The Fourth Musketeer

Jim, Lisa, Pappy (2007)

If your life is a leaf
that the seasons tear off and condemn
they will bind you with love
that is graceful and green as a stem
--Sisters of Mercy, Leonard Cohen

I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you again
--Fire and Rain, James Taylor

Let's not unman each other - part at once;
All farewells should be sudden when forever,
Else they make an eternity of moments
And clog the last sands of life with tears
--Sarandapalus (V, i), Lord Byron
__________________

My friend, William Hurt Thornton, died May 16, 2010. He was a good SFC and a good Tennessean, and much more.

When William ("Pappy") Thornton retired in 1975, Four Musketeers celebrated with a night on the town. Present for general carousing duty were Staff Sergeant Melvin Thomas [deceased, suicide]; Master Sergeant (ret'd) Warren Wiley [deceased, lymphoma]; Sergeant 1st Class (ret'd) William Hurt Thornton [deceased, cancer]; myself.

Now I'm the last Musketeer.

I always called him Pappy, even while a young Lieutenant playing Army, and that's what it was for me much of the time. But Thornton was always the definition of soldier, and never played at anything.

Pappy had three awards of the Combat infantry Badge, a Distinguished Service Cross, four Silver Stars, Eight Purple Hearts, two Soldier's Medals and a whole showcase full of other medals. His DSC was won in his 3rd war, Vietnam.

He was especially proud of his Distinguished Rifleman Badge, and his President's 100 Tab was one of the few he wore on his uniform. Pappy lived by the rifle in all senses of the word. It is also safe to say Pappy died by the rifle, even if indirectly.

In later years his old wounds caused a myriad of problems, but it was cancer that made the kill which had eluded many enemy soldiers.

His cancer was presumptively service-connected, caused by Agent Orange exposure in the Republic of Vietnam where he served with the 101st Airborne Division. (In the Korean War, SFC Thornton served with Task Force Smith, the first U.S. Regimental Combat Team to counter the North Korean invasion of South Korea.) Four enemy Armies couldn't kill him, but Agent Orange combined with a botched VA procedure did the deed.

During my last conversation with Pappy he was matter-of-fact and knew where he was headed. He had faith and did not fear.

The last thing I said to him before we broke the connection was, "Pappy, you know that I love you?", and he said, "Well, sir, gotta go now! See you later." Not that Ranger is very touchy-feely, but we were in different generations.

I certainly hope he received my transmission.