Master Sergeant William H. Cox and First Sergeant James T. Hollingsworth made a promise to each other one New Year night in 1969 under an enemy mortar barrage in Vietnam, that if they lived through the night, they’d meet up every year afterwards on that day and they did. Up until Hollingsworth succumbed to an illness, but his last mission for Cox was to deliver Hollingsworth’s eulogy, according to The Telegraph.
“I said, ‘Boy, that’s a rough mission you’re assigning me to there,’” Mr Cox told the Greenvilleonline.com.
When Mr Hollingsworth, whose nickname was ‘Hollie’, passed away aged 80, Mr Cox honoured his friend’s request by delivering his eulogy.
The 83-year-old also insisted on standing guard over Mr Hollingsworth’s casket without the aid of the walking stick he usually relies on.
Mr Cox added: “There’s a bond between Marines that’s different from any other branch of service. We’re like brothers.”
I’d say that there’s a bond between all veterans, irrespective of their branch of service, but I won’t take anything away from these two Marines. I do know that my uniform won’t fit as well 50 years after I was discharged like Sergeant Cox’ uniform fits him.
Comments
19 responses to “Promise kept”
No greater friend.
Certainly lived up to that part of the motto.
Ditto
Dust and allergies kicking in.
SEMPER FI!
Damn it got dusty in here..BZ Sgt
Need to check that air filter.
Ain’t nothin’ like keepin’ your word.
Salute to you both, gentlemen. ?
Promise kept, indeed. Semper Fi.
BZ! And my God bless both of you Marines!
Semper Fi!!
*Sniffles*
What a beautiful story to read. Wish we had more like this instead of all the POSers.
RIP Marine and thank you both for your Service…Welcome home.
Dammit… moderation/reported comment is me Toasty Coastie…gahhh
Very few veterans of any service follow through as well as these two Marines have done. Well done.
From the article linked above:
‘[…]
The pair first met as they travelled to Vietnam to serve in the VMO-2 Marine helicopter squadron, in which Mr Hollingsworth was a mechanic and door gunner and Mr Cox an ordnance chief and a door gunner.
Mr Cox ended his eulogy with the phrase he used to say to Mr Hollingsworth at the end of their combat missions: “Hollie, you keep ‘em flying, and I’ll keep ‘em firing.”
[…].’
Semper Fidelis, Marines.
A tribute to the warrior spirit.
Well done Marines.
Semper Fidelis indeed.
That is a VERY touching story; thank you for sharing.
No, no onions or allergies, I’m just tearing up.
This is the bond that so many people that have never served will never understand. I don’t think there’s a higher tribute that can be made than what he just did.
No Greater Love. Duty, Honor, and Dedication like no other.