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JAMES DARRELL WADDELL SGT - E5 - Army - Regular 11th Armored Cavalry 21 year old Married, Caucasian, Male Born on Jul 11, 1949 From LAMESA, TEXAS His tour of duty began on Nov 03, 1970 Casualty was on Apr 14, 1971 in BINH THUY, SOUTH VIETNAM NON-HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY VEHICLE CRASH Body was recovered Religion BAPTIST Panel 04W - - Line 125 ~ Coming Home ~ One day long ago a family was blessed, with a tiny bundle of happiness. Everything was so lovely early one morn, And on that day in July, their first Son was born. That first tooth he cut, it was such a thrill. So active a child, he just never stayed still. Not long after that, he started to talk… Then, pretty soon, he began to walk. Seems only like days till he started school - It was time to learn the golden rule. He sped through school, the years like days. Loved by all for his sweet, thoughtful ways. A young man now, with decisions to make… He must decide which road he would take. He would wed someday, his girl would stay true. But, for now, he would fight, for the red, white and blue. To serve for his country, and prove unto all… A small man can be proud and stand tall. Size is no factor, when fighting a war… Bravery can conquer all cowards by far. He fought for his country in lands overseas, He hoped for true peace, for you and for me. He prayed for that peace in the jungles of Nam, And, prayed for the day he would be safely home. He won medals and honors, despite his small size, He read letters from home with tears in his eyes. He knew he'd be home soon, Vietnam far behind, His loved ones would push that hell from his mind… He'd see family and friends - Oh God, for that day. Just one week more, but that's so far away… That's thousands of minutes, each one a risk… Each could be deadly, daydreaming like this. In that instant, it happened, he fell from his tank - His last breath was taken…And to the ground, he sank. The soldier's prayer was answered, only one thing was wrong - He laid cold and still on his last journey home… The family was waiting, saddened by grief - Knowing he was in Heaven was their only relief… They awaited his body, numbed by the pain - Of knowing they'd see him on Earth, never again… He'd given his life for the red, white and blue. And his life long dream, had finally come true… For now he had grown, in every man's eyes - To be a brave man, of much greater size… Poem by: Brenda Waddell Fuller L to R-Front Row: Sandra and Rebecca Middle Row: Jimmy, Barbara and Brenda Back Row: Mom and Dad Dear James, Hello James! I can't believe it has been over 33 years since your death. I will NEVER forget that horrible day! I knew the minute I looked out of the kitchen window and saw that Army car parked in front of our house in Lamesa. I took off running over to Helen's house screaming. Mom's worst nightmare had become true. We were all devestated. The next few weeks were a blur to me. After your death, and your body was brought home, IT WASN'T YOU! This had to be a mistake, we have someone else's loved one. My brother is still alive. The only thing this body had resembling you was his dimple in his chin! We moved to Midland that summer after your death and Brenda bought the house. I didn't realize it for OVER 25 years, but I actually believed you were going to walk right in the front door of our house in Lamesa, Texas. Years went by and I married and my husband and I bought that house when Brenda sold it and moved out. I couldn't bare you coming home to an empty house. I didn't realize I was denying your death until I taught a foster parenting class telling the stages of grief. The first stage was DENIAL! I realized then YOU WOULD NOT BE COMING TO THIS HOME WE LIVE IN. You were at home in Heaven. It is such a great assurance knowing you are in Heaven. The last visit you had home to Lamesa you would open up your wallet and display a picture of Jesus and ask everyone,"Have you met my Father?" When your belongings were returned to us, there was your wallet with the Lord's picture in it. I know you and Dad are sitting together in Heaven guiding the rest of the family in the right direction. You and Dad may be gone from this Earth, but your memories will ALWAYS keep both of you alive in my heart. Love, Your Baby Sister, Beckie Jimmy "Shorty" Waddell Dear James, I miss you so much. Time has seemed to go on in other parts of my life but has been at a stand still since April 14, 1971. You were my hero. I remember my first day of school. I was a scared little girl and you calmed me as we walked along together. When I fell and skinned my knee, you didn't hesitate to pull out your new white handkerchief you were so proud of and blot my tears away and then used it to tenderly blot the blood from my knee. From that day on you were my big brother, my hero. The years went by so fast. You were always there to protect me. When it was your night to have the car, you let me tag along. You were the best brother any sister could have. You had such a sense of humor...a gift I'm sure we all got from Dad. In time, you chose to go fight for your country. You were small in stature, but in my eyes, you stood taller than any man I've ever seen because you were my hero. I was a newly wed of 4 months,living in Lubbock and had gone to the laundrymat to do the washing. I would always call Mom while I was doing the laundry, but this time there was something wrong. I could hear it in her voice. I sensed it. I felt a cold chill go up my spine and I knew, before I even asked her, I KNEW! I NEVER felt so alone in my whole life as I did the moment I hung up the phone. The tears were flowing freely down my face and I remember speaking to someone in the laundrymat and walking numbly to my car, getting inside and driving. I went to where my husband worked and searched franticly for him. He wasn't there..I went to the curb and just sit down, put my head down and cried. I felt so terribly alone just sitting on that curb. There was heavy traffic going both directions but I felt like the only person alive in the world...and I wanted to die. It would have been so easy to just stand up and walk into the traffic, but I know you wouldn't have wanted me to do that. You were my hero. Things were a blur after that, awaiting the return of your body and when it got here I thought "THAT'S NOT MY BROTHER!" They have made a mistake and any moment they will come and tell me they made a mistake. But that never happened. The Lord has ways of helping you through the rough times. Eight months and 1 day, after the Lord took you up into his arms, a nurse was laying my beautiful baby son into my arms. They say the Lord works in mysterious ways and I think him blessing me with this beautiful baby boy, was God's way of assuring me that life does go on. I was not proud at all at how your many 'brothers' were treated upon returning home, so out of respect for them and to honor you and all of your fallen brothers, I had my last name legally changed to James about 18 years ago. It's the least, I could do because you are my hero. Well, Jimmy, Dad's with you now, and I just know you two are up there in Heaven at this very moment scheming and thinking of some practical joke to pull on some unsuspecting soul but I'm sure the Lord doesn't mind. He needed a brave soldier, that also had a sense of humor, and my brother, you are still my hero. Love, Your sister, Barbara JAMES McKenzi James Cuffman, son of Barbara James (Sierra7151) looks in anguish at the statue and reflecting on the Uncle, he never got to meet. The day this picture was taken, McKenzi, upon learning we were going to Memorial Services, took a pen and some paper with him. I wasn't quiet sure what he had in mind, until we arrived at the Veitnam Memorial. He then, took his pen and paper and went up to each Vet and asked for their autograph. I watched an older gentleman (WW2 era) observing all this. When McKenzi walked up to this man, the man said, "but I'm not a Viet Nam Vet." McKenzi replied..."I know you're not, but you ARE a hero too and I want your autograph too. Upon hearing this, I think I saw just a glimmer of a tear in the elderly mans's eyes as he autographed the paper. At that moment, McKenzi was MY hero. Barbara, Jimmy's sister is a regular member of the Vietnam Veterans Chat room on AOL. She is our sister as her brother was our brother Sierra7151@aol.com  Viper's Vietnam Veteran Pages