Info Sheet - SP4 David Whitley
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I live in Newport News, VA., born & raised here. I've been married to Candy
(Candace) for 47 yrs.
Don't know if all Aerorifle units were like ours, meaning we were an integrated unit (Rangers as well as us Aerorifle grunts). SSG Rick Benner, SGT Tom Finnie, SGT John Cavender, SP4 Greg Gruhala, SFC Robert Maxey, CW2 Ed Mortimer, SSG Panti, SP4 Hubert Rucker (from Texas), SP4 Steve Barkman, SP4 Rea Simoneaux (from New Orleans). We frequently supported Rangers on their missions, and they on ours. We responded to the crash when Ed Mortimer was shot down. I was beside him holding his hand & trying to tell him he'd be okay while he was being lifted out, but it was obvious he wasn't gonna make it. It took me 20 years to get the courage to contact his family because I didn't want to have them experience that pain & loss again, but I did find his (what had been) fiance. I told her what the situation had been when he was shot down and much to my relief, she was very gracious & kind to know the details and that someone was there with him. I was surprised to find out they had been given no info on what had happened.
Reference the photo of our base camp mascots: Dufus is on the left, me, and Peroxide. Peroxide slept by me and was an excellent rat catcher/killer. Honestly broke my heart to see them together watching us leave on our last day. They always accompanied us to the slicks when going on a mission, and always met us when returning. here are some of the guys with me in our unit.