IN MEMORY OF OUR BROTHERS

Left to Right: Fort Hood wrestling Coach LT. Charles Sacavage 23 years of age. Today he is an Adjunct Professor of History for Alvernia College in Reading, PA. Retired from Pottsville Area School District were he taught Advance Placement United States History. And still working as Educational Consultant specializing in Distance Learning and Historical Presentations. Center: Sergeant Donald Benton 20-year-old Vietnam Vet Donald worked for IMC Phosphate Mines for 27 years as a dragline operator out of Fort Green, Hardee County. Florida. Kneeling Sergeant Ron Baltierra 22 year old also Vietnam Viet. Owns and runs along with another Vietnam Vet a General Construction, Construction Management and Green Construction Technology company out of the Chicago windy city.

This photo is in memory of Donald Benton that passed Monday, September 23, 2002 after battling Colon cancer for years. Donald Benton born: Bartow, Florida August 30, 1949. Don died in Wauchula, Florida, September 23, 2002 at 53 years of age. Donald leaves wife Nancy of 20 years, Son Lee Benton 30 years of age and grandson Jake 6 years old, Daughter Crystal 23 years of age and Alexis 4 and Jillian 1 yr old, Son Curt Kirk 22 years of age and 5 month old Garrett, Son DJ and 1 yr old Maclay and the youngest Son 15 year old Zackary.

After this picture was taken Don took me to the airport for the second of three emergency leaves while serving my State side seven-month active Military duty. My brother Larry 19 years of age was shot by a Chicago police officer in the hip and bled to death on a Chicago City curb from a simple wound.

The first time was August 25, 1969 one month eight day’s after coming home from the Rice Paddies of Vietnam. My biological father died at Chicago’s West Side Veterans Hospital of pneumonia. He entered the hospital to have a cyst removed from the back of his neck.

The third and last time Donald dropped me off at the airport was when my stepfather Clyde Hubbard died of cancer February 7, 1970 two months after his son Larry was killed. Clyde was never told of his sons’ fate.

Donald also had the privilege to meet my fiancee of 5 years before she took off with her co-worker (Supervisor) and later married. I also introduced Donald to his 1st wife Dottie. I had the privilege to meet his first-born child Lee. And last but not least Don met my 1st girl friend Linda in the Fort Hood Army Track and Field work out gym center after my fiancee split. Even though it was a short romance Don also got to meet the Sergeant that took her away from me 4 weeks later “Sergeant Debbie ???????”!

Whenever I brought up these stories to Don he always came back with a positive note by saying. Every time I went home on an emergency leave He had seven days of my “68” four on the floor shift, 400 C.C. Pontiac GTO “and believe me he said that was one bad moving machine”! And we both agreed if it wasn’t for “BAD LUCK I’d HAVE NO LUCK”. Donald had a great outlook on life no mater what the circumstances were. “We both got a good laugh out of it”.

Donald Benton was a great guy and friend I’ll always remember him. Rest in peace Brother!

Ron Baltierra - September 30, 2003