Posted by Randy Hammond on January 4, 2001:

I came to know Keith in the summer of 1978 following my freshman year of college while Keith was still a high school student. It was manual labor and we worked side-by-side every. Keith had a great sense of humor so, while sweating and straining, the work was made enjoyable by working with someone who was as light-hearted as myself. While being able to see the the humor in most situations Keith possessed a great work ethic. During our many discussions Keith had but one focus in his life, to attend West Point. It was his all-consuming passion and we spoke of it frequently. Keith's Dad was a Sergeant Major and had ingrained a deep respect for the Army in his son. I had respect for the institution and, having had a cousin who graduated, I always had considerable admiration for those who attended. However, I saw this as an unattainable dream for Keith but never had the heart to tell him. I was wrong and always hoped to have the opportunity to tell him just how wrong I had been. After graduation from college I was commissioned a 2nd Lt in the Marine Corps and went on to attain the rank of LtCol. During Desert Shield after teaching an enemy radar systems class to the Apache guys in the 1st of the 101st (I was a pilot) I was chatting with a guy who had graduated from West Point. He told me Keith "died in Germany" several years before and, of couse, I was shocked. You guys have a great legacy and I'm proud to have known Keith and celebrate the fact that he had the opportunity to be a part of that legacy and attain his goal in life. Your legacy is a pure, everlasting, deep and as real as anything you will ever experience. It's a combination of adulthood emerging from youth, the experience of being part of something bigger than yourself for the first time in your life and the awesome responsibility of trust on a level few will ever experience. I know you cherish it as well you should. I've lost over 30 friends in aircraft mishaps and I think that while it's something we learn to live with, each ones tears a little piece out of your heart. I'm saddened to know Keith Heithcock will never experience some of the best that life has to offer but we all have the satisfaction of knowing he right where he wanted to be... Best wishes to all, thanks for your dedicated service and Semper Fi. Randy Hammond

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