DLIC
Joe, yestiddy ya saved my lifean' I swore I'd pay ya back.
Here's my last pair of dry socks.
--Bill Mauldin
And the summer's gone
All the leaves are dying
It's you, it's you
Must go and I must bide
--Danny Boy
In my own skin
in my own heart
wish you'd come in
but the place is blown apart
--A Better Place, Army of Anyone
Time is short and here’s the damn thing about it
You’re gonna die, gonna die for sure.
You can learn to live with love or without it
– but there ain’t no cure
--Slow Turning, John Hiatt
___________
Ranger is saddened to report the death of a fellow Vietnam veteran. Last month it was fellow blogger Lurch, now Joe, leaving Ranger to feel like the DLIC (Detachment Left in Contact).
Jospeh W. Urbas Jr., Cleveland, died 1/26/08 following a lengthy campaign with cancer. It was a heart attack, however, which ended his patrol base duties. A common saying in the Army of yore was, there were only two good assignments -- the one you are leaving, and the one you're headed to. Joe has PCS'd (had a Permanent Change of Station) to his next assignment.
It is hard to say you miss a man that you have only seen three times in the last 25 years, but Ranger misses Joe. He deserved a long life as do all surviving combat infantrymen, but that wasn't in his op orders.
Joe served as an Airborne Infantry combat officer with the 1st Cavalry ca. 1970. Ranger Urbas later served with the U.S. Army Reserve and donned the Green Beret with the 12th Special Forces Group.
During the middle 1970's, Joe served at Ft. Benning while attending the Infantry Officers Advanced Course. He was a frequent guest of mine at that time, and we had the opportunity to build on a friendship that began in ROTC. (Joe entered ROTC in 1965 and was commissioned through OCS, Infantry.)
Ranger Urbas didn't speak much of his personal life, but he was a loving brother, mate and stepfather. He was well-loved, and his patrol base was secure.
Ranger mirrors this love and respect by saluting a former friend and colleague. He was a fine cadet and officer, and a hell of a man. He was a soldier, which was all he ever wanted to be.
--Jim
Labels: joe urbas, soldier's death
posted by Lisa at 9:19 PM
10 Comments:
ba'aheh gosish itisgoh bisii lah dahi
(give him thanks and honor he is soldier)
in western apache.
oorah lurch. we'll keep the fire.
MB,
He was a soldier and what more is there that one can say.? jim
"...but Ranger misses Joe.."
Ranger has apparently missed Ranger School as well. You've been outed as not being a Ranger School grad.
Of course, you could always produce your diploma..but I'm sure that you'll have the story about the "big fire" to fall back on.
What a maroon.
"anon",
"What a maroon."
Thanks for your concern, but Ranger is not "marooned." We've been through it with your sort before --- on a little "search and destroy" party, are you?
We'll ignore you, and invite our faithful readers to sound off on the matter of trolls, if they wish.
Otherwise if your sad little party of trolls persists. we'll have to turn comment moderation back on. Apologies to our good and civil readers.
We simply don't have time for your nasty attitudes here.
Dear "Anonymous",
Your title says enough about you in and of itself. What's wrong ? Don't have the BALLS to put your name behind what you say?
I am Ranger Urbas' sister. I have never blogged before, but you have caused/provoked me to do so. LEARN HOW TO SPELL; get a dictionary or whatever: The word I believe you are trying to say is MORON not MOROON - maroon is a color OR a verb refering to isolate someone without hope!
My brother loved and respected RANGER and his website.
How DARE you besmirch (look it up in the dictionary) my brother's memory with you petty comments. Shame on you. - Mary Alice
Mary Alice,
Though we have never spoken, I want to thank you for your fine reply. What a wonderful surprise.
Jim was horrified that anyone would have the gall to desecrate this post in particular. You have fully redeemed it.
Thank you, and my sympathies to you on the loss of your beloved brother.
Mary Alice,
I must apologize that the memory of Joe has been sullied by mindless nutless wonders who actually believe a fucking piece of cloth is worth more than my feelings and regards for your brother. As i said i'll miss Joe. jim hruska
He lived and died as a RANGER and that is as fine a tribute one can give to a man (and I do mean MAN) like that. RANGERS LEAD THE WAY!
ranger dennis,
Thank you for your fine words on our loss.
Joe was featured on a SF recruitment poster from the 70's. I am in contact with his sister now, and when she forwards it, I will post it here.
This is Ranger Urbas' sister, again.
Ranger Dennis 1/75 your comments are SO appropriate.
Joe battled mouth and neck cancer for seven years. He went through gruesome treatments and multiple (too many to keep track of) surgeries. In the last year or two, despite being presecribed HEAVY DUTY pain meds,he was just about always in pain. -- He resisted taking the prescribed doses of pain medication; as he didn't like being "doped up" into a stupor (Ranger needs to ALWAYS be alert and ready).
As noted in the original posting, it was cardiac arrest that finally killed him - no doubt brought on by the years of pain & suffering and malnutrition.
In the Emergency Room, after we were told that Joe's death was imminent, he was not completely conscious, but it was apparent that he was continuing to fight and striving to stay alive - despite his heart's protestations to the contrary.
Somewhere during that time, I knelt at Joe's ear and commended him for his years of fighting this final battle, but I also told him "It's time to stand down, soldier; and be at peace"
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