Two Kennedale veterans who lost their lives in service of the country will be honored tomorrow along with other veterans. David Helm and Michael Rivers both died in South Vietnam in 1967 and 1968 respectively.
A memorial marker in their honor was placed at the site of the old Kennedale High School on what is now Kennedale Parkway. It was later moved to its present location at the front of the new high school located at 901 Wildcat Way. {{more}}
The service will begin at 11 a.m. at the site of the memorial marker at Kennedale High School. The public is encouraged to attend this short ceremony.
David Earl Helm, Marine Corporal from Kennedale was listed as a casualty on November 10, 1967 in Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam. He as 20 years old. David
Helm, Virtual Wall
He wanted letters from home so he wrote this poem and the Kennedale newspaper printed it in 1966:
REMEMBER ME
I am a boy from your hometown
you remember you probably saw me around
I hunted your fields and woods hour on hour
look close and you will see trails i left there,
almost a year went by.
Now I am in Chi Lie
I remember you and all the things you have said,
please remember me and part of the things I did.
Michael Ross Rivers, Army PFC from Kennedale was listed as a casualty on March 2, 1968 in Gia Dinh Province, South Vietnam. He was 21 years old. Michael
Rivers, Virtual Wall
“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 them….
Take what they have left and what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own….And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle hero?s you left behind….”
Quote from a letter home by Maj. Michael Davis O’Donnell, KIA March 24, 1970.
