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Donald Irvin Rankin
Specialist Four
A CO, 5TH BN, 7TH CAVALRY, 1ST CAV DIV, USARV Army of the United States New Carlisle, Kentucky April 14, 1940 to November 24, 1966 DONALD I RANKIN is on the Wall at Panel 12E, Line 115 |
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Don was a wonderful friend, my college roommate, best man in my wedding. There was no finer friend to everyone. He struggled to be able to stay in college when finances were difficult but he kept trying. Over the years of our friendship we shared much. I was the last friend to see him before he shipped out to Vietnam. He had come to visit me in Scottsdale, Arizona, on his way to San Francisco. His last words were that he didn't expect to return home. When I received word of his death at Thanksgiving time I knew his friendship would never be duplicated with anyone else. I have held on to his friendship and his memory is with me every day. I traveled to his funeral in Kentucky and found that this experience was overwhelming difficult. Don was a people person and shared his friendship with so many. I count it a blessing that we had gotten to know each other. A few weeks after his funeral I received a letter from Don that had been dated the day of his death. The envelope was muddy but the contents still ring out to me. He was concerned about the innocent people of Vietnam and was troubled that he couldn't do more for them. About the same time I received my letter, my grandmother also received a letter from him also dated the day of his death. I cherish both those letters and reread them each year. God blessed me with Don's friendship. His faith was important to him and I know that he is at peace now.
From a friend. |
A Note from The Virtual WallA Company, 5/7th Cavalry, lost seven men on 24 November 1966:
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