For Those We’ve Left Behind
Earlier this summer, I received an e-mail from my Naval Academy class regarding my approaching 25th reunion. Cheryl and I attended our 20th and it was a blast. Whether we were going to make it to the 25th was another story since we were already going back east to see my father. At the end of the e-mail was a plea from Donna Esposito Sengelaub for help with the memorial service that we have some time during the weekend. I remembered the service in 2002 and it was well done.
Looking through the list, I saw that my company mate, Bill Hughes had been left off. Bill was killed in June 2005 when an ATV he was using to work on his farm rolled over onto him in freak accident. I sent Donna an e-mail so she could up date her list. The list of names really struck me. Here were my classmates that are gone forever. I saw my friend Rich Dempsey who was killed in an F-14 accident. Rick and I were on Youngster Cruise together. I remember going to his parents’ house on a weekend away from the ship. His father was the commander of the submarine there in San Diego and he took Rick and me down to Tijuana for an afternoon.
Then there was Jeff Ohl. Jeff was this big jolly guy who I got to know during flight school. He was buds with John Foley, Tim McDonnell and Pat Greene who I shared a house with in Pensacola, therefore, I was his friend as well. I remember his method of greeting you. “Mmmmmuuuuuuuuuuugggggggggg!!!” He always referred to everyone as “mug” as well. It wasn’t “Hey Tom,” or “Hey Tim.” It was always “Mmmmuuuuggggg!” in this deep resonant voice. Jeff contracted cancer not long after we started flight school and he passed away in September 1983.
Bill Hughes was one of the nicest guys you would ever want to meet. He came to the Academy after two years of junior college so he was a bit savvier about the world and about academics than the rest of us. My roommate Wayne Gluf always called him “the Professor” because you could always go to him for help with most subjects. I was honored to be in his and Amey’s wedding. The last time I saw him, I was passing through Norfolk on my way to a new duty station. Bill and Amey had me over for a barbeque at their apartment. He had steak cooking down to a science. During that visit, he also corrected my golf swing. Whenever I pick up a golf club, I always think of Bill and his advice.
So with thoughts of those and other classmates, I composed this piece.
Some we lost to cancer
Some we lost at sea
Some we lost, flying high, above on silvered wings
Some were lost in accidents
Some just disappeared
Some were lost in the madness war and combat bring
So bow your head and say a prayer
For those we’ve left behind
Remember joy and laughter shared
And how our lives entwined
They were our friends, our pals, our mates,
Their names now are enshrined
Give thanks for the time we spent
With those we’ve left behind
Some of them were parents
Some were gone too fast
Some of them, changed the world, some never got the chance
And so we cast our minds back
To happy times we shared
Give thanks for their fellowship that left our lives enhanced
Here is an mp3 of the song: For Those We’ve Left Behind
Thanks for reading my blog.
God bless,
Tom Whalen
Copyright © 2007 Thomas B. Whalen