"Sadly, the day will come when patriots will be forced to choose
between liberty and tyranny and accepting socialism.
Hopefully, our Congress, Courts, and the everyday American
will not be forced to choose resistance to tyranny."
~T.E.~
--- On Sun, 12/27/09, Philip Vogel <user63813v@yahoo.com> wrote:
From: Philip Vogel <user63813v@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Conrad Best
To: bobbi.grimes@grimesdist.com, "Bob Rafferty" <bob.rafferty@hotmail.com>, "Burt Rabe" <burtonraabe@sbcglobal.net>, "Carlton Davis" <daviscarlton@comcast.net>, "Carolynn" <odoc1@hotmail.com>, "Craig Dupuy" <harbor1647@yahoo.com>, "Dave O'Donnell" <napswithcats@earthlink.net>, "George Seiler" <gsolfing@comcast.net>, "Jim Bates" <jimb@ibew51.org>, "jim palmer" <jjjp1@verizon.net>, "John Rosa" <canoe22@sbcglobal.net>, "Kathy Palmer" <jamiekap630@hotmail.com>, "Phil McAlear" <philmcalear@yahoo.com>, "Richard Brandon" <rlbran@aol.com>, "steve kossman" <skossman@gmail.com>, "Tim Carey" <mityerac@yahoo.com>, "William Muncie" <wally.muncie@sbcglobal.net>, "Second Chance Books" <scbooks@hotmail.com>
Date: Sunday, December 27, 2009, 12:54 PM
Vietnam. It was 1966, I was sitting with my infantry fire-team along side an airstrip awaiting for our air armada of huey's hauling us "grunts" to a new battle raging near CuChi. It was busy and resupply choppers were in and out and I noticed a group of pretty green jungle fatigues (they hadn't been bleached out or turned reddish by the clay) and pale skinned soldiers leaving a huey when I spotted Conrad. I hollered at him and approached him. Here we were two boys from St. Marks Grade School and 13,000 miles from home. I was an infantryman, Connie told me he was a medic and assigned to my infantry unit. Minutes later, he made his way through the rubber trees towards our battalion HQ and I prepared for another air assault into the jungle. About two weeks later, Connie was in the bush and traveling with us as he was assigned as a medic to Headquarters and Recon platoon, I was still in a rifle company line unit. Throughout the next six months, Connie and I shared cigarettes and good conversations, and he often came around to check on me and my squad after a firefight or battle. My platoon medic, Hooper, and Connie became good friends. I left after my year with the First Infantry Division (Big Red One) and the 28th Infantry Regiment.
My second tour back to Vietnam, I was a door-gunner on a huey and Connie and I got to spend more time together, as towards the end of his medic duty, he was detailed to stay at the Battalion aid station at our base camp, Lai Khe, which was also our helicopter company's base camp. In the evenings when the "choppers" returned to base, many times Connie would come over with a few cold beers and shoot the breeze, talk about Peoria, mutual friends and acquaintances, Spalding and Central High Schools with me, while I and others cleaned guns and re-armed our gunships for the next mission.
I will tell you that he was a quiet hero, and he performed countless acts of bravery as a medic attending to the wounded and the dying; a helluva thing for 19-20 year olds who have to grow up fast and to deal with, and something you'll never forget. So, from one Black Lion (28th Inf Regt) to another Black Lion, may you rest is peace and be with the Almighty in his kingdom, my friend, Conrad "Connie" Best.
Most Respectfully,
Your brother in arms,
Phil Vogel
Sun Lakes, AZ.
--- On Sun, 12/27/09, Second Chance Books <scbooks@hotmail.com> wrote:
| Conrad Best II | |
|
 Peoria - Conrad Charles Best II, 63, of Kankakee, formerly of Peoria, passed away Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009, at Riverside Medical Center in Kankakee.Conrad was born Jan. 2, 1946, in Atlantic City, N.J., the son of Conrad Charles and Elnor Marie (Turnbull) Best Sr. He married Ronda Raymond at St. Mark Catholic Church in Peoria on July 21, 1973. She survives. He also is survived by his daughter, Nora Kathleen R. Best of Chicago; son, Conrad Thomas R. Best of Kankakee; mother, Elnor Best of Peoria; sisters, Kathleen Laflen of South Carolina, Eileen (Mike) Buford of Kansas City, Susan (John) Elliott of Peoria and Anne Wells of Bloomington; and brothers-in-law, Jack (Maureen) Raymond of White Bear Lake, Minn., and Thomas (Kathie) Raymond of Hastings, Minn. He was preceded in death by his father, Conrad Charles Best Sr.; daughter, Genvieve Raymond Best; mother- and father-in-law, Jack and Nada Raymond; and brothers-in-law, Jerry Laflen and Michael Wells. Conrad graduated in 1964 from Spalding Institute in Peoria and graduated from Illinois State University with a B.A. in Business Administration in January 1972. He was employed by General Foods and later by Bunge as a production supervisor. He served his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War from 1966 to 1968. He was a decorated combat medic and was awarded the Silver Star and a Purple Heart. Conrad was a member of the Aroma Park American Legion, where he served as commander for two years and currently was the chaplain. In 2009, he was awarded Chaplain of the Year by the American Legion 18th District. He enjoyed deer hunting, fishing, golf and loved the outdoors. He was a grill master and a beer connoisseur. A service to celebrate Conrad's life will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009, at Clary Funeral Home, 428 W. McClure Ave., Peoria. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. prior to services at the funeral home. Interment will be in Springdale Cemetery in Peoria, with military honors provided by the U.S. Army. Memorial contributions can be made in Conrad's memory to Aroma Park American Legion Post 1019 or to the American Lung Association. Conrad's memorial Web site and online condolences can be accessed at www.ClaryFunerals.com. |
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