Black Bart

SixTGunr
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Posts: 114
(3/29/02 7:14:32 pm)
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Thought I would tell you a bit about a very dear and close brother to me from back in the days of Rockin-N-Rollin with the 5TH Marines Regiment. His name was Barton.

He was a little bitty red headed guy with a good sense of humor, a great smile and one of them laughs that will always be remembered. He was the squads communicator (or radio man if you will) and was alsways there when you needed him. We used to hang together real close all the time. Sharing memories of home and hopes of hooking up when all "this" was over.

Back then we all had various nicknames or "handles" that we called one another. All Marine radiomen carried a Colt 45 M1911 as a back up sidearm and he was constantly playing quick draw (safely of course) with it. Now he being from New York state you would'nt think of him as the "cowboy type" but it kinda fit him and we therefore tagged Barton as none other than "Black Bart" who was commonly refered to as the bad guy in all the old westerns.

For some strange reason Black Bart and I were closer to each other than others. After the $h*t was over with we would always check on each other first ... before checking on others. We were THAT close. He always hung close to our gun team in case we were called up and we spent beau coup time together and kept each other going and dealing with the madness of combat.

Going into Hue City during the '68 TET Offensive I believe Bart had about ten days left before he was due to rotate home and back to "The World". Needless to say (as you have heard me say before) the fighting was extremely close and intense throughout the streets of the city and the house to house takeover was definately taking its toll on us. The squad leader along with Bart had decided to make a mad dash across the street in order to take up a better position and suppressive fire was layed down as they commenced their run.

In the matter of a split second and just as Bart was about to round the corner he was struck in the back of the head by an AK47 round and it was as if in slow motion. His mind was telling his legs to move and as his legs continued to be in a kicking back and forth motion his body went no where but to the ground while his legs continued moving. Unforgretable!

Though it was extremely difficult to watch your brother go down like that we had to continue with the fighting or there would be many more like Bart and we could not afford that at that time. Theres no time outs in combat.

A few days later after leaving the hard way myself, I never knew for sure whether my friend and brother was gone but it did not look good at all and I tried to lock that scene from my mind so many many times but actually know that it is NOT possible. Shame that a lot of us have gone our seperate ways and have dealt with what we experienced in our own way of thinking and I thought wrong on this one.

Several years ago I had found out by conversing with another member of 2/5 Marines that Bart was indeed alive. Matter of fact he has even attended a few of our reunions by way of an escort. Bart is alive yes....but being struck in such a delicate area that he knows nothing nor will he even respond to you is what I was told by this other Brother who has seen him. It saddened my heart deeply to hear this yet I was glad that he is still amongst us.

Some day soon .... Before its too late .... I do hope to be able to get to Buffalo, New York where my friend and Brother Black Bart resides in a VA Hospital. Whether he responds to me or not it will indeed be a good feeling to be able to hold him one more time.

And now I must go for a bit because this has hit extremely close and I am having trouble seeing the keyboard at this time.

Bart ....... I Love Ya Man

"What more can I say ..... I was at the wrong place at the wrong time"

Tac401
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Posts: 1886
(3/30/02 1:47:54 am)
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ezSupporter
Re: Black Bart
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Six,

Another speachless occasion for me, but one thing
that came to mind that seems appropriate was this
writing that was written by Major Michael O'Donnell
during a heated battle in that place you all fought
in so bravely, I don't know if you are aware of this
but Major O'Donnell was KIA that day and this writting
was found on his person. I have had this in the header
of VMBB's opening pages of the site since the site
began because I think it says so much and means
so much.


"If You Are Able, Save For Them A Place Inside Of You, And Save One Backward Glance When You Are Leaving For The Places They Can No Longer Go, Be Not Ashamed To Say You Loved, Though You May Or May Have Always, Take What They Have Left And What They Have Taught You With Their Dying And Keep It With Your 0wn, And In That Time When Men Decide And Feel Safe To Call The War Insane, Take One Moment To Embrace Those Gentle Heroes You Left Behind."

Author: Major Michael O'Donnell 1/1/70 -Dak To TDR - 10/27/49-1/1/70
TFF VMBB Email Tac

SixTGunr
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Posts: 115
(3/30/02 2:43:21 am)
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Please feel free to add any comments you may have here however I am going to put this particular one behind me for a while. Though it may be somewhat of a healing process to get things out from within, this one hit me pretty hard. Six

"What more can I say ..... I was at the wrong place at the wrong time"

Winter11
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Posts: 722
(4/1/02 2:01:23 pm)
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Six.... whether you read this reply now or in months from now... as I can't even begin to understand what you're feeling... you have my sincerest respect for having the courage to relay such a memory. It is indeed heartbreaking and my deepest thoughts go to you, as well as Bart...

{{{hugs to you}}}


And please, if you find yourself traveling to Buffalo, I know that I reside on the way... if you need a stop over... or whatever... my door is always open.

Always Faithful

haggai69
Member
Posts: 11
(4/1/02 2:42:09 pm)
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Thank you for sharing. That was a most touching story...