My brother Lance Cpl.Jimmy Lee Bethurum 20 years old from Dallas Texas and a U.S. Marine who had returned from Vietnam on July 3rd, and after being home on leave,returned to Camp Pendleton less than two weeks ago was killed early Tuesday. He was returning to the Marine base in Camp Pendleton,when he fell asleep at the wheel and struck a tree in Orange Co. California. The time was 4am. He died instantly.
He had been assigned to California Marine camp after serving a 12 month tour of duty in Vietnam. He won a Purple Heart and two Gold Stars. He was in 2nd Squad,2nd Platoon, Delta Co.,1st Bn, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Div.
He was a native of Dallas, he attended Sunset High School before enlisting into the Marine Corps in 1966.
He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Helen Lasater of Dallas,
step father,Alford Eddie Lasater of Dallas, father, Evert Bethurum of Ennis, sister, Miss Linda Joyce Bethurum of Dallas, sister, Mrs. Bonnie Patterson of Dallas, Step sister, Mrs. Robbie West of Dallas and stepbrother, Eddie Lasater Jr. of Dallas.One niece, Teresa Ann Patterson, One nephew,Dwayne West, Grandparents, Frank & Irene Mathis of Whitney Texas, Janie Mangum of Dallas. Many Uncles, Aunts, Cousins and friends.
My mother said she was awakend at 4am that morning with a feeling that something was wrong. She stayed awake maybe an hour and went back to bed. At 10:30 am After my dad and myself had went to work (I was working for the summer) there was a knock on the door and it was the Military Personel, and in her heart she knew then what she did not want to hear. They confirmed she was his mother and ask if she was alone. She was and they ask if she could call a neighbor or someone. She called our neighbor, her friend from across the street to be with her when she recieved the news that he had been killed in an accident and the time was 4am.
***********************************************************
"Last night while I was trying to sleep,
My son's voice I did hear,
I opened my eyes and looked around,
But he did not appear.
He said, "Moma, you've got to listen,
You've got to understand,
God didn't take me from you, moma,
He only took my hand.
When I called out in pain that day,
The moment that I died,
He reached down and took my hand,
And pulled me to his side.
He pulled me up and saved me
From the misery and pain.
My body was hurt so badly,
I could never be the same.
My search is really over now,
I've found happiness within,
All the answers to my empty dreams
And all that might have been.
I love you all and miss you so,
And I'll always be nearby.
My body's gone forever,
But my spirit will never die.
And so, you must all go on now,
And live, and understand...
God did not take me from you,
He only took my hand".
He had been assigned to California Marine camp after serving a 12 month tour of duty in Vietnam. He won a Purple Heart and two Gold Stars. He was in 2nd Squad,2nd Platoon, Delta Co.,1st Bn, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Div.
He was a native of Dallas, he attended Sunset High School before enlisting into the Marine Corps in 1966.
He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Helen Lasater of Dallas,
step father,Alford Eddie Lasater of Dallas, father, Evert Bethurum of Ennis, sister, Miss Linda Joyce Bethurum of Dallas, sister, Mrs. Bonnie Patterson of Dallas, Step sister, Mrs. Robbie West of Dallas and stepbrother, Eddie Lasater Jr. of Dallas.One niece, Teresa Ann Patterson, One nephew,Dwayne West, Grandparents, Frank & Irene Mathis of Whitney Texas, Janie Mangum of Dallas. Many Uncles, Aunts, Cousins and friends.
My mother said she was awakend at 4am that morning with a feeling that something was wrong. She stayed awake maybe an hour and went back to bed. At 10:30 am After my dad and myself had went to work (I was working for the summer) there was a knock on the door and it was the Military Personel, and in her heart she knew then what she did not want to hear. They confirmed she was his mother and ask if she was alone. She was and they ask if she could call a neighbor or someone. She called our neighbor, her friend from across the street to be with her when she recieved the news that he had been killed in an accident and the time was 4am.
***********************************************************
"Last night while I was trying to sleep,
My son's voice I did hear,
I opened my eyes and looked around,
But he did not appear.
He said, "Moma, you've got to listen,
You've got to understand,
God didn't take me from you, moma,
He only took my hand.
When I called out in pain that day,
The moment that I died,
He reached down and took my hand,
And pulled me to his side.
He pulled me up and saved me
From the misery and pain.
My body was hurt so badly,
I could never be the same.
My search is really over now,
I've found happiness within,
All the answers to my empty dreams
And all that might have been.
I love you all and miss you so,
And I'll always be nearby.
My body's gone forever,
But my spirit will never die.
And so, you must all go on now,
And live, and understand...
God did not take me from you,
He only took my hand".
My brother Lance Cpl.Jimmy Lee Bethurum 20 years old from Dallas Texas and a U.S. Marine who had returned from Vietnam on July 3rd, and after being home on leave,returned to Camp Pendleton less than two weeks ago was killed early Tuesday. He was returning to the Marine base in Camp Pendleton,when he fell asleep at the wheel and struck a tree in Orange Co. California. The time was 4am. He died instantly.
He had been assigned to California Marine camp after serving a 12 month tour of duty in Vietnam. He won a Purple Heart and two Gold Stars. He was in 2nd Squad,2nd Platoon, Delta Co.,1st Bn, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Div.
He was a native of Dallas, he attended Sunset High School before enlisting into the Marine Corps in 1966.
He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Helen Lasater of Dallas,
step father,Alford Eddie Lasater of Dallas, father, Evert Bethurum of Ennis, sister, Miss Linda Joyce Bethurum of Dallas, sister, Mrs. Bonnie Patterson of Dallas, Step sister, Mrs. Robbie West of Dallas and stepbrother, Eddie Lasater Jr. of Dallas.One niece, Teresa Ann Patterson, One nephew,Dwayne West, Grandparents, Frank & Irene Mathis of Whitney Texas, Janie Mangum of Dallas. Many Uncles, Aunts, Cousins and friends.
My mother said she was awakend at 4am that morning with a feeling that something was wrong. She stayed awake maybe an hour and went back to bed. At 10:30 am After my dad and myself had went to work (I was working for the summer) there was a knock on the door and it was the Military Personel, and in her heart she knew then what she did not want to hear. They confirmed she was his mother and ask if she was alone. She was and they ask if she could call a neighbor or someone. She called our neighbor, her friend from across the street to be with her when she recieved the news that he had been killed in an accident and the time was 4am.
***********************************************************
"Last night while I was trying to sleep,
My son's voice I did hear,
I opened my eyes and looked around,
But he did not appear.
He said, "Moma, you've got to listen,
You've got to understand,
God didn't take me from you, moma,
He only took my hand.
When I called out in pain that day,
The moment that I died,
He reached down and took my hand,
And pulled me to his side.
He pulled me up and saved me
From the misery and pain.
My body was hurt so badly,
I could never be the same.
My search is really over now,
I've found happiness within,
All the answers to my empty dreams
And all that might have been.
I love you all and miss you so,
And I'll always be nearby.
My body's gone forever,
But my spirit will never die.
And so, you must all go on now,
And live, and understand...
God did not take me from you,
He only took my hand".
He had been assigned to California Marine camp after serving a 12 month tour of duty in Vietnam. He won a Purple Heart and two Gold Stars. He was in 2nd Squad,2nd Platoon, Delta Co.,1st Bn, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Div.
He was a native of Dallas, he attended Sunset High School before enlisting into the Marine Corps in 1966.
He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Helen Lasater of Dallas,
step father,Alford Eddie Lasater of Dallas, father, Evert Bethurum of Ennis, sister, Miss Linda Joyce Bethurum of Dallas, sister, Mrs. Bonnie Patterson of Dallas, Step sister, Mrs. Robbie West of Dallas and stepbrother, Eddie Lasater Jr. of Dallas.One niece, Teresa Ann Patterson, One nephew,Dwayne West, Grandparents, Frank & Irene Mathis of Whitney Texas, Janie Mangum of Dallas. Many Uncles, Aunts, Cousins and friends.
My mother said she was awakend at 4am that morning with a feeling that something was wrong. She stayed awake maybe an hour and went back to bed. At 10:30 am After my dad and myself had went to work (I was working for the summer) there was a knock on the door and it was the Military Personel, and in her heart she knew then what she did not want to hear. They confirmed she was his mother and ask if she was alone. She was and they ask if she could call a neighbor or someone. She called our neighbor, her friend from across the street to be with her when she recieved the news that he had been killed in an accident and the time was 4am.
***********************************************************
"Last night while I was trying to sleep,
My son's voice I did hear,
I opened my eyes and looked around,
But he did not appear.
He said, "Moma, you've got to listen,
You've got to understand,
God didn't take me from you, moma,
He only took my hand.
When I called out in pain that day,
The moment that I died,
He reached down and took my hand,
And pulled me to his side.
He pulled me up and saved me
From the misery and pain.
My body was hurt so badly,
I could never be the same.
My search is really over now,
I've found happiness within,
All the answers to my empty dreams
And all that might have been.
I love you all and miss you so,
And I'll always be nearby.
My body's gone forever,
But my spirit will never die.
And so, you must all go on now,
And live, and understand...
God did not take me from you,
He only took my hand".
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