Ghery - your recent post regarding a brave Gurkha sentry receiving Britains second highest award from Queen Elizabeth for his heroism in Afghanistan brought back memories of Ray Westberg and his service in Viet Nam. Recently out of rehab, attending WSU using his VA benefits, he described a night standing sentry duty to Chris Holtorf and I. My recollection is that he heard rustling in the brush, called out the challenge and receiving no reply opened up resulting in numerous explosions, enemy casualties and left him unconscious, peppered with shrapnel, almost loosing an eye and missing part of a finger. He had been in rehab a couple months and shaving would still reveal small bits of shrapnel that worked its way to the surface. When I googled him to refresh my memory, I was saddened to find he died in 1997 at the age of 47. On a positive note, it appears he became a very popular coach and teacher in Ellensburg, has an annual invitational wrestling tournament and hiking trail named in his honor. This may be ancient news to WA residents but news to me. wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/westberg-trail community.seattletimes.nwsource/archive/?date=19970909&slug=2559246
Posted on: Thu, 03 Jul 2014 23:05:04 +0000
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