Pfc. Donald L Elliott U.S.M.C

8/7/50 - 8/10/69

KIA Quang Tri Province, SVN

Battle of Mutter's Ridge
Hill 484

Donnie, you are fondly remembered by your friends and classmates. As we look back at our youth, we are reminded of how much we miss you.

12-23-2010

I remember so clearly the days of running through the tall grass in that empty lot nest to your home. Somehow, I still see you in that cowboy hat with the rope secured under your chin. I can remember the time you and I drew blood and held our wounds together to become "blood brothers". I remember the day you went away. You never came back.

I remember the day I learned you had died. God damn it Donnie. I denied it and refused to believe my best friend was gone. But when you returned home to be buried, I was not there. I am sorry Donnie.

I let you down Donnie, and I can only pray you will forgive me for not being there when you returned. I have never forgotten you and cry when I think of you. Even after all this time, I cry.

will visit the Vietnam Memorial and I will walk to the panel that displays your name. I will weep when I read your name. I will pray to my God to hold you close. I pray to our God to let you rest in Heaven in Peace. When you think of me, like I do of you, remember us as two young boys loving our youth before the adult complexity of this world would rob us of our innocence. Upon my return home, I will go to your grave and place a flag. Once again, I will have private time to talk to you again. I will talk about our early years together. I will remember the neighborhood birthday parties and the games of hide and seek and cowboys. I may struggle with the words, but I will get them out. I don't have to be reminded how I loved you and how deep the void left by your leaving.

It took me a lifetime to learn how much you meant to me. I learned about the special love that makes ordinary people best friends. And I will have blessed a special bracelet that bears your name. I will wear it in honor of you for the rest of my life.

When people see it and ask who Donald Elliot was, I can proudly tell them who Donald Elliott is. I will tell them Donald Elliott is my best friend, my blood brother and a hero. I will tell them my best friend was then and always will be a United States Marine!

Only the departed know about Heaven. And when my time here is done, I will look forward to seeing you once more. I will see you as that young boy who with me, played in that field of grass. Until that time, that is the Donald Elliott I will always remember.

Rest in Peace my dear friend

Your Blood Brother, Larry

1/21/2011