I went to college with a hero. I had several classes in the building that housed criminal and police studies, sociology, military science, etc. It also housed the San Jose State University ROTC program, and there was a room in that area for students to gather. That is where I met Grady Triplett. He was in the ROTC program and headed for a career in the military. Over the couple of years that I knew Grady, we had a lot of lunches together with other students, talked about a multitude of topics and generally had a good time. Jack In the Box was just down one block from this building, so we had many Jumbo Jacks with cheese...
Grady graduated in 1971 and was assigned to a platoon headed for Viet Nam. At this time he was a 1st Lieutenant in the Army. I don't think that Grady ever thought about being a hero, at least we never talked about it. He was a normal college student, eager to graduate and serve his country and to make a career of it. Shortly after arriving in Viet Nam he was shot in the neck by a sniper on August 17, 1972. He probably never even knew what happened.
If you go to the Viet Nam veterans memorial in Washington D.C., you see this incredibly long wall with hundreds of names on each obelisk. When I have had the opportunity to be in our nation's capitol, I have always tried to go to this memorial. I make sure I stop at panel 01W and count down to line 67. His name is there, Grady Thomas Triplett, my friend, and my hero. Even now as I'm writing this, I'm tearing up, 38 years later. Some things you never forget.
On this 4th of July, 2010, we can't forget those who gave the supreme sacrifice for us. Thank you, Grady.
1 comment:
I too knew Grady Triplett. He was a junior when I was a senior. I went to Vietnam in Dec 1970, came back in Dec 1971. He went in Nov 1971, and died as an advisor to the Vietnamese Airborne in the seige of Quang Tri. Since it was August 1972, I imagine it was the third time the ARVN was retaking the Citadel. 1972 saw the departure of the 101st Airborne, the last division in RVN, the BAT 21 incident at the border, the largest dogfight--April 6th over Hanoi, and the battles from March to August 1972 for Quang Tri.
Grady always wanted to act in a way that would lead to honor on the battlefield. I think intent plays a lot more in eternal things. He gave his life for the principle of freedom for other people.
Dave Gange, Utah
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