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Vietnam War ➔ Letter, Norman Shelner to Joyce Washburn Skinner
Identifier:
2022.64.4Description:
This letter was written by Lance Corporal Norman R. Shelner to Joyce Washburn Skinner of Grand Rapids Michigan after the death of her fiance Dennis Lobbezoo during the Vietnam War. It reads as follows:"Sunday June 16th
Dear Joyce,
I received your letter yesterday with the bad news about Dennis.
It came to me as a shock as it did you. I can't really believe it has happened.
I guess I came to know him just about as well as you in the 6 months that we were together. You really get close to someone when you eat and sleep and do everything together. He was quite a man as you know. I wish I could be like him in ways. I never saw a guy like him before. He never gave up when he couldn't do something. He worked and worked at it until he could do it that's how it was with him. He never quit when the going got tough and he always put out to the best of his ability. That's what I call a real man. I just got a letter the other day from him. I was really surprised to get it. He told me that he was alright an that they had moved and he asked when I was going on R+R.
It sounds as thoe your taking his death real well. I'm glad of that. Like you said he wouldn't want us mope around. Don't worry about me. It really a shock to me but I've lost close buddies before. It hurts for awhile but eventually you get over it. It'll probly take a little longer this time.
I'm a little worried about you. If there's anything you need just let me know. I'll see what I can do. And you take real good care of yourself OK.
My mother said that your thinking about going Regular in the Navy. Don't do anything hasty. You can always go regular afterwards if you like it. I know Denis would be proud of you.
Well I guess I'd better go. I have to write his parents. I kind of hate to because I don't know what to say. If I say anythink they'll probly take it the wrong way but I'm going to write them anyway.
I'm glad Diane cold be with you. It makes it a little easier when there's someone to talk to.
Well I'm going for now. Don't worry about me. I'll be alright. Just take real good care of yourself. I'll write latter.
Love
Norm"
Date:
June 16 1968Materials:
PaperCurrent Location Status:
In StorageCollection Tier:
Tier 2Source:
Gift of Joyce WashburnRelated Entities:
Joyce Washburn Skinner (donor)Joyce Washburn was born in October 1949 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She graduated in 1967 from Creston High School and enlisted in the Navy Reserves in May 1968. Her basic training was held at U.S. Naval Training Center at Bainbridge, Maryland in August 1968. She returned to college then went to Naval Hospital Corps School at Great Lakes Naval Station, Illinois where she learned how to be a corpsman. She stayed in the Navy Reserves for twenty six years working at the hospitals at Great Lakes Naval Station, San Diego, and Pensacola. She also got to work at Bethesda Naval Hospital and U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery in Washington D.C. During her time in the Navy Reserves she helped with domestic abuse programs, drug abuse programs, and psychological trauma programs. After her service she helped a fellow veteran, Dr. Edward Byrd, with the creation of a memorial for her fiancé. Dennis Lobbezoo, who was killed in Vietnam in June 1968.
(Courtesy of GVSU, Veteran's History Project) PFC Dennis Lee Lobbezoo (is related to)
PFC Dennis Lee Lobbezoo of Grand Rapids, Michigan died in combat during the Vietnam War on June 6th, 1968. A patriot who loved his country, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in the spring of 1967 after graduating from Creston High School in Grand Rapids. Bootcamp started in July and he left for Vietnam in December of that year. He was wounded in Khe Sanh in February 1968 and was treated on the U.S.S. Repose before returning to his quad in March. On June 6th, 1968, his squad was ambushed in Con Thien during a security patrol, killing 13 of the 15 marines, including Lobbezoo. Lobbezoo's name along with others from that fateful day are listed on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington D.C. Joyce Washburn Skinner, his fiance at the time of his service, has traveled to the Memorial to read his name during the annual service. He is the subject of a sculpture in the Grand Valley State University Art Gallery Collections. The artist, Dr. Edward Byrd, met Dennis Lobbezoo while working as a medical officer in Vietnam. Lobbezoo had a lasting impression on Byrd. About 45 years later, upon his retirement as a neurosurgeon, Byrd studied art and created a sculpture of Lobbezoo.