POSTED ON 7.18.2012
POSTED BY: NEAL SCHWARTZ

BASIC TRAINING - FORT ORD

I served with Steven in Basic at Fort Ord. Company B, 5th Battalion, 3rd Brigade from 07NOV66 - 14JAN67. We attended different AIT training but both ended up in Viet Nam. Steven lost his life even before I got there. He is missed but I will meet him again as all our comrades will.

POSTED ON 4.23.2002

POSTED BY: BOB DUNCAN

FRIENDS AT BYRD JR. HIGH AND POLYTECHNIC HI

Steve:
We went through school together and are close together in both our class photos. We also served at the same time in the First Infantry Division. I was in the 1st of the 18th "Swamp Rats".

Recently I was privileged to receive a correction to my initial posting from your close "in-country" friend Steve Goodman who told me that you were in the 2nd of the 28th not the 1st of the 28th, and it was the 1st of the 16th Battalion who was your ready-reactionary, not us. I assumed it was us because we were ready-reactionary when 31 BRO grunts were lost in October '67; sadly, we were chosen to load their bodies unto a Chinook.

Steve was on the ground with you when you lost your life, so he graciously filled me in. My correction doesn't lessen the grief of losing you, and I share Steve's loss and your family's loss--America's loss. Nonetheless, I'll never forget you and all of our KIA's. My Mom sent me a news clipping of your death--I hadn't known you were even in the Army, much less in my Division.

I've visited your gravesite up on the hill that overlooks the San Fernando Valley--we were Valley Boys for sure. About 12 years ago, I ran into "Alphabet", he told me how you were killed and I still think about you often, so does "Alphabet." He walks with braces and crutches, but he's still verticle. Damn, you've missed so much. I miss you Steve, those simpler days when we sometimes played hookie from school. God bless. Bob Duncan

Ostroff, Steven Larry, SP 4