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7 Apr 69
Dear Jim,
Hope you had a good journey home. I’m sorry I’m unable to bring you glad tidings buddy, but I think you’ll probably what to know this news. Our friend, our happy, crazy, almost always laughing pal Dave was killed during a fire fight at 0600 hrs this morning. An RPG took his head. Jim, that guy had so much going for him, a beautiful girl to marry in October, school to finish, and under 40 days to go. This war is taking too many good guys.
Perhaps I’m selfish but a few have been friends and I know you’ve felt the same. There’s nothing more to say. I thought you’d like to know.
Jerry
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Sgt. Jerome K. Balcom, H & S Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Regiment, 1st Marine Division, spent most of his tour (November 1967-July 1969) in I Corps. He and wife Laura are the parents of two daughters, Bernadette and Judith. Jerry serves as Major in command of Supreme and County Courts in the New York State Court system, Ninth Judicial District, with headquarters in White Plains. His younger brother, Dennis, also a Marine, served with the 11th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Marine Division; his cousin, Tim, was in the Army during his Vietnam tour.
The recipient of his letter is his long-time best friend, Marine Sgt. James J. Buckley, Jr. They met just after boot camp at Parris Island in early 1967. Jim served with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, March 1968-April 1969. He and wife Melody have a family of daughters: Maggie, Katie, Beth, Kara, and Annie. Jim’s brother-in-law, Air Force Capt. Francis Bissaillon, was KIA in 1966. Two cousins were WIA. Several friends from his class at the University of Massachusetts served in Vietnam; his roommate, Navy Cross recipient Marine 2Lt Michael Casey was KIA in 1968.
The subject of Jerry’s letter, David Ranson, was KIA on 7 April 1969. He is buried near his family’s home in Illinois.
In September 2001, Jim and Jerry returned to I Corps, visiting many of the places at which they’d been stationed.
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