vet. He split when I was nine, and I didn't see or hear from him again until I was 22. Then I saw him twice: First when he called me and my brother and I went to see him for an hour, then a couple months later when I had to ID him on a slab in the morgue.

He was 50, and also a heavy drinker and smoker.

I am 56 now, so we have a shared background, my friend. Cut the regrets. We all live our lives imperfectly.

[elocs]

24. I will be 56 in August. My dad was 3 months shy of turning 50.

I know I thought about it when I surpassed the age he was when he died. One thing my dad's service did was to put me through college. He only went to school through the 3rd grade, but because he was a 100% disabled vet his son was able to go to college on the GI Bill and that was during Vietnam. Fortunately my lottery number was 358/366 and the draft ended by the time I graduated.

[shadowknows69]

10. My prayers for your family Steve

May your brother in law find peace.

[malaise]

11. Deepest sympathy

and I share your wish.

[gateley]

12. I'm so sorry. nt

[Maestro]

13. My condolences to his family, your wife and you.

And I agree. Let's end war!

[pscot]

14. The important thing is to remember

Peace, brother.

[FloridaJudy]

15. I'm so sorry.

Safe passage, David.

[WhoDoYouTrust]

16. So sorry to hear this, my friend!

My deepest sympathy to Michelle and family.

When Den passed away two years ago I blamed it on agent orange. His brain had been ravaged by something unknown to any of the doctors that he was dealing with. There were never any answers.

I was opening a bottle of wine the other night and I immediately thought of Mom. :) Then I thought to myself, I need to call Den. After all this time, in my mind, he's still here. Dad is still heartbroken.

Hugs to you all!

Judy

[stevedeshazer]

19. You always come through

Thank you so very much.

Your dad inspires me.

I was in St. Helens today, I always take my mom shopping each Saturday, she's hanging in there.

I think I met your brother Den just once. Dave was reluctant to talk about him.

Give me some more of Bert and Arbie. They were always nice to me.

:)

[Lydia Leftcoast]

17. Condolences on the loss of your brother-in-law

Wars ruin so many lives. And humanity never learns. :-(

[MissWaverly]

18. sorry, I agree

I am not one who says no war ever but these wars for profit are stupid, a drain on the American people, I hope the
next time the war mongers start beating that old oil drum that the Congress will grow a brain.

[stevedeshazer]

21. To all who replied, thanks

I just want to end endless war. My uncle and my dad, if they still lived, would agree.

Let's just end war.

[Cleita]

23. If we don't start putting these neo-cons on trial, who brought us these

wars for profit, it will continue on. Impeachment has got to go on the table, Bush/Cheney and the whole oil cartel have to be brought to justice on treason and on war crimes whether in this country or the World Court, I don't care, but if they aren't taken care of they will again rise like a toxic Phoenix to do it all over again. My condolences to your family for your loss.

[roguevalley]

25. He's fishing now. Believe it. I pray for you and your family. Please know

that your sorrow is ours too. I hug you all tonight.

[Hydra]

26. War is glorious only to the people who haven't been there

Thank you for having the courage to talk about this. I'm sure he rests better knowing that his suffering was not in vain.

One day, I think we will find a way to get along as a global community. In the mean time, we have to find ways to make war unprofitable.

No profit = no unnecessary wars.

[spanone]

27. i'll bet in the human race, this question has been asked for centuries upon centuries

[Historic NY]

28. I used to go to the Legion hall all the time until I saw the wasting..

people do its like a waiting room to die. I hardly know any of the guys any more most were WWII guys but now its changed. Sorry for your loss.

[unapatriciated]

29. may we all live to see that day

and light a candle for PEACE

[LWolf]

30. I am with you on that.

War is not an option, ever. In my opinion, of course. Will anyone, in my lifetime, ever listen to, or care about my opinion, or join with me and work to make it reality? Probably not. But the more of us who stand up and say, publicly, and often, that war is not an option, the sooner that reality might come to be.

I'm sorry about your bil. My thoughts are with you and your family.

[OhioChick]

31. My Condolences, Steve.

:hug:

[onethatcares]

32. from my heart to yours.

Peace

[Blue Diadem]

33. Rest in Peace David.

Steve, you, your wife, and all of David's family and friends have my deepest sympathy.