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Remembering Bill Gagnier
May 26, 2003

"You know, it's great that so many Americans today are honoring Bill, and all the other Bills who have died for this country. We are what we are in large part because of what they did." (MPR file photo)

Minnesota Public Radio's Gary Eichten notes that this year's Memorial Day activities also mark the birthday of an old high school friend.

St. Paul, Minn. — Actually, Americans are celebrating Bill's birthday a day early this year. My buddy, Bill Gagnier, was born on May 27th. But it's great that so many Americans today are marking his birthday with parades and speeches and picnics and... maybe a heartfelt thanks or two. My buddy, Bill, died in our name, 35 years ago on a barren hill in Vietnam.

It's still hard to figure out what Bill was doing in Vietnam. Especially now when history tells us that the president and his advisers were convinced long before Bill died that the war was a lost cause. But, if that's hard to understand, it's much easier to understand why he went and why he did what he did when he was there. You do what you have to do.

Bill was a big, 6' 2", 200-pound redhead from North Mankato. He was funny and outgoing, but I think he was picked on alot when he was growing up; maybe that explains why he became such a ferocious boxer and street fighter.

When the tough guys from Minneapolis would drive down Hwy. 169 to fight the tough guys from Mankato, Bill would often be right in the middle of the action. He later allowed as how he didn't enjoy it much, but you do what you have to do for your friends.

Five of his friends were definitely not tough guys. We were a mixed bag of scholars, jocks, lost souls and do-gooders, but Bill did not hold that against us. He was right there; telling stories, singing songs, playing sports, and wondering right along with rest of us if we'd ever get a date.

Who knows what he might have done with his life? I don't think he would have found the cure for cancer. He wasn't much for school work. But, who knows? I think we can safely say that Bill would have done what he could to help those who needed help. That's the way he lived and died.

All of us went on to college. But Bill quickly lost interest, got his draft notice, and enlisted in the Army. Bill was a natural leader and the Army made him a Non-Commissioned Officer. Forget the generals. It's the sergeants and the lieutenants out there on the front line, who are the backbone of the Army. And Bill was very gung-ho and very proud to be an NCO. I think he found his calling in life.

But he was worried too.

Bill was not given to introspection, but he "introspected" alot on that last visit home before heading overseas. Would he be good enough? Could he get his men back home safely? Would he come home in one piece? Would he meet the test?

Just a few weeks later, he -- and we -- found out. His unit, nicknamed the Red Devils, was sent into action along Vietnam's Demilitarized Zone. Quong Tri was the scene of some of the heaviest fighting of the war. Lush jungle was turned into a virtual moonscape. Thousands and thousands of Americans and Vietnamese lost their lives fighting over long-since-forgotten dots on a map. My buddy Bill was one of them. He lost his life on Sept. 11th, 1968 -- 9/11 -- either from sniper fire or mortar fire; it's not clear. But he did the pass the test. If you check the records you will find that Sergeant William J. Gagnier was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor. He died when he left his protected position to help a comrade in need. You do what you have to do for your friends. He was 21 years old. Tomorrow, he would have been 56 years old.

Who knows what he might have done with his life? I don't think he would have found the cure for cancer. He wasn't much for school work. But, who knows? I think we can safely say that Bill would have done what he could to help those who needed help. That's the way he lived and died.

You know, it's great that so many Americans today are honoring Bill, and all the other Bills who have died for this country. We are what we are in large part because of what they did.

And Bill, I know it's a day early and 35 years late, but happy birthday! And thanks.

Gary Eichten is the host of MPR's Midday program.

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