Classmate Polly Pollard's bother Jim Pollard (Highline 65) met an early end in Viet Nam. Jim was only 19. I met Jim in 1965. Polly told me Jim had a model "T" Ford. I too had a "T", so in 65 went to Jim's home in Normandy Park and met Jim.  We hit it off right away.  Great guy! Friendly! Down to earth. I was really bummed to hear that Jim was killed in Nam!. What a tragedy! Somewhere in my archives I have a picture of Jim's name on the Viet Nam Memorial in Washington D.C. Maybe some day I can post that picture here on this site.

Jim Pollard.....great human being........gone way too early.....BUT NOT FORGOTTEN................

Tim

 I did not know that. Polly would have taken that very, very hard.

Gregg Wilson

This is so very sad. I lost family and friends too. But a brother is too close to home. For me and my family it is as if Nam never left. It's not over. From my husband, to my brothers, to my cousins, the tragedy never goes away. It hovers in the background.

Hi Connie,

Sorry to hear you lost family in that police action.  Don't think it was ever a declared war. 

To the younger generations, Viet Nam is ancient history, but it surely was the hot topic in our youth. It still lingers in the background of our minds and hearts.  As the late George Carlin said. "America is only 200 years old and already we've had ten major wars". 

Right now we have two wars going. September 2008 the biggest dowturn in the US economy since the stock market crash of 1929.   Is it worth mentioning that Afganistan was the former Soviet Union's undoing?

Hang in there.....

Tim

Hi Tim, I thank you for your kind words. Being a retired librarian, semantics are second skin. The term, "police action", never cut it for me. If ammo is being traded, that is war. Same holds true for Korea. Same holds true for America's ghettos. No way to pretty up ugly truths.

The haunting always lurks in the background. Even after all these years.  At least, for my family, and it is a big one, it does. This holds true for my husband's side of the family as well.

I remember my dad, who flew bombers in the Pacific Theater, during WWII, would not talk about it. Except for one story that was so poignant and heartbreaking. And he told me that when he was in the last month's of his life.

Yes, America is fighting for it's life and I am scared and cannot figure out why others are not.

Tim, I am not whining. I am still angry. After all these years. I am territorial about those I love and about my country. I won't be mellowing anytime soon.

Thank you again. It is good to hear from you.  I wish you and yours the very best.  I am proud of the Class of '64.

Connie