Mike had many medical issues (most of them caused by exposure to Agent Orange) and was under care at the local VA Hospital in Portland. We spent a memorable evening together at beautiful restaurant catching up and reminiscing. Most of the time, Mike and I would just have great phone conversations updating each on the latest in our lives and trying to solve the world’s problems! My wife and I made a trip to Portland a few years ago, and the highlight was a visit with Mike. Sometimes we were successful!!įollowing the war, we made contact again.
We tried to meet girls and he used his camera as an introduction. We would often go on Liberty together in Honolulu and various Asian ports which were visited by thousands of Westpac ships during the Vietnam War. He did some weddings and other jobs for the officers, which got him out of a lot of the mundane Military duties on the ship. Mike used his photographic skills to become the official ship’s photographer. Built in 1945, the ship was nicknamed the “Dirty Ernie”, a much deserved title! We were both E-3 Seaman aboard one of the oldest ships in the 7th fleet. Mike and I were friends for most of 1967-69. Just heard the bad news that my best buddy on the USS Ernest G. We will always be dear friends for all eternity. We will be looking a lot better, a lot younger, compared to how our mortal bodies have aged over the last 33 years. We will all be in our prime of life at that time in the future with immortal bodies. Mike, we will see you again on Resurrection Morning. He was always ready to help me if I needed help. He was, and still is, one of my most dearest, most trusted friends I have every had. Jeannie would hold his hand the entire time and kept telling him we love him. He loved taking pictures and took some remarkable pictures of me in the woods of Larch Mountain that I still have hanging on my wall in the break room of our medical clinic.ĭuring his last days in the hospital we visited with him weekly. In his last year of life he could not get out much so he called our office and spoke for hours every week over the phone, taking turns talking to either me or Jeannie. He visited us on a regular basis for many years. We hit it off right away because we had a lot in common. We met while practice shooting in the woods of Larch Mountain Oregon. A special guy that will be remembered with a smile. Ed will be missed by many and remembered for his dedication to the many friendships that he had, including early on at St. Mary's Academy in The Dalles, Oregon together until high school when they (and several others) transferred to The Dalles High School for their high school years and graduation. Sadly his health problems prevented us from getting that done, but it was something he wanted to do. He had a big heart and we had even planned to get together to drive to see another member of our high school class, who had also been a student at St. He always had time to visit when he would call me, usually re: DHS reunions, etc. He was a friend of many years and he cared deeply for his family and his friends. Ed will be missed, and he will be remembered as being soft spoken but always a personable guy and always with a smile on his face. Ed and I had kept in touch, especially in recent years, and mostly in regard to our high school reunions as he was involved in the planning in recent years especially. Ed's family and my family have been friends for too many years to count.
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