Letters to The Wall, Memorial Day, 2016
In Remembrance of:
Sgt. Glenn Alan Lovett
Vietnam, KIA, March 7, 1970. The Wall, Panel W 13, Line 93.
Dear Glenn,
It has been 46 years since Vietnam, when you were taken from your family, wife, one-year-old daughter, your mom, dad, sister, brother, and from your friends. One was me. We were infantry. First the 82nd, then the 101st. We did not know why. War would be a lie.
So many years ago, though it seems like yesterday. When we were in the same unit you would share the news from your family with me, and when at base camp, your cassette messages from your wife. Happy news of how they all were doing, how the love-of-your-life one-year-old daughter was “growing like a weed". You loved, missed them, looked forward to going home to them, to the farm in Ohio.
I received a letter from you after we transferred to the 101st, from your company to mine. My letter of reply to you was shortly returned to me at a fire base. An official letter from the Army, with mine to you, offered regrets and told me you had been killed. A week later I received letters from your family of the trauma and sadness of your loss, about the funeral, about their knowledge of our great friendship as brothers in war. They wrote to make sure I knew of your loss and with prayers for my safe return home. I wrote back of the wonderful person of Spirit you were, of how much you loved them all, how sorry I was, and I sent prayers for comfort for them and thankfulness that we were friends.
It has been 46 years since then. Twice as long as the 23 years you spent growing up in Ohio, at home in peace, a blessing to all who knew you on this earth. I went to your company when I was back at base camp to ask what had happened when you were killed. They told me that your company was in the mountains, the point man was shot and wounded, that you as slack man, next in line, ran forward to help him. You were killed in your effort of sacrifice to help him.
Those who return home always know the guilt of not being able to bring our buddies back. You gave again, as you had all your life, this time giving your life for that wounded soldier in front of you. Wars, needless wars, another war we now know as lies by those who sent us, wars which continue to kill through these many years. We have Nams still, in the Middle East, subversive political war mongers of killings, torture, war crimes, suicides, sufferings that take innocent children and loved ones of sovereign nations, as you were taken. The peoples, the many more taken by the betrayals of our abused power policymakers of violence, of no conscience, of political and special interests' atrocities.
Glenn, I'm sorry I have not written before, though I have visited you and those at The Wall many times. Know you are never forgotten but remembered in all hearts that knew you, Glenn, a brother for peace. I know you are in peace now. After The Wall was built, I wrote to your family again, then 25 years after your sacrifice. I met your loving mom, dad, wife, and that little one year old who had become a nurse, who has now blessed you with a beautiful granddaughter. What a family you were, are, and always will be.
Your mom, dad, and sister are with you again in the heavenly home of your faith. Know that we always shall remember, love you, and will one day all be blessed to see you all again. Bless you, my friend, my brother for peace. The power of truth and peace will bring us home to you, to our families, to brothers and sisters for peace, and that power of love, of humanity, will serve to see that wars end. Thank you, my friend, my brother. Til then and always... peace.
Wade Fulmer
