WHO KNEW

By Rafael Fraguada

A young boy visited a family as a child oh the Fresh Air Fund. They placed kids from New York City out in homes and camps out in the country. Gabriel visited a family who knew for the rest of their lives. He became one of the family. They educated him and sent him to prep school. He was fortunate enough to get a scholarship to a mid western college where he enjoyed his life immensely where he competed in varsity soccer, wrestling and baseball. He was all smiles the first year. He was floored when he when he failed art, psychology, and philosophy in the first term of his second year. Never had he failed anything in his life. He didn't think the courses were difficult. He took a few courses and they reinstated him. The same day the dean of students left a note on his door with the good news he had already joined the Marine Corps.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Mar 19, 2024
• ISBN: 9781665758345

Rafael Fraguada

Ambushes, firefights, mortar attacks, and full-blown battles with the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army regulars left their mark. My tour began in the northernmost U.S. Army artillery battery of 175 guns at Camp Carol where our marine battalion provided perimeter defense. We succumbed to an offensive NVA attack when under the cover of darkness they surrounded and overran the camp. Our battalion sustained heavy casualties killed and wounded. We retreated, boarded ship for Okinawa to man our depleted ranks, and were ready for our return. Within two months, we were back as SLF (special landing force) based offshore, on an LPH (landing platform for helicopters). We deployed on search and destroy missions, blocking forces, and augmented troops in various strike or rescue operations in Kan Thien, Chu Lai, Fu Bai, Da Nang, Hue, Khe Sanh Hill 881 and 861, Quang Tri, and Dong Ha, among others. We gave them hell. We fought hard and died harder. When I left, I had no intentions of looking back, but I can’t stop.

Book preview

THE BLOCK

Every summer ended and Butsy would return home to Harlem, New York City with the same hole in the wall by his face when he woke up. It seemed to be getting larger all the time. His mom, sister, two brothers and then another brother when he became ten years old lived in two rooms on the top floor of a tenement. His mother kept an extremely clean and airy apartment in the third-floor walkup. A lovely breeze would pass through the two living room windows blowing the light curtains in and out. He would have to adjust to his friends who had become a little more distant through the years. Every year it became more difficult for him to fit back into the swing of things. New kids had moved into the block and it changed and so the years passed.

As he walked up his block one late summer evening a tall stranger nonchalantly came up to him and elbowed his face on the left eye. It stunned him. How anyone could do such an unprovoked malicious act to a much younger person was beyond his comprehension. Right there the world said hello to him. He knew he was growing up. The boy didn’t cry but instinctively held his face and walked across the street, ran upstairs and washed his face to see the damage. It wasn’t too bad. He had a hard head and was cautious from then on. He was no angel. Although he became an alter boy for the Catholic Church on 117th Street between Lexington and Park Avenue, New York, he had his no problem drinking the wine and eating the hosts in the sacristy. He did appreciate the attention of the nuns assisting him with his sash, cape and gloves for high mass. The early mass at the nunnery breakfast proved to be most delicious with the hot cross buns. Privy to seeing his favorite teacher although no longer in her class had its merits. He liked her a lot. He would never forget the new low top sneakers and day glow rosary beads she gave him after he finished the first grade.

In the third grade he and a classmate visited their former teacher. She was reading at her desk when they approached her. In her concentration she hadn’t realized they were beside her. Butsy leaned over her desk and kissed her on her lips. He accidentally knocked her bonnet off. Surprised and confused she abruptly stood with her copious platinum blonde hair bursting from the bonnet. It appeared she could never put so much hair back into it, but she worked a miracle. The sister soundly reproached the boy. She righted her situation and had the boys leave. No one had noticed what had occurred and the boys went back to recess. Butsy had to stay away from her. He was embarrassed he caused so much trouble for himself. However, that kiss stayed with him forever.

He took on a job as a kitchen staff worker in the town of Hurley, New York. Gabe and his brother started as dish washers but prepared food for the three meals each day. It wasn’t very difficult and their time off he spent fishing and roaming the camp grounds. The camp counselors supervised the children and young adults in their activities of swimming, camping out, sports games, hiking and interaction in a good size recreation hall with singing and talent shows. The good thing about the whole deal turned out to be the great behavior of the whole working staff. They were all eager to enjoy their tasks and extremely kind to one another. Gabe never came in contact with such people. The lovely young women were extremely attractive also. It sure beat the old