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Find a grave carbondale illinois3/15/2024 I know I feel different, but am not yet sure why. Then just hung around for a while before saying goodbye. I grasped his tombstone, spoke some words to him and left behind some flowers, a note and a unit emblem. The "lady at the Chester library" had done some research and found him in the Palestine Cemetery. While on a third walk of the grounds, she threw open the city hall door, waved her arm and called out "we found him." Meanwhile the town clerk, Linda Butler, began calling all the Nitzsches in the phonebook to no avail. I thought I had found his gravesite on and stopped in Ellis Grove to visit the cemetery.Ī friend and I walked the cemetery twice searching for a tombstone. My failure to bring him home has left a hole in my heart that brings tears frequently. I have never forgotten Leonard and his courageous, selfless contributions to his fellow platoon members. I began to attend in 2003, 32 years after returning home. I went online and found that one of my old units was having annual reunions. The terrorist attacks of 9/11 changed everything. In my case, and that of many others, we felt then and still do feel that people just would not understand our stories. Like many Vietnam vets, we came home and resumed or started new lives, but we did not share much about the old one. I was not allowed to write a letter to his family. Leonard lost his life while on patrol in South Vietnam. Two weeks ago, I came to Ellis Grove to visit the gravesite of Leonard Nitzsche. I pass this on for your use as you may or may not see fit. I could not have found him without the efforts of people in the area who went above and beyond. On October 23rd, I made my way to Ellis Grove to visit the grave of a soldier I lost in Vietnam.
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