06/01/2024
Fellow members of the SHS Class of 1963 – most of you know the story of our classmate Mike O’Donnell, his heroism and his tragic death in Vietnam in March of 1970. For those who don’t, Mike flew Army helicopters in Vietnam. He was on station above a “hot” landing zone, when he became convinced that if he did not pick up the 8 soldiers on the ground immediately, they faced certain death. He landed his helicopter, picked up the squad and began to ascend. As he did, his helicopter was struck by a rocket and exploded, killing all souls aboard.
Mike was an accomplished poet, and his poetry expressed his growing disenchantment with the Vietnam war. His most famous poem was this:
“If you are able
Save for them a place
inside of you
And save one backward glance
when you are leaving
for the places they can
no longer go
Be not ashamed to say
you loved them
though you may or may not have always
Take what they have left
and what they have taught you
with their dying
and keep it with your own
And in that time
when men decide and feel safe
to call the war insane
take one moment to embrace
those gentle heroes
you left behind”
His message is as relevant today as it was in 1970, when it was written, shortly before he was killed. I have set up a Go Fund Me campaign to establish a memorial scholarship in Mike’s name, to be awarded annually to a deserving Shorewood High School student. I am also hoping to fund a plaque honoring Mike at the high school. The link is https://gofund.me/96150e51
Please consider a donation, large or small, to remember our classmate. Reposting this post would also be very helpful.
Thank you very much.
Jon Reddin SHS '63
