It is my unfortunate job to say that Bruce Melson is dead. Doc is dead and we will talk no more of his death.

Doc is dead but rather than mourn it is the time to remember all the good he gave us. To remember the funny smile, the enthusiastic voice and the wondrous healing hands that he used for a while in Vietnam. To remember how he made this a better world.

Doc is dead but I remember the horrors of 12 and 13 November and the unflagging energy of Doc. Every man from A Company remembers Doc. He was everywhere even though he had been wounded early on and choose not to stop his work or to be med evaced.

Doc is dead but I remember how he fought the memories of war and found his way back to life as a civilian in a civilian world. How he faced his own inner hell and defeated it.

Doc is dead but I remember the absolute joy in his voice when he called me to tell me about Sunshine. About a wonderful woman that had agreed to be his partner and his one true love. A woman that was the most important thing in his life.

Doc is dead, I miss him, we all miss him, but he has gone to a better place and all we have are memories. Memories that we should now review. Now is the time for us to remember the good and strong things that made up the hero we called Doc.

The Best Lead the Rest