My dad wrote the following letter-to-the-editor after his best friend, Milt Kelsey, was killed in Vietnam:

A Job--and He Did It

To the Editor: I lost my best friend a few days ago and this country lost a true patriot. He was neither a flag-waver nor a vociferous supporter of U.S. involvement in Vietnam. But he was a Marine captain with a job to do, and he did it.

Every thinking citizen of this country is suffering the anguish of a questionable war. Two opposing camps, the hawks and the doves, dominate the political scene, while both protest and support demonstrations continue across the nation.

Gen. Gavin, speaking recently to an assembly of students, said we must strive for peace, but at the same time we must obey our laws, and not forcibly oppose the policy of the administration and lawmakers we elected. In short, moderation must be the order of the day.

In his letters, my friend often expressed his doubts of the validity of our involvement. These doubts did not stop him from serving what is still a great and free country. He is a perfect example of the moderation we must all practice in this country's most trying period.

Minneapolis --Stephen Q. Hodapp