A Selfless Marine

Eric's own band of brothers gathered the funds to commemorate him at Mt. Soledad, a veteran memorial over looking the Pacific Ocean. We met there this past weekend for the dedication of the plaque. Among the awards listed and the honors given, the phrase that stood out to me the most was inscribed at the bottom and it said, "A Selfless Marine". It spoke to me about how Christlike he was: he answered the highest calling, to lay down his life for another; he drank the cup he was given and was obedient even unto death.

Memorial Ceremony for Eric

Special Thanks to Gordon Topper for putting together this service. We look forward to meeting you and the other men who fought beside our soldier.

CAPTAIN ERIC D. “D-RING” TERHUNE


PLAQUE DEDICATION CEREMONY


1100
1 NOVEMBER 2008


MT SOLEDAD VETERAN’S MEMORIAL
LA JOLLA
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA



Introduction:
• Mr. Bruce Bailey, USAF, JAG, RET Mt Soledad Veteran’s Memorial Representative
• Opening Prayer: Chaplain CDR Freidberg
• Raising of the flag (please stand for colors)
Presentation of pins to family members
• Please proceed to the 4th level landing for a brief background on the Memorial Park
Reading and unveiling of the Plaque
• Poem “Tribute to a Marine”
• Guest Speakers:
o Paul Terhune
o Captain Gordon L. “Goose” Topper
Flag lowering to Half Mast & TAPS
• Poem “Salute to a Veteran”
Flag Folding and presentation
Closing Remarks: Thank you all for coming. Everyone is welcome to join Eric’s family at the Rock Bottom Restaurant in La Jolla immediately following. Special thanks to Eric’s family, all Eric’s friends in attendance, the volunteers at Mt Soledad, especially Joanie Miyashiro-Brennan, Bruce Bailey, The Patriot Guard and Legacy Motorcycle Clubs. Thank you.

SEMPER FIDELIS



The Marine’s hymn
From the halls of Montezuma,
To the shores of Tripoli;
We fight our country's battles
In the air, on land, and sea;
First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean;
We are proud to claim the title
Of United States Marine.
Our flag's unfurled to every breeze
From the dawn to setting sun;
We have fought in every clime and place
Where we could take a gun;
In the snow of far-off northern lands
And in sunny tropic scenes;
You will find us always on the job
The United States Marines.
Here's health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve;
In many a strife we've fought for life
And have never lost our nerve;
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven's scenes;
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.



A Special plaque will be placed on Mt. Soledad in honor of Eric.

Eric the Red

My six year old daughter Emmy at dinner tonight asked if I still have friends from school.  After clarifying with her, I understood what she was asking.  She has friends in her elementary school and she wants to know if she'll always be friends with these people and she is asking me if I still have friends from those days.  I named some friends of mine that I still have and then I told her about Eric and told her that he died this summer.  

Funny thing about six year olds.  She felt no need to ask why he died.  She related it to something she learned about in school recently -- she said, "His name is like Leif Ericson."  She has learned about him in school recently.  My daughter related Eric to a viking.  My friend would have liked this, I think... and laughed a good laugh.  "Yeah," I said, "He's more like Eric the Red because he had red hair."  She then replied, "Eric the Red was Leif's father."  The discussion was over from her standpoint.

But it made me think about Eric loving viking stories, books, and movies growing up.  He still liked them at 34.  When I think of him in his childhood he is always Eric the Red, adventurer, make-believe sailor and soldier -- definitely a bit of the old viking spirit and a foreshadowing of his life as a marine.

Letter to Eric from the Boo

I really wanted to write something on this blog, but I didn't know quite what to say. I still haven't quite gotten my head together about the whole thing. Late one night in early July, I was reading back through some emails that Eric sent me, especially that last one sent on June 16th that was posted earlier on this blog. That night I wrote a reply to that letter, even though it was a few weeks to late. This is it.


Dear Eric, Ive been missing you terribly lately. I'm sorry I didn't reply sooner, right when i got your email, but i was too busy? I'm so sorry. I never should have waited to answer. Thanks for writing all of us, it was so good to hear from you and get a glimpse of what your life is like over there.
Ok, i wont visit transganistan if you say so. How about meeting up in Greece instead? Italy would do too.
Oh Eric, i miss you so. I cant really believe you're not coming back this time. We are all having a hard time without you. We are still so very proud of you and the life you lived. We keep hearing wonderful things about you from your fellow marines and commanders- they praise your hard work, your bravery, your courage, and your trust in God. You were someone everyone loved, and they are fighting for you now.
I love you so much dear Cousin, and am so thankful that God put you in my life for as long as he did. You taught me so much- how to defend myself against knife attacks, how to do handstands (I couldn't do the pushup kind like you), how to swim so well. You showed me your shells from the depths of oceans, and you gave me your old flight jacket. You cared about the "boo" and were always ready to talk to me. And thanks dear Eric, for changing your plans so you could see one last time in December for only a few brief moments in the airport. It means more now than you will ever know.
My saddest thought is that you wont be there to meet my kids, my husband some day- you wont be at Christmas or thanksgiving, my wedding. But know that at each event, a place of honor will be saved for you, you will always be remembered as a hero, as a friend and brother who knew no greater love than this, to give his life for his friend.
Thanks Cuz, you mean the world to us all. I love you so much and wish you were here. My heart is breaking without you, but I trust that God is taking care of you, and you are hunting with Britta and coming in for some of Grandma's potato salad. I'll love you forever dearest Eric.
Love, the Boo

P.S. I just remembered that night when we went for a walk on the beach in Pensacola, the moon was huge! and there was some kind of phospholuminescent bacteria or something in the water, so that when we splashed in it, the waves would light up like a thousand tiny fireflies. That night was so magical, I'll remember it forever. I love you again.

Happy birthday bro

It just so happens that Eric and I, from the time we were teenagers, celebrated our birthdays together since we were born 4 days apart in 1973. We rarely missed a year even during the busy times and after college and after marriage for me. Rarely was the day of the celebration on either one of our actual birthdays, so I'm not amiss to write this today 2 days before the 13th. The picture above was taken on our 22nd birthday as best I can tell. If I'm wrong, it's certainly when we were in our early 20's.

It is amazing to me what can trigger a memory of Eric. When you are so close to someone and have spent so much time together that no one particular event is in and of itself more memorable than another this will happen. Sometimes I'm hesitant to write something on the blog because I think it is too "trivial." Let me give an example: I drove by a billboard that was an advertisement for some brand of bratwurst sausages and it had "das gut" written on it. For me this triggered a mental image of Eric with a great big grin and him saying something in a husky voice with his best impression of a thick German accent, mimicking some soldier from an old WWII movie like "Where Eagles Dare" - which was one of his favorites. Then the memory gates open more and I'm remembering how we used to pull "all nighters" watching war movies, westerns, etc in his basement. My adult mind thinks, "what a waste of time and sleep," but we loved it back then.

Watching the summer olympics made me think of Eric and his many athletic abilities more than once. He was good or great at so many things: swimming, archery, sailing, shooting, running, gymnastics (not many can do free standing hand stand push ups in the double digits at age 34, which I bet he was still doing). There are probably more, but I don't think table tennis was one of them.

One usually receives gifts on a birthday. One thing I will always think of when I remember him is how giving he always was - what a gift he was as a friend. For any out there still missing him, my heart aches along with you.

Florida 2007

BVI

I don't know what happened to the actual pictures we took when we went to the BVI with Eric 7 years ago. These are from google. I can't believe it's been 7 years.

That trip was like a small glimpse of heaven--the Dawn Treader meets paradise: all themes Eric loved, from cannon-balling into shark infested waters, to tossing dishes into shallow water and proclaiming them "done."

My favorite memory is still as clear as the Caribbean. It was night, a full moon. Eric and David usually slept outside on the trampoline. We were all sitting there in the bright moonlight, talking quietly, laughing, playing silly games, drinking in the loveliness and pure happiness of the moment. There was no sorrow, no pain. I love imagining Eric in a similar place, a better place. When I think of Heaven and my cousin, this is the picture that always comes: a crystal blue sea, a ring of endless light, laughter, joy, love.