My father, William Lawrence Gallagher, served in North Africa during World War II. My great-great-grandfather, Nathaniel Augustus Conklin, was a captain in the Union Army, and as a genealogist, I have found many ancestors who served in the American Revolutionary War.

In the spring of 1968, a school friend and I were going to go into the Navy. I was uneasy about that, but the "buddy system" sounded good. We took the entrance test and was waiting to enlist. My friend's mother called me and said she didn't want Frank to join. Angry as hell, I rushed over to an Army recruiter on Main Street in Flushing N.Y., where I lived, and was going to join for three years. As I entered the office, I saw a poster that read "Sign up for two years." I knew this was right for me.

On May 13, 1968, at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn, I was sworn in and now a proud member of the Army. I met Ronald Huffman of Staten Island, and we had our first meal and sat next to each other on the plane to Fort Jackson, S.C. He was planning on being a medic so he would be able to further his career once he got out.

Ronnie and I went through basic training and departed, hoping to meet up after we were both discharged. However, a sniper's bullet ended that idea. I wound up in Germany, and later I enlisted in the 24th MIBARS on Staten Island.

I joined the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 441 on Staten Island, and guess what? Ronald Huffman's name was etched on a plaque. I knew why I was there, As I salute Ronnie and other veterans at our ceremonies, I feel proud to have known him.

As a result of my Army days, my life has been wonderful, especially working with my fellow Legionnaires, my comrades, and my family of servicemen and women. I hope we will grow in number and make a difference in our communities,