| "Few fellow Ghost Riders really knew
"Squeaky". He was short, had cartoonish-like
features, and a high-pitched raspy voice that earned him
his call sign. But aside from his physical attributes, he
kept to himself, did not party with the rest of us, and
was very introspective in his off-duty time with
meditation. He was proud of the fact that he carried a .45
with his own meticulous modifications, while the rest of
us carried the standard issue S&W .38 revolver. Gary was very much into the Oriental practices and philosophy; He regularly consumed Ginseng and meditated for hours, and routinely slept with his helmet on to block out any "party" noises. He occupied the bunk next to me, but very few words were ever exchanged. He was always an early-riser. On the day of his death, he arose early enough to pen a letter to leave on his tightly made poncho liner bunk. The envelope was addressed "'Stache". When I opened it, it read simply: 'Stache,
I will not return from my mission today.
Please make sure that my wife gets my personal effects.
Gary
Less than an hour
later, Squeaky was shot down on the ridgeline just west
of Camp Evans. |
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