~~Soldier's Grave~~
Tread lightly, 'tis a soldiers grave,
A lonely, mossy mound;
And yet to hearts like mine and thine
It should be holy ground.
Speak softly, let no careless laugh,
No idle, thoughtless jest,
Escape your lips where sweetly sleeps
The hero in his rest.
For him no reveille will beat
When morning beams shall come;
For him, at night, no tattoo rolls
Its thunders from the drum.
Tread lightly! for a man bequeathed,
Ere laid beneath this sod,
His ashes to his native land,
His gallant soul to God.
~Pearl Rivers~
Dearly loved and sadly missed. Gary was my best friend and the pain of his sudden death can't begin to be explained in simple words.
He phoned me the night before the massive stroke that took him so suddenly, just to see if my little dog and I were safe from the storms that were in our area. We laughed and joked as always, he teasing me about my "accent." And, as always, I insisted that I clearly did NOT have an accent, his ears must...*giggle*
That is how I choose to remember Gary, with joy and laughter, and gratefulness for all he gave to me with his presence and spirit. I could always count on him to lift my spirits and share my sorrows.
Gary was truly brilliant, inquisitive and an exceptional individual. The world has lost a wonderful, giving spirit, and I've lost a very special love.
Gary was a U.S. Navy veteran and served on the USS Tripoli during the Vietnam War. A picture of the Tripoli is among the pictures I've posted here. If you happened to serve with him, a note would be greatly appreciated.
Chronology:
Feb 69: joined the United States Navy
Jun 69: graduated North Torrance High School - Torrance, CA
Aug 69: US Navy Boot Camp, San Diego, CA
Oct 69: NATTC Memphis, TN
Feb 70: VT-22 N.A.S. Kingsville, TX
Nov 70: Certified for aircraft ejection seats
Aug 71: N.A.S. Pensacola, FL
Jul 72: Texas - Vietnam - Texas
Aug 72: N.A.L.F. El Centro, CA
May 73: N.A.F. Brooklyn, NY
Aug 73: Honorable Discharge from Navy
Oct 73: re-enlisted US Navy
Oct 73: NS Long Beach, CA
Nov 73: NATTC Memphis, TN
Apr 74: U.S.S. Tripoli (LPH-10) A.I.M.D.
** Australia, China, Diego Garcia, Guam, Hawaiian Islands, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Kwajalein, Macao, Malaysia, Midway Island, New Zealand, Philippines, Salomon Islands, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam **
Mar 76: Left on WESTPAC cruise
Sep 76: Returned from WESTPAC cruise
Apr 77: Transfered to VFP-63, NAS Miramar, CA
May 78: NAS Miramar
Sep 78: VFP-63, NAS Miramar, CA
Jan 79: Married Karen Lieberman
Dec 8-79: Karen died in childbirth, I have an infant daughter to raise
Dec 80: Honorable Discharge from US Navy
Gary was a 1969 graduate of North Torrance High School, Torrance, California. Here is a note about his death on their web site:
"Gary Crawford suffered a massive brain hemorrhage in Vancouver, Washington; he was a Saxon Alumni site admin and helped us with our forums. (He was) a great man of humor and he added laughter to our site by posting jokes for us. Gary was a Sammy Saxon Award winner in 1969 for Industrial Arts."
Thank you for visiting and remembering Gary with me.
Tread lightly, 'tis a soldiers grave,
A lonely, mossy mound;
And yet to hearts like mine and thine
It should be holy ground.
Speak softly, let no careless laugh,
No idle, thoughtless jest,
Escape your lips where sweetly sleeps
The hero in his rest.
For him no reveille will beat
When morning beams shall come;
For him, at night, no tattoo rolls
Its thunders from the drum.
Tread lightly! for a man bequeathed,
Ere laid beneath this sod,
His ashes to his native land,
His gallant soul to God.
~Pearl Rivers~
Dearly loved and sadly missed. Gary was my best friend and the pain of his sudden death can't begin to be explained in simple words.
He phoned me the night before the massive stroke that took him so suddenly, just to see if my little dog and I were safe from the storms that were in our area. We laughed and joked as always, he teasing me about my "accent." And, as always, I insisted that I clearly did NOT have an accent, his ears must...*giggle*
That is how I choose to remember Gary, with joy and laughter, and gratefulness for all he gave to me with his presence and spirit. I could always count on him to lift my spirits and share my sorrows.
Gary was truly brilliant, inquisitive and an exceptional individual. The world has lost a wonderful, giving spirit, and I've lost a very special love.
Gary was a U.S. Navy veteran and served on the USS Tripoli during the Vietnam War. A picture of the Tripoli is among the pictures I've posted here. If you happened to serve with him, a note would be greatly appreciated.
Chronology:
Feb 69: joined the United States Navy
Jun 69: graduated North Torrance High School - Torrance, CA
Aug 69: US Navy Boot Camp, San Diego, CA
Oct 69: NATTC Memphis, TN
Feb 70: VT-22 N.A.S. Kingsville, TX
Nov 70: Certified for aircraft ejection seats
Aug 71: N.A.S. Pensacola, FL
Jul 72: Texas - Vietnam - Texas
Aug 72: N.A.L.F. El Centro, CA
May 73: N.A.F. Brooklyn, NY
Aug 73: Honorable Discharge from Navy
Oct 73: re-enlisted US Navy
Oct 73: NS Long Beach, CA
Nov 73: NATTC Memphis, TN
Apr 74: U.S.S. Tripoli (LPH-10) A.I.M.D.
** Australia, China, Diego Garcia, Guam, Hawaiian Islands, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Kwajalein, Macao, Malaysia, Midway Island, New Zealand, Philippines, Salomon Islands, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam **
Mar 76: Left on WESTPAC cruise
Sep 76: Returned from WESTPAC cruise
Apr 77: Transfered to VFP-63, NAS Miramar, CA
May 78: NAS Miramar
Sep 78: VFP-63, NAS Miramar, CA
Jan 79: Married Karen Lieberman
Dec 8-79: Karen died in childbirth, I have an infant daughter to raise
Dec 80: Honorable Discharge from US Navy
Gary was a 1969 graduate of North Torrance High School, Torrance, California. Here is a note about his death on their web site:
"Gary Crawford suffered a massive brain hemorrhage in Vancouver, Washington; he was a Saxon Alumni site admin and helped us with our forums. (He was) a great man of humor and he added laughter to our site by posting jokes for us. Gary was a Sammy Saxon Award winner in 1969 for Industrial Arts."
Thank you for visiting and remembering Gary with me.
~~Soldier's Grave~~
Tread lightly, 'tis a soldiers grave,
A lonely, mossy mound;
And yet to hearts like mine and thine
It should be holy ground.
Speak softly, let no careless laugh,
No idle, thoughtless jest,
Escape your lips where sweetly sleeps
The hero in his rest.
For him no reveille will beat
When morning beams shall come;
For him, at night, no tattoo rolls
Its thunders from the drum.
Tread lightly! for a man bequeathed,
Ere laid beneath this sod,
His ashes to his native land,
His gallant soul to God.
~Pearl Rivers~
Dearly loved and sadly missed. Gary was my best friend and the pain of his sudden death can't begin to be explained in simple words.
He phoned me the night before the massive stroke that took him so suddenly, just to see if my little dog and I were safe from the storms that were in our area. We laughed and joked as always, he teasing me about my "accent." And, as always, I insisted that I clearly did NOT have an accent, his ears must...*giggle*
That is how I choose to remember Gary, with joy and laughter, and gratefulness for all he gave to me with his presence and spirit. I could always count on him to lift my spirits and share my sorrows.
Gary was truly brilliant, inquisitive and an exceptional individual. The world has lost a wonderful, giving spirit, and I've lost a very special love.
Gary was a U.S. Navy veteran and served on the USS Tripoli during the Vietnam War. A picture of the Tripoli is among the pictures I've posted here. If you happened to serve with him, a note would be greatly appreciated.
Chronology:
Feb 69: joined the United States Navy
Jun 69: graduated North Torrance High School - Torrance, CA
Aug 69: US Navy Boot Camp, San Diego, CA
Oct 69: NATTC Memphis, TN
Feb 70: VT-22 N.A.S. Kingsville, TX
Nov 70: Certified for aircraft ejection seats
Aug 71: N.A.S. Pensacola, FL
Jul 72: Texas - Vietnam - Texas
Aug 72: N.A.L.F. El Centro, CA
May 73: N.A.F. Brooklyn, NY
Aug 73: Honorable Discharge from Navy
Oct 73: re-enlisted US Navy
Oct 73: NS Long Beach, CA
Nov 73: NATTC Memphis, TN
Apr 74: U.S.S. Tripoli (LPH-10) A.I.M.D.
** Australia, China, Diego Garcia, Guam, Hawaiian Islands, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Kwajalein, Macao, Malaysia, Midway Island, New Zealand, Philippines, Salomon Islands, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam **
Mar 76: Left on WESTPAC cruise
Sep 76: Returned from WESTPAC cruise
Apr 77: Transfered to VFP-63, NAS Miramar, CA
May 78: NAS Miramar
Sep 78: VFP-63, NAS Miramar, CA
Jan 79: Married Karen Lieberman
Dec 8-79: Karen died in childbirth, I have an infant daughter to raise
Dec 80: Honorable Discharge from US Navy
Gary was a 1969 graduate of North Torrance High School, Torrance, California. Here is a note about his death on their web site:
"Gary Crawford suffered a massive brain hemorrhage in Vancouver, Washington; he was a Saxon Alumni site admin and helped us with our forums. (He was) a great man of humor and he added laughter to our site by posting jokes for us. Gary was a Sammy Saxon Award winner in 1969 for Industrial Arts."
Thank you for visiting and remembering Gary with me.
Tread lightly, 'tis a soldiers grave,
A lonely, mossy mound;
And yet to hearts like mine and thine
It should be holy ground.
Speak softly, let no careless laugh,
No idle, thoughtless jest,
Escape your lips where sweetly sleeps
The hero in his rest.
For him no reveille will beat
When morning beams shall come;
For him, at night, no tattoo rolls
Its thunders from the drum.
Tread lightly! for a man bequeathed,
Ere laid beneath this sod,
His ashes to his native land,
His gallant soul to God.
~Pearl Rivers~
Dearly loved and sadly missed. Gary was my best friend and the pain of his sudden death can't begin to be explained in simple words.
He phoned me the night before the massive stroke that took him so suddenly, just to see if my little dog and I were safe from the storms that were in our area. We laughed and joked as always, he teasing me about my "accent." And, as always, I insisted that I clearly did NOT have an accent, his ears must...*giggle*
That is how I choose to remember Gary, with joy and laughter, and gratefulness for all he gave to me with his presence and spirit. I could always count on him to lift my spirits and share my sorrows.
Gary was truly brilliant, inquisitive and an exceptional individual. The world has lost a wonderful, giving spirit, and I've lost a very special love.
Gary was a U.S. Navy veteran and served on the USS Tripoli during the Vietnam War. A picture of the Tripoli is among the pictures I've posted here. If you happened to serve with him, a note would be greatly appreciated.
Chronology:
Feb 69: joined the United States Navy
Jun 69: graduated North Torrance High School - Torrance, CA
Aug 69: US Navy Boot Camp, San Diego, CA
Oct 69: NATTC Memphis, TN
Feb 70: VT-22 N.A.S. Kingsville, TX
Nov 70: Certified for aircraft ejection seats
Aug 71: N.A.S. Pensacola, FL
Jul 72: Texas - Vietnam - Texas
Aug 72: N.A.L.F. El Centro, CA
May 73: N.A.F. Brooklyn, NY
Aug 73: Honorable Discharge from Navy
Oct 73: re-enlisted US Navy
Oct 73: NS Long Beach, CA
Nov 73: NATTC Memphis, TN
Apr 74: U.S.S. Tripoli (LPH-10) A.I.M.D.
** Australia, China, Diego Garcia, Guam, Hawaiian Islands, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Kwajalein, Macao, Malaysia, Midway Island, New Zealand, Philippines, Salomon Islands, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam **
Mar 76: Left on WESTPAC cruise
Sep 76: Returned from WESTPAC cruise
Apr 77: Transfered to VFP-63, NAS Miramar, CA
May 78: NAS Miramar
Sep 78: VFP-63, NAS Miramar, CA
Jan 79: Married Karen Lieberman
Dec 8-79: Karen died in childbirth, I have an infant daughter to raise
Dec 80: Honorable Discharge from US Navy
Gary was a 1969 graduate of North Torrance High School, Torrance, California. Here is a note about his death on their web site:
"Gary Crawford suffered a massive brain hemorrhage in Vancouver, Washington; he was a Saxon Alumni site admin and helped us with our forums. (He was) a great man of humor and he added laughter to our site by posting jokes for us. Gary was a Sammy Saxon Award winner in 1969 for Industrial Arts."
Thank you for visiting and remembering Gary with me.
