Eddie was my best friend. We did everything together from going to grammar school to going to Vietnam and dealing with the aftermath.

Here's a poem I wrote for Eddie at the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington DC on November 17, 1987:

Eddie

We grew up and did everything and went everywhere together.

My older brother Richard used to call you Edison. We’d all crack up at that while drinking beer and getting ready to go out to the parties in El Sereno. The girls were crazy about you. Why wouldn’t they be?

But then we turned around and found ourselves in Vietnam at the same time and I turned around and felt
Lost. Afraid. alone.

You laughed at me
Bleeding.
I laughed too.

I never really knew why.

It’s been so long
Partner.

I’ve already lived a whole bunch of years longer than you lived. How can that be?

I miss you, man.
I miss you.

Yeah, I’m still crying Eddie.

Are you still laughing at me?
I bet you are. Sure, why not?

Hey, man laugh. Its okay,
Laugh.
Maybe I hear you –
I don’t know –
Time goes on –
Things change. I guess.

I’m still alive
I guess –

20 years ago in Vietnam,
1967
I was scared man.
I was scared.
Your crazy laughing kept me going
Somehow.

But I couldn’t keep you
Going –

We were supposed to be
Old men together laughing
at each other, Me and Eddie.
Old men
Laughing together.

You were such a part of me –
Maybe my laughing will be enough
To make sense of it all. I don’t know.

I do know I loved you, Eddie –
But I guess I have to go on
Without your friendship in person –

Your laugh is in my soul –
I hear it man, I hear it –
You and Nacho and Peter and Rosie and Nonie too
And me.

You’re still here with me somewhere inside, Eddie –
I hear you laughing and saying: “Fool,
Have a good time! Laugh!
Love! And make it all worthwhile
For the both of us –

I will.
I am.
I loved you
As you loved me –

I loved you man.
And I love this life too.
But damn it man, I still miss your crazy laughing ass.

Phil Elkins
Forest Ranch, CA