Richard Willkom

While researching  Dave Anderson and Chuck Boyer, I learned they had interred the service with the buddy system. I also did not realize they were on the same flight that was shot down. Thank you both for you service, and along with all service personal, you will never be forgotten

John Weber

David Anderson, Chuck Boyer and I were going to join the service together.  I ended up going in the Navy and the other two into the Marine Corps.  Dave and I worked at Clark's IGA on Grand Avenue together.  I remember one night Chuck got his dad's Porche and we went over to impress the girl I was dating at the time.  See ya in the next world, brother.

Dan Reno

I did not know Dave socially very well, we had a few classes together in High School, however having had the honor of cleaning the Viet Nam wall in DC with some other Volunteers a few times while there,  seeing his name  on the wall along with a few other class mates we all new was very emotional. He and all the others died way to young, thank you all for your service

Dirk Lee

It's hard to really know what to say about Dave. He was my best friend in High School. He always "knew" he was going to die in Vietnam. We talked about that a lot and I was a bit angry with him for not even trying to avoid it. Joined the Marines and volunteered for Vietnam...When he was home from leave he told me he was more certain that ever that he would die there. He wasn't even "in country" 2 hrs...such a waste...he had such great artistic talent! Loved him a lot!

Russ DeVerniero

Maude Lyles (Magruder)

Thank you David for fighting for our country and ending up giving your life so that we can live in freedom here in America.  You were so very young and overwhelmed with tears at the price you paid. 

Bruce Litwin

I have only posted this on David Anderson's memorial page, but it also applies to Chuck Boyer and Mike Padilla.

I have thought about Dave Anderson, Mike Padilla and Chuck Boyer many times over the years. They all died while I was at West Point studying and preparing to go into the Army as an Infantry officer. As it turned out I did not go to Vietnam, but in the years 1967 to 1973 I saw the ravages of this war in the soldiers who came home and in the families of the soldiers who did not come home alive.  After college graduation I was stationed with the 1^st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood Texas. The 1^st Cav had just returned to the US from Vietnam.  Deployments were different then, people were generally sent over and brought home individually and not as units. My troopers told me stories of coming home through San Francisco still in their fatigues from Vietnam and being spit upon and cursed as they made their way through the airport. We all remember that this was a tough time for our country.  Fortunately today the Army now deploys units intact rather than individuals and they are sincerely welcomed home when they return.

To my mind Dave, Mike and Chuck died heroes fighting for our country. We all owe them a debt of gratitude for their ultimate sacrifice.  There were many others who came home forever changed, including some of our classmates. For these guys the fog of war still haunts them. We see people thanking current day soldiers and veterans for their service.  The Vietnam vets went a long time with no thanks or recognition.  A simple gesture to honor their sacrifice is to proactively thank them for their service. Its never too late.

In 2015 our family was in Missoula to bury my Uncle and Aunt from Washington State. I had heard about the Vietnam Veteran Memorial in Missoula and so I went to see it in Missoula’s Memorial Rose Garden.  I was surprised at my reaction when I saw it. Tears flowed freely from my eyes as I found the names of Dave Anderson, Mike Padilla, Chuck Boyer, and 2 others I knew well Dan Margrave and Jeff Uhren. I was overwhelmed with emotion. For some reason the final scene of Saving Private Ryan came to my mind when Captain Miller told Private Ryan to “Earn this”. Years later Ryan visited Miller’s grave and said “Everyday I think about what you said to me that day on the bridge; I've tried to live my life the best that I could. I hope that that was enough. I hope, that at least in your eyes, I earned what [you] have done for me." Throughout the last 49 years I have thought of Dave, Mike, Chuck, Jeff and Dan and hoped that I could live up to the gift I received by their service and sacrifice.

This poem was written by Tom Crosser from Clancy, Montana at the time the Statue was installed in Missoula. I think it is meaningful to all, but especially poignant for those of us who served in the military.

Together we flew into battle

Hearts and blades pounding

Sharing fear and pain.

Parted yet together…

We faced the unknown.

You death. I the future.

Dona Hicks (Lambrecht)

That was amazing Bruce. After choking on the disrespect given our Vietnam veterans and being brought nearly to tears at what they had given and the thanks they didn't get on there return, I am sure everyone agrees "it's never too late". As long as we draw breathe we can give them the respect they are so deserving of. Christ gave His life for forgiveness of sins ~ our soldiers and fellow classmates gave their lives for our freedom. I'm sure they are hanging with Him. 

Linda Krug (Gerdes)

Bruce,

Thank you so much for the beautiful words you have expressed about our classmates that were lost in the war. So many people have said many times through the years "Why were we in Vietnam fighting and have lost so many lives"?  I have heard this expression over and over since the Vietnam War.  Truly you have expressed many feelings felt by many of us during this horrible time. 

Gunnar Hagstrom

I have memories of enjoying being with David Anderson, Chuck Boyer and at other times with Mike Padilla. I remember hearing about David and Chuck being shot down and death well before signing up for the Army's Helicopter Fight School in the fall of 68. I remember spending lots of time with them at Linclon and Senior. I did basic training in Jan and Feb of 69 then headed directly to flight school at Mineral Wells,Texas 1st of March and finished almost a year later in January of 70. I think about 95% of my graduating class was headed for S.Vietnam. The Army was at that time putting out about 500 new pilots every month. I landed in S.Vietnam on the first of March 1970 and within a couple of days was flown to the most northern part of  S.vietnam to a Army air field known as Phu Bai. Which was just south of the famous City of Hue'. I was asigned to the 2/17th Air  Cav "C" troop. We where there to support the 101st Air BN. I spent my one year flying a small single pilot turbine helicopter known as a "LOH" ( lowlevel observation helicopter) which was a Hughes OH-6A &B model. I turned "21" eleven days in country. We were just a bunch of kids going to war! My mission was flying tree top level hunting the NVA (North Vietnam Army) better known as "Charlie". I usually had two or three "Cobra" gunships working above me.... protecting my ass! The job was to go out and find Charlie under the triple canopy jungle and pick a fight. I was there to draw fire. My aircraft was very maneuverable and a kick to flying! I enjoyed the flying part very much! We usually ended up taking fire whichof course reveiled their position and the war was on for the day. It often quickly escalated with moer Cobras and jets showing up. I ended being shot down four times and limping back to Phu Bai or to the closest fire base many more times than I can count or remember. The Hughes was very well built to protect the crew during the crashes. I spent a lot of time in the AO (area of operations) where Chuck and David got shot down just east of Khe Sanh on short final to landing. I am convinced that it was very much a miracle as in devine intervention that I survived my tour as a recon pilot. I did come home with a pretty good case of "Shell Shock" but seemed to get over it with in a period of time. The Army's education was good to me in that I have been flying helicopters and fixed wing commercialy since getting out in 1971. Billings has been a great place to live! No plans of moving this late in life.