Sunday, January 28, 2001 Subject: Forrest Goudelock Hello Mr. Lisko, My name is Veronique Goudelock Gowdy.  I am the niece of the late Mr. Forrest Goudelock.  I hope you don't mind this correspondence, but I felt compelled to write.  I went to visit my Aunt, Mrs. Katherine Goudelock this weekend.   She told me of your letters and showed me  the pictures you sent to her.   Unfortunately, I never knew my uncle Forrest, but I've been told he was a good man. There were 3 sons by my grandparents, Forrest, Cedric, and Britt.  My father is Cedric.  He is the only living family member now.  As you know, Forrest was fatally injured in Vietnam, then my grandfather passed in 1986 (natural causes.....helped by smoking)  In 1992, my grandmother passed (Alzheimer's and cancer) and uncle Britt died in 1995 (some form of brain degenerative disease/drugs/cigarrets/etc.....)  He was also a Vietnam veteran.  Uncle Britt was never married.  I have one brother.  He(Jerome) is 34.  Uncle Forrest saw him before he was killed in action.  I came along in 1973--Veronique.  I was married in 1996, and now have a daughter, Kaitlyn.   She was born June 25, 1998. For the last 6 months, I've been on a fact finding mission about my family.   My father has recently been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.  He also seems to be suffering from some sort of brain degenerative disease also.  I have a strong suspicion that it's Alzheimer's because *every* one of his Aunts and Uncles, including his mother, have died from it, or complications from it.  I have registered the domain name www.goudelock.com and plan to put up a website primarily about our genealogy.  Since my father didn't know (or can't remember) most of the Goudelock people, it has been difficult to gather that side's information.  However,  I have lots of information about my father's mother and both my mother's parents. .......To the point, I'd love for you to share some of your stories/memories of Uncle Forrest.  I never knew him, but apparently my mother thinks that Uncle Forrest's Angel watches over my brother.  My mother says that  Uncle Forrest was VERY fond of my then 1 year old brother.  In some letters that I found when cleaning out my grandparents house after they'd died, Uncle Forrest makes many references to my brother and how he couldn't wait to get back to the states to see him.   When I was at my Aunt's house, I took pictures of pictures.  I've attached 2 of them and also a picture of my (Cedric's) family.  There will be a picture of Uncle Forrest and his wife, a picture of Uncle Forrest and 2 buddies, and a picture of Jerome(my brother), Cedric(my father, Forrest's brother) Veronique (me), Anner (my mother) and Kaitlyn ( my daughter). I hope I didn't go overboard, but I'd be delighted to see a response. Thanks for your time.  Peace be unto you. Veronique Gowdy

From: bobbylisko Sent: Sunday, February 04, 2001 4:28 AM Subject: Forrest Goudelock HI VERONIQUE, WHAT AN UNUSUAL AND BEAUTIFUL NAME. I WAS VERY SURPRISED TO RECEIVE YOUR "E" MAIL LAST WEEK AND I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED YOU SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS, FAMILY HISTORY AND WARM COMMENTS, REGARDING YOUR UNCLE, FORREST. I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY SOMETHING, THAT AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, YOU ARE STILL SO CLOSE TO KATHERINE GOUDELOCK. HAVING HEARD FORREST TALK ABOUT HER IN 'NAM', THEN TALKING WITH HER 32 YEARS LATER, SHE SEEMS TO BE QUITE A REMARKABLE LADY, YOU TOO. I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH HER DEMEANER AND YOURS, SO IT MUST RUN IN THE FAMILY (SMILE). REALLY IT MUST. FORREST DISPLAYED A VERY SIMILIAR 'STYLE' ALSO. AFTER TALKING WITH KATHERINE, I WAS NOT SURPRISED THAT HE LOVED AND MARRIED HER. I'LL BET THEY WERE A WONDERFUL COUPLE. FORREST WAS SO 'KOOL', SMART, SINCERE, WARM, CONCERNED AND GENUINE. THAT'S QUITE A LIST, BUT THAT IS HOW I REMEMBER HIM. I ALSO PICKED UP ALL THOSE SIMILIAR QUALITIES IN KATHERINE AND YOU, REALLY. AND LOOKING AT THE PICTURE OF YOUR FAMILY, YOU SENT. I AGAIN PICKED UP THE SIMILIAR QUALITIES, BY THE EXPRESSIONS ON EVERYONE'S FACE, SO PLEASANT. I REALLY DID GET THAT THAT OPINION FROM THE PICTURE. AND YOUR DAUGHTER, KAITLYN, LOOKED SO PRECIOUS. I TOO HAVE A 2ND COUSIN BY THE  SAME NAME, ONLY SHE SPELLS HERS KATELAND.                                                        VERONIQUE, I SURE WISH I COULD HAVE GOT IN TOUCH WITH KATHERIN BEFORE HIS MOTHER, FATHER AND BROTHER PASSED AWAY. I WAS SO SORRY TO HEAR THAT. O'LE MAN 'TIME' WAITS FOR NO ONE. I BELIEVE FORREST WAS 25 AND I WAS 23/24, SO WE WERE A LITTLE OLDER THAN MOST OF OUR UNIT, 18 TO 20. WE CALLED EACH OTHER "OLD TIMERS" (SMILE). I CAN'T HONESTLY REMEMBER FORREST TALKING ABOUT YOUR BROTHER, BUT HE DID TALK ALOT ABOUT KATHERIN AND HIS FAMILY BACK HOME, SO I'M SURE HE MENTIONED JEROME, BUT I JUST CAN'T REMEMBER. LIKE I TOLD KATHERINE, WE WERE VERY VERY CLOSE AND WHEN WE WEREN'T IN CONTACT WITH THE V.C., WE DID ALOT OF RAPPING TOGETHER. THAT'S WHY, SINCE WE WERE SO CLOSE, HIS DEATH HAS HAUNTED ME, ALMOST DAILY, SINCE APRIL 19, 1968. I HAVE "FLASHBACKS" ALL THE TIME ABOUT THAT FATEFUL EARLY MORNING, WHEN HE WAS KILLED. I TRIED TO EXPLAIN TO KATHERINE WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED TO FORREST, BUT SINCE IT WAS SOMEWHAT LATE WHEN I CALLED HER, SHE MAY NOT HAVE REMEMBERED ALL OF OUR CONVERSATION, SO I WILL TELL YOU AND YOU CAN SHARE THIS WITH WHO EVER WOULD BE INTERESTED, OR COULD HANDLE IT.   WE WERE ASSIGNED TO THE 9TH INFANTRY DIVISION, MOBILE RIVERINE FORCE, 2ND BRIGADE, 3/60 INFANTRY BATALLION, ECHO COMPANY, 1ST PLATOON, 1ST SQUAD (E-1-1). OUR BASE CAMP WAS AT DONG TAM, LOCATED ALONG THE MEKONG RIVER IN THE MEKONG DELTA, IN SOUTHERN VIET-NAM. 3 BATALLIONS MADE UP THE 2ND BRIGADE, THE 3/60, 3/47 AND THE 4/47. WE ROTATED WITH EACH OTHER, 2 MONTHS ON THE SHIPS THAT PATROLLED THE SECONDARY RIVERS THAT FED THE MEKONG RIVER AND 1 MONTH AT DONG TAM, SHORE DUTY. IT WAS WHILE AT DONG TAM THAT FORREST WAS HIT.    ONE EVENING WE LEFT THE BASE CAMP ABOUT 10 P.M., DARK. WERE GIVEN THE MISSION TO GO OUT INTO THE OUTLYING AREAS AND SEARCH FOR V.C. IN THE NUMEROUS SURROUNDING VILLAGES, SLEEPING WITH THEIR WOMEN. WE MOVED ALL NIGHT LONG, QUIETLY WALKING INTO THE HOOTCHES, SINCE THEY HAVE NO DOORS. I VERY WELL REMEMBER 'RAPPING' WITH FORREST ALL NIGHT ABOUT "THE WORLD", THAT'S WHAT WE CALLED THE GOOD O'LE U.S.A. OUR CONVERSATIONS WERE ALWAYS THE SAME, HOW WE COULDN'T WAIT TO GET BACK TO OUR FAMILIES, WHAT KIND OF "RIDE" WE WERE GOING TO BUY AND OUR FUTURE PLANS WHEN WE RETURNED HOME. THE HOOTCHES WERE VERY PRIMATIVE, MADE OUT OF BAMBOO POLES WITH NIPPA PALM LEAVES FOR THE ROOF AND WALLS. THE GOOKS WERE USUALLY ASLEEP AND NEVER KNEW WE WERE THERE, SINCE WE WERE EXTREMELY QUIET, YOUR LIFE DEPENDED ON IT. I WAS 'ALWAYS' RIGHT BEHIND FORREST, SINCE HE WAS THE SQUAD LEADER AND WHAT A LEADER HE WAS. ALL THE MEN IN THE UNIT TRUSTED AND RESPECTED HIM SO MUCH. THEN RIGHT AT THE TIME OF THE MORNING, WHEN YOU CAN BARELY SEE A "SLIGHT" CHANGE IN THE DARKNESS, DUE TO THE SUN STARTING TO COME UP, BUT THE BIRDS WEREN'T EVEN CHIRPPING YET. WE WENT INTO THIS 'LARGE' HOOTCH, IT HAD 4 ROOMS IN IT, SEPERATED BY THE NIPPA PALM LEAVES. AS WE WALKED INTO THE HOOCH, I WAS AN ARMS LENGTH BEHIND FORREST. HE WENT INTO THE RIGHT ROOM AND I WENT INTO THE LEFT ROOM. THEN AS I WAS LOOKING AT THE SLEEPING GOOKS ON THE GROUND, FORREST YELLED, "WATCH IT, THIS ONES GOT A GUN". THOSE WERE HIS LAST WORDS. IMMEDIATELY AFTER HE YELLED, I HEARD A BURST OF GUNFIRE FROM AN AK-47, AN ASSUALT MACHINEGUN, THAT ALOT OF THE V.C. CARRIED. I IMMEDIATELY HIT THE GROUND, IT GOT "ERIELY" QUIET, THEN I HEARD A BURST FROM AN M-16, YOU COULD DEFINETLY TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO. AGAIN IT GOT "ERIELY" QUIET. I THEN HEARD WOMEN SCREAMING AND CRYING A SHORT WAYS FROM THE HOOTCH. I THEN GOT UP AND WENT OUT THE BACK OPENING OF THE HOOTCH (MOST HAD NO DOORS) LOOKING FOR FORREST AND THE SCREAMING WOMEN. A SHORT WAYS DOWN THE JUNGLE TRAIL, I CAME UPON THE WOMEN AND THE V.C. THAT HAD SHOT FORREST. WHAT HAD HAPPENED, AFTER THE GOOK SHOT FORREST HE RAN OUT THE BACK AND THE PLATOON LEADER, LT. GRANT, I BELIEVE THAT WAS HIS NAME, SHOT THE GOOK IN THE LOWER SMALL OF THE BACK AND KNOCKED HIM DOWN. HE WAS HIT PRETTY GOOD, BUT STILL ALIVE. I THEN CALLED OUT TO FORREST, "OVER HERE", BUT HE DIDN'T COME. I THEN RAN BACK TO THE HOOTCH AND FOUND HIM LYING AT THE FRONT OPENING (DOOR). THAT WAS WHEN REALITY HIT ME. I KNEW RIGHT AWAY HE WAS GONE. I TOO WAS SOMEWHAT IN SHOCK, BUT HAVING SEEN OTHER BUDDIES WOUNDED AND KILLED, I COULD STILL FUNCTION, BUT THIS WAS MY FRIEND THAT I REVERED MOST, THAT HURT THE MOST. I CLOSED HIS EYES WITH MY HAND AND HELPED CARRY HIM TO THE MEDIVAC THAT WAS CALLED IN FOR HIM AND THE WOUNDED GOOK, THAT I PERSONALLY FELT WOULD NOT SURVIVE EITHER. WHILE CARRYING FORREST, I ONLY NOTICED ONE WOUND FROM THE AK-47. A ROUND HAD HIT HIM RIGHT BELOW HIS LEFT SHOULDER BLADE AND MUST HAVE GLANCED DOWNWARD TOWARD HIS HEART OR VITALS. I DID NOT NOTICE AN EXIT WOUND. I ASKED THE OTHER FELLAS IF FORREST HAD SAID ANYTHING AND THEY SAID, "NO". HE JUST WALKED OUT OF THE HOOTCH AND FELL TO THE GROUND.    ONCE I SOMEWHAT RECOVERED AND FORREST WAS GONE, I WAS BEWILDERED WHY FORREST YELLED OUT, INSTEAD OF SHOOTING THE GOOK, SINCE FORREST WAS A "WARRIOR" AND SEASONED VETERAN. WE HAD BEEN IN MANY OTHER FIREFIGHTS AND HE COULD TAKE CARE OF HIMSELF AND THE REST OF THE MEN. HE WAS VERY EXPIERIENCED AND BATTLE WARY. I THEN LOOKED AT HIS M-16 CLOSELY AND FOUND, IN MY OPINION, WHAT HAD COST HIM HIS LIFE. YOUR FATHER, OR BROTHER MAY BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN THIS TO YOU, BUT AN M-16 HAS WHAT THEY CALL A SELECTOR SWITCH ON THE LEFT SIDE, JUST ABOVE THE TRIGGER. THIS SWITCH HAS 3 POSITIONS, SAFE, SEMI AND AUTO. WE ALWAYS CARRIED THE WEAPON ON SAFE, IN CASE WE TRIPPED, ETC... AND NOT HIT SOMEONE ACCIDENTLY, BUT IT WAS VERY EASY TO GO FROM SAFE TO FULL AUTOMATIC AS YOU WERE PULLING THE TRIGGER. I THEN FOUND THE SELECTOR SWITCH "STUCK" ON SAFE. I COULD NOT MOVE IT WITH MY THUMB.....AT ALL. I HAD TO PUT THE WEAPON BETWEEN MY LEGS AND USE "BOTH" THUMBS TO GET IT OFF SAFE. EVIDENTLY, FROM MOVING THRU THE JUNGLE, IN AND OUT OF CANALS, SOME DEBRIS MUST HAVE GOT LODGED IN HIS SELECTOR SWITCH. I NEVER DID FIND ANYTHING THOUGH AFTER IT BECAME FREE, THEN IT WORKED FINE. ISN'T THAT TERRIBLE... SO I GUESS WHEN FORREST REALIZED HE DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME TO SHOOT, HE DID WHAT HE COULD ONLY DO, WARN ME AND THE OTHERS. BLESS HIS HEART.......... ANOTHER ISSUE THAT BOTHERS ME TO THIS DAY, IS WHAT IF HE HAD GONE TO HIS LEFT AND ME TO THE RIGHT...  WHAT A THOUGHT....    SHORTLY AFTER FORREST WAS MEDIVACED OUT, EVERYONE WAS IN A "RAGE". WE WANTED MORE BLOOD FOR WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO FORREST AND 'SERIOUSLY" CONSIDERED KILLING ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE HAMLET, MEN WOMEN AND CHILDREN, SINCE THEY WERE PROBABLY ALL V.C. SYMPATHIZERS. AND PROBABLY WOULD HAVE, EXCEPT LT. GRANT SAID, " NO". I FEEL LIKE SINCE HE WAS SOMEWHAT NEW TO THE UNIT, HE DIDN'T HAVE THE "DEEP BOND" WITH ALL OF US YET, OR I BELIEVE HE WOULD HAVE ALLOWED IT. NOW I BELIEVE IT WAS THE RIGHT DECISION, BUT AT THE TIME, WE WANTED REVENGE FOR FORREST'S LIFE. THE SITUATION COULD HAVE EASILY TURNED INTO ANOTHER "MY LAI" INCIDENT. ASK YOUR FATHER, IF HE REMEMBERS WHAT I'M REFERING TO, REGARDING THE "MY LAI" INCIDENT.    VERONIQUE, I AM SUCH A BITTER PERSON, DUE TO THE VIET-NAM WAR. IT HAS CAUSED ME ALOT OF PAIN AND SUFFERING, EMOTIONALLY. AND MORE SO, COST FORREST HIS LIFE AND ALL THE OTHERS ON "THE WALL". LOOK AT HOW IT HAS AFFECTED YOU AND YOUR "ENTIRE" FAMILY. I CANNOT EVEN IMAGINE HOW IT MUST HAVE BEEN THE DAY KATHERINE WAS NOTIFIED OF FORREST. THEN LIVING ALL THESE YEARS WITHOUT HIM, EXCEPT FOR THE MEMORIES. IT'S TRAGIC. HAVING NEVER MET YOUR FATHER, I'M SURE HE HAS THE SAME FINE QUALITIES THAT FORREST HAD. FORREST WAS A SWEETHEART. I TOO WISH YOU COULD HAVE GROWN UP KNOWING HIM. I CAN SENSE THE VOID YOU HAVE AND I BELIEVE THAT'S WHY YOU WROTE ME. LIKE I TOLD KATHERINE, THIS LETTER MAY HELP ME MORE THAN HIS FAMILY, BECAUSE FOR SOME STRANGE REASON, I'VE ALWAYS HAD THIS YEARN TO TELL HIS FAMILY WHAT "REALLY" HAPPENED THAT FATEFUL MORNING. LIKE FORREST WAS PUSHING ME TO LOCATE KATHERINE AND HIS FAMILY. I HAVE ANOTHER GOOD BUDDY THAT LIVES IN DAWSONVILLE, GEORGIA. I HAVE ASKED OVER THE YEARS TO TRY TO LOCATE YOUR FAMILY AND HE HAS TRIED SOMEWHAT. HE DID SAY HE TALKED TO EITHER YOUR DAD, OR ANOTHER RELATIVE A FEW YEARS AGO, BUT DIDN'T PURSUE IT, I BELIEVE DUE TO THE WARS AFFECT ON HIM ALSO. HE WAS AMBUSHED ONE DAY AND HE LOST HIS EYE. HE TOO SAW ALOT OF ACTION PRIOR TO THE DAY HE WAS WOUNDED. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT FORREST AND HE ONLY VAGUELY REMEMBERS HIM, SINCE HE SHOWED UP AT THE UNIT A FEW DAYS BEFORE FORREST WAS KILLED. HE WAS STILL BEING ACCLAMATED TO NAM AND DID NOT GO OUT ON THE FATEFUL MISSION THAT NIGHT. HIS NAME IS JOHN HUGHES (JHUGHESJ@YAHOO.COM) I BELIEVE THATS IT, IF NOT, LET ME KNOW.    KATHERINE MAY HAVE ALREADY TOLD YOU, WE CALLED FORREST "GOODY".........THAT HE WAS.    WELL VERONIQUE, IT'S 4:14 A.M. I'M TIRED, BUT I'M GLAD I FINISHED THIS TO YOU. I'M KIND OF COMPUTER ILLITERATE STILL, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SCAN PICTURES, ETC... OR I WOULD. ALSO I'M CAPPING BECAUSE IT'S EASIER FOR ME TO READ. I HAVE "T.M.B." (TOO MANY BIRTHDAYS...SMILE)   IN ENDING, I DO HOPE MY "DETAILED" RESPONSE HASN'T BOTHERED YOU. THIS MAY SOUND STRANGE,  BUT I TRUELY FEEL LIKE "FORREST" WAS TELLING ME WHAT TO SAY TO HIS FAMILY.............REALLY !!!!.   VERY VERY WARMLY, BOBBY LISKO

From: Veronique To: Bobby Lisko Tuesday, February 13, 2001 1:32 PM Hello Mr. Lisko-- I apologize for the delay in my response. THANK YOU soooooo much for the details. I shared this email with my brother. We had grown up thinking that Uncle Forrest was killed by shrapnel from an exploding mine. We're unsure if that's what the family was told by the government, or if that was just made up to help ease the pain. For whatever reason, I'm glad that YOU could provide us with the facts and details. I also would like you to know that my brother and I decided NOT to share the details with our father. I'm not even sure Aunt Kat knows the truth. Again, I want to THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART for you taking the time to put your visual memories on paper for us. I really do appreciate it. I won't even pretend that I know how you must feel. I can't even imagine being an anyway similar situation. I'd also like to take the time to give you a sincere Thank You as an American Citizen for fighting for me. I often wonder how people really feel about their experiences in Vietnam. Never personally knowing anyone that participated, I am very intrigued when watching the documentaries and news stories. I always end up crying and wondering how those times must've been for you (the military) and their families. As I said before, I only have gratitude for our men and women that served in the armed forces. Again, Mr. Lisko, Thank You. If possible, I'd love to keep in touch with you and I'd love to hear more stories about your life in and out of Vietnam if you'd be willing to share. It had to be God that allowed us to come in contact with each other. For this meeting, I am grateful. I wish you and your family nothing but blessings and a cup that runneth over with good things. Peace Be Unto You. Veronique

From: Veronique Bobby Lisko Sunday, November 25, 2001 10:58 PM Subject: Uncle Forrest Goudelock Hello Mr Lisko, I hope this email finds you and your family healthy and happy.  It's been a while since we corresponded, but I want you to know that I've been thinking about you.  The last time I spoke with Aunt Kathryn, I think she said that she was going to try to meet you.  I hope that went well.  I haven't spoken with her in a while either. I wanted you to know that I have created a "virtual memorial" to uncle Forrest at www.virtualwall.org.   I even added the pictures that you sent to aunt Kat.  Here is the specific link:  http://www.virtualwall.org/dg/GoudelockFx01a.htm    Please feel free to add/edit this memorial in any way you see fit. I also have this memorial page on my website:  www.goudelock.com    The entire site is still under construction, but you can still view the memorial page. I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving.  Happy Holidays. Warmest Regards, Veronique Gowdy  `