Many Different Ways To Die

[frisco-kid]

Earlier today another member PM'd me with the phone number of someone sharing the same name and home town as one of the paratroopers listed in my "Fallen Eagles" memorial thread.

I remember his dying. He died of malaria. The only trooper I knew to do so. Several of us came down with it at one time or another. Not me, but I did get dengue fever during my second tour [different mosquito, I think]. Usually you had to be pretty bad off to get med-evaced out with it, otherwise you were pretty much walking wounded. As I remember, this guy was almost delirious by the time they sent him in. I guess his temp got so high they couldn't lower it in time, he slipped into a coma, and he died. I think he'd been with the company about 5mos. by then.

Most people don't think of us dying this way. They just think hostile action, friendly fire, etc.. They don't realize that the environment could be just as deadly as Charlie. James recalls 2 troopers in his company drowning while crossing a river. I remember hearing of a guy in another company dying of heat stroke. Then there was always the chance of being bitten by a cobra or a bamboo viper; or being dragged off by a tiger; or falling off a mountainside; or picking up one of thousands of freakin' viruses or infections that they didn't even have a name for, let alone a cure. No, not a very hospitable place.

I'll pass on calling to see if this guy is related.

[splummer]

As far as the hostile envirement goes. I still get a heat rash, even when the temps in Minn are 20 below. One of my freinds from the old unit in 1968 still has a VA disability for malarea. [I think more than half the deaths or injuries in my trans company were from accidents or sickness.

[melody1181]

My Grandpa got Malarea in Africa. Has had reaccurences(or whatever you would call it) twice since the war, once he was very close to death.