He was just an average solider from Albany, Oregon. His name was David, he was 55 and he died Easter Sunday at 11:30 P.M. in the VA Hospital in Seattle Washington.
He was active duty Army for 22 years including service in the field hospitals in Desert Storm. The army diagnosed his cancer as resulting from his work in the field hospitals, where, when the scud missiles were going off, he would race to gown up himself and the patients in hazmat suits.
We are going to bury him Monday April 16th with full military honors. Those soldiers like my Brother David who die in VA hospitals from illness or injuries sustained in the line of duty are no less heroes then those that fall in battle. They willingly gave their lives for their county.