Godwin 3rd Ordway

West Point, 1955

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Elisha L. Gallup on April 18, 2003:

I didn?t get to know Ski really well until a couple of years after graduation. We were both in the 82nd Airborne at Ft. Bragg. As typical young bachelors we were constantly on the quest for a party or female companionship. A memorable plan of action was to take space available military air to Bermuda in time for college week. We managed to get there and have a ball in spite of mostly rainy weather and being one week early for the college spring break activities. I didn?t run into Ski again until several years later in Vietnam. In the early years there were not a lot of U.S. troops in country ? mostly advisors. Traveling down an unfamiliar road with my Vietnamese unit we decided to stop at a local Advisory Compound for travel advisories ? who should come to the door ? Ski! It turned out that he was stationed in the same area and we got together frequently after that. The most memorable occasion was the visit by three professional football players on a tour to cheer up the troops. I will never forget sitting in awe at the bar listening to Ski and the famous Johnny Unitas the greatest pro quarterback in football) talk football and play liars dice. They were both having such a good time that they almost missed their flight back to Saigon. I?ll remember Ski as a football play, infantryman and most of all a cheerful and fun companion. Whenever I thank back on the old times, I can?t help but get a smile on my face.

admin