On Memorial Day, I say the names of lost friends .. especially Vietnam vets. That includes the late DUer Pinboy3niner

[Bo Zarts]

Pinboy3niner at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Above his Purple Heart ribbon (top row, right side) is the prestigious CIB .. the Combat Infantryman Badge, which denotes actual time in combat with an enemy force. On the left collar of his jungle fatigues is the insignia of the US Army Infantry Corps, and on the opposite collar is the rank insignia .. captain. I can't identify the unit patch on the sleeve or the medal on the white ribbon around his neck .. anyone know?

At one time, I knew Pinboy3niner's name, but that has slipped me now. I once asked him if Pinboy3-9 was his tactical radio callsign in Vietnam. It was. After that, in my mind's ear, I could just hear Pinboy3niner whispering into a AN/PRC-25 ( "Prick-25" ) field radio calling in close air support for his beleaguered men .. surrounded by VC or NVA. That might or might not have happened, but Pinboy3niner achieved hero status with me during his tour of duty here on Democratic Underground.

I salute DUer Pinboy3niner. RIP, sir.