Posted by Doug Ernst, Napa Valley Register on October 13, 2005:

January 19, 2003 My friend, the war hero One Friday afternoon several months ago I received a call at the office from my Korea/Vietnam veteran friend John Loberg, asking me to go with him to the Cinedome Theater to see a new Mel Gibson movie, "We Were Soldiers." I read a favorable review of the film, based on the hook, "We Were Soldiers Once . . . and Young," co-authored by Army Lt. Gen. Hal Moore and journalist Joe Galloway. Since I met John a few years back, he's been a gentle reminder for me to support our troops no matter how unpopular a war might be. Over the years he loaned me books about West Point, discussed military history and generally helped me understand the sacrifices made by individuals on behalf of the American way of life. Newspaper editors have to know these things, you see. One election night, he showed me that some Republicans have a sense of humor. After Rep. Frank Riggs won re-election, John placed an inflatable elephant on his head and danced the night away. The photo graced the Register's front page the next day, much to his delight. When he was invited to Washington for the George W. Bush inaugural, we ran the photo again, and again he was pleased. When he came down with cancer, he fought back. He was winning that battle when I got his call to go see a movie. Although I couldn't refuse his request for company, I had some doubts about seeing the movie with a grizzled war vet who had been twice injured in battle. What if horrible battlefield memories came rushing back in a flood of emotion? What if this Purple Heart veteran lost his composure in the theater? How would I respond? By all accounts, the film was realistic. I glanced over at John a few times during battle scenes, only to find him staring straight ahead, almost as if he were at attention. As the scenes became mom difficult to watch, as favorite characters lost their lives, I remember thinking that one could almost feel the bullets. I imagined what it would be like, and I had to turn my head away a few times. I began to identify with Galloway, the UPI correspondent who was forced to carry a gun by the end of the three-day La Drang Valley battle in November 1965. How could that journalist endure three days of actual warfare when I was having trouble with a three-hour movie? The film took a surprising turn and when it was over, I found myself not wanting to leave the theater. We watched the credits for a while as the theater emptied. Finally we got up to leave and I asked, "How are you doing?" John spoke softly. He was clearly affected by the film. "Fine, no problem. And you?" At that moment I realized what John had in mind the whole time. My education in military matters included a new chapter. I was grateful, certainly. But more than that. I was honored. John sacrificed a part of himself that day so that I would gain some knowledge. When John died of pneumonia on Monday, he left a world and a community that was improved by the things he did and the sacrifices he made during his life. John was an American hero. I am proud to have been his friend. I salute him. Doug Ernst, Editor

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