Why Did He Have To Die?

When I was just graduating High School, I had already decided to sign up with the Air Force while the Vietnam War was still sending body bags of troops back home. I went in on a buddy system of nine guys all from Western Pennsylvania with eight of us going into the AF and our one friend Reineky who opted for the Marines instead. Two of my best hometown friends convinced me to join up with them since none of us had any hopes of getting an education or traveling the world any other way since we were poor kids from coal miner and steel mill working families.

Once we arrived at Lackland AFB in San Antonio in June 1973, We were immediately singled out by the Training Instruc