Lost my only son

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 8 Sep 2014 7:19 am

so very sorry to learn of this Willis, wishing you and your family peace now and forever...

Kevin Gallagher · Post by **Kevin Gallagher** » 9 Sep 2014 3:45 pm

Willis,

We don't know each other but I am just checking in to see how you are doing. Hang tough my friend.

Warmest Regards,
Kevin Gallagher

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 12 Sep 2014 5:56 pm

Dear Bud....

I'm sorry to say that I haven't been on the Forum much recently and I'd somehow missed reading of your tragic loss.

Please accept our heartfelt sympathy.

Susie and Roger

Sam White · Post by **Sam White** » 14 Sep 2014 6:10 am

Willis Sorry to hear about your only Son. Prayers are with you. I have one son and he is still in a nursing home in Little Rock AR.He has been in the hospital and the nursing home for the past 5 years where they operated on his back and screwed him all up. They had to take every thing they put in his back out as he got all infected from it and he now has two disc missing in his back and they are trying to figure out what to do to get him back straitened out and up and walking again. He is teid of laying in bed.
Sam White

Michael Breid · Post by **Michael Breid** » 15 Sep 2014 1:44 pm

As an excombat veteran I can feel especially sorry for your loss. I saw too many young people taken by a war to make politicians, arms manufacturers, and lobbyists richer. Don't get me wrong. I support the troops 100% because I've been there and seen the real thing. It's war I'm against. If they really want to end the wars, send the leaders and let them duke it out. If politicians had to fight a war the war would be over in ten minutes or never happen. May your son rest in peace, and I salute him for a making the ultimate sacrifice. May God bless you and your family.

Jeff Evans · Post by **Jeff Evans** » 16 Sep 2014 10:04 am

Why don't you go fishing or play your guitar?

Sounds like you raised a wise man.

Bud, someone who shares with you the awful experience of losing a son in this context is Andrew Bacevich. My hope is you can experience some small comfort through that connection.

_____

Willis Vanderberg · Post by **Willis Vanderberg** » 17 Sep 2014 7:34 am

I want to thank each and every one of you for the prayers and support. It means everything to me to know I am not alone in this.
My son had a wonderful sense of humor and was right with the world through it all. He wasn't bitter and I am trying not to be.
We shared a love of music and all outdoor sports.
He was a world class athlete and was a seven foot high jumper in high school.
He worked with me in the oilfield and went on to write a very special safety course in oilfield work for a college. I took his advice and went fishing and am still picking.
Thank you all from the bottom of this old heart.

Old Bud

Al Vesel · Post by **Al Vesel** » 19 Sep 2014 9:07 pm

Just like all the Forum member's here, I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your only son Willis.

As a U.S. Marine, I agree that too many of our young men and women never came home. It's a hard pill to swallow. My son was a1st Lt. in the Army and then the Guard and he served a tour in Iraq and I sure am thankful to our Lord for bringing him home safely.

All we can do is pray for you as we certainly can't feel your pain. We never expect to out live our children. It's not supposed to be that way.

Again, I'm so sorry for your loss Willis.

God Bless and I'll be praying for you and your family.

Al V.

Semper Fi

billy tam · Post by **billy tam** » 5 Oct 2014 4:24 am

Willis, You land I have never had contact that I know of but I recognize your name from the forum. I am terribly sorry for the loss of your son, a true hero in my eyes and the eyes of most Americans. I have met a large number of these brave and courageous young men as my son is an officer in the Marine Corp. Their dedication to each other and to this country is primary for them and I am proud of every one of them. My prayers for you and your family.
Billy

Brian Ostrom · Post by **Brian Ostrom** » 5 Oct 2014 9:36 am

My condolences Bud.
Were not made to bury our young!! Canada shares your grief.
Brian

Tony Boadle · Post by **Tony Boadle** » 15 Oct 2014 2:44 pm

I lost my youngest boy in 1996 to cancer. My heart aches for you right now. I know you will never get over it... but please trust me, you WILL learn to live with it. And of couse, you'll see him again in time.
Condolences from County Cork in Ireland.

Lee Barber · Post by **Lee Barber** » 16 Oct 2014 4:04 am

Willis
My heart and prayers go out to you! I couldn't imagine the pain you feel and the sadness in your heart. God Bless Your Family in this time.
Always remeber the good times in his life.

Lee

Mark Bracken · Post by **Mark Bracken** » 22 Nov 2014 6:16 am

Bud, I just saw this now and I am so sorry to hear. Each time I sit at the guitar that I purchased from you, i will not be able to help but think about you and your son. I'm sorry.

Jack Hargraves · Post by **Jack Hargraves** » 7 Jan 2015 1:46 pm

I'm so sorry for your loss. I lost a daughter who was 16 years old several years ago, and I know the pain. I still feel it. I have always disagreed with the government sending our young men and women to these foreign countries to give their lives for people who hate them. Like you said, we haven't won a war since WWII. I remember hearing about General Macarthur resigning and saying there is no substitute for victory. We have not declared war on anybody since WWII, They just keep sending our troops out to die, for what? I don't mean to sound unpatriotic, I'm not. But I think things could be done differently. Excuse the rant, and again, sorry for the loss of your son. Jack

Gary Hoetker · Post by **Gary Hoetker** » 7 Jan 2015 3:41 pm

I'm so sorry about your loss. There's nothing I can think of that can compare to the loss of a child. Please permit me to comment. During WW II,we and our allies had a defined purpose. It was a calling and sacrifice most everyone understood. The subsequent wars especially the Vietnam and the Middle East conflicts make no sense to me. About all we have to show for them are death,and dismemberment. For what ?? What incenses me more than anything is that the jovial and privileged life goes on like always for the politicians and power brokers who plan those type wars in back rooms and at cocktail parties as if nothing happened. I hope you find strength in prayer in this most difficult time.

Deirdre Higgins · Post by **Deirdre Higgins** » 8 Jan 2015 5:44 pm

Dear Mr. Vanderberg, I am saddened to read this.
My condolences to you and your family.

J R Rose · Post by **J R Rose** » 8 Jan 2015 6:49 pm

Willis, I am just now reading this post,sorry I missed it early on. I have no words to express to you how sorry I am to hear of your loss. I have only one Son and I cannot begin to grasp what it would be like to lose him. My Prayer is that God has giving you the Peace to get thru this. May God Bless and Keep you in the Palm of His Hand. May I add that we have our Freedom. Enough said, J.R.

dlayne · Post by **dlayne** » 8 Jan 2015 8:01 pm

Willis Im very sorry for your loss that I know about all to well I also lost my only Son just 3yrs ago if you should ever need to talk or just need someone to listen Im a phone call away 304-205-5421,,,Dan Layne

steve takacs · Post by **steve takacs** » 8 Jan 2015 9:32 pm

Willis, some things are impossible to comprehend and this is one of them.

I thank you, your son and people like him for helping protect us.

I also hope that as more time passes for you, the pain of this loss will be lessened somewhat. stevet

Jim Reynolds · Post by **Jim Reynolds** » 10 Jan 2015 5:23 pm

I am sadden for the loss of your son. As a veterans of the Vietnam War, I call tell you, We have WON every battle, but lost the war because of our government. The War we are in today, will never end. I told my wife this, when we were first put into it. As you can see from our news today, it is world wide. It will only be a matter of a short time and it will be all over the United States too. Again I am so sorry for your loss. As an only son, he did not have to go. To me he is one of THE HEROES of our nation. I am very proud of you and your son. I Thank You from the bottom of my heart, and sorry.

Willis Vanderberg · Post by **Willis Vanderberg** » 5 Jun 2015 4:03 pm

Bob, you can close this up please. Thank you to all for your kind words. I love this Forum. Old Bud

Mickey Adams · Post by **Mickey Adams** » 5 Jun 2015 4:24 pm

Oh Willis......So sorry to hear of your loss.....Mickey

Donna Dodd · Post by **Donna Dodd** » 5 Jun 2015 10:39 pm

Willis Vanderberg has requested that his thread be closed.

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