My friend the 'Doc' has passed, medic 2/12th, 25th Infantry Div. Vietnam

Sorry to have caught this so late. My condolences to Doc, his family, and to you Rat187 since I know you were there for him, especially at the end of his life. May he rest in everlasting peace.
 
Thanks to all for the posts of sympathy and comradeship. All I can is 'Doc' Blakley was the finest medic/soldier and greatest American I ever met. I do know the 'Doc' was fully prepared to meet his maker, it's us the living who weren't quite prepared.

No tears in my eyes, I just feel so fortunate that he called me a friend and Brother. God Bless you all.
 
One of his troops he treated, from the Doc's obituary:

"I am honored and blessed to have known Doc. He was indeed a blessing in my life, and I will miss him dearly. Please accept my sincere condolences, Rosemary and your family. It was an honor to have served alongside Doc in Vietnam in 1968 with the 25th Infantry Division 2/12 Infantry Brigade 1st Platoon. Doc patched me up twice while wounded during battles. When I was infected with jungle rot, Doc was there to cure me. Doc has been there for me in the battles of Vietnam and the struggles I had returning to society. His guidance and sincerity encouraged me to seek medical assistance in 2000 at the VA Medical Center. It saved my life!
An unforgettable memory I have of Doc was when he earned the Silver Star for his actions on April 17, 1968. I witness his valor in combat. We loaded the Dust Off with our KIA's and WIA's when we came under machine gunfire. Suddenly the Dust Off took off the ground. Approximately 10 feet above the ground Doc and I decided to bail out from the Dust off. Under fire, we managed to land and search ourselves for possible gunshot wounds to our bodies. After we determined that we were okay, we immediately search for more KIA's and WIA's. After the battle, we returned to the base camp of Dau Tieng for the burial of the fallen soldiers. Simultaneously, a troop thrust the KIA's rifles into the ground and placed their helmets on top of them, creating a long line formation. We searched for a trumpet player. Unable to find a trumpet player, Doc picked up the trumpet and began to play Taps from his heart. The memory of April 17, 1968, had haunted us daily, but we helped each other to cope. His courageous acts of nobility to visit the fallen soldier's relatives who served alongside him were admirable and a classic example of the type of person Doc exemplified: A Hero. Kenneth Frederick Blakely was not only my DOC but my hero as well. May God give him eternal rest and the family the strength to bear the great pain. "

Marty Martinez
Vietnam 1968
Jesus Christ. What a tribute. What a story.
My sincerest condolences for the loss of your friend. A friend like that is rare.
You are truly blessed to have had a friend like him.
 
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