FOR KEVIN FORDE, WARRIOR

They were all warriors,
who knew the terror of combat
and faced it down.

They all were warriors
who looked death in the eye
with the reality of training,
and found courage
in the tool of fantasy.

They were all warriors
lived through the sight
of dearest comrades
dead and dying -
and managed to go on with their lives.

They were all warriors,
who faced the demon again
when the energy of youth
was gone;
Who fought the fight
one more time.
Win or lose
they will be, forever, warriors.

©Copyright January 2006 by Richard W. Reith

-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Subritzky <kusza@xtra.co.nz>
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:;
Sent: Mon, 30 Jan 2006 06:53:40 +1300
Subject: [IWVPA] GUNNER DOWN!!!!

Gunner Kevin Forde
161 Battery
Viet Nam

Gunner Kevin Forde, late of 161 Battery, and a Viet Nam Veteran died of Agent Orange related cancer yesterday at Waikato Hospital.

Funeral details are not known at this time; however Kevin was a native of Wellington [New Zealand] and died whilst in hospital, so please keep your eyes pealed for death notices in the Dominion Post.

The last time I saw Kevin was at the 1996, 161 Battery Reunion in Palmerston North, and I understand that in more recent years he had been very active in the RSA in the Wellington/Johnsonville area.

Please give this email your widest promulgation via your own email loops. Thank you.

Subritzky