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227 Acknowledgments I owe a huge debt of gratitude to many people for their assistance in putting this work together. Many did not wish to be named and I have respected that. Many people passed on anecdotes during reunions and conventions that I was privileged to attend, and I apologize for not remembering all their names. In keeping with the relaxed nature of the interviews and the informality of this book, I have dispensed with ranks. In particular I thank, alphabetically, Dick Adams, Billy Antony, Geoff Barker, Scott and “CJ” Berwick, Norm Bild, “Bucky” Burruss, Lyle and Mrs. T. Button, Graham and Shirley Cartwright (for a quiet haven at the “Ponderosa”), Chapter LX of the Special Forces Association, Will “Squeak” Charette, Jorge Contreras, Bill and Verda Crenshaw (for true Southern hospitality), Scotty Crerar, Marty Donohue, Wayne Downing, “The Delta Guys,” Richard D. Ellmers, “Fred,” Chuck Fry, Joe Garner, Bill Garrison, Cucho Gomez-Barrios, “Country” Grimes, Len Harris, Sam Kingston , “The Ladies in Lima,” “The Lady in Washington, D.C.,” Bob and Pat Lloyd, Earl “Frosty” Lockwood, Joe Lutz, Leroy Manor, Jim McInnis, Ron McKown, Earl D. McMillan, Marty Montgomery , Joan Norris, Charlie Norton, Stan Olchovik, Jim Paxton, Floyd Payne, Ross Perot, George Petrie, Dick Potter, Tom Quinn, Wayne Rich, Peter Schoomaker, Eugene Smith, Tom Smith, “The Son Tay Raiders Association,” the Special Forces Association (Fort Bragg), Sharon Stevenson, Elliott “Bud” and Jean Sydnor, Al Trevino, and “The Warden and Jones Team.” Many of these redoubtable soldiers served multiple tours in Vietnam, and to those who served alongside Meadows during the notable actions that are described in this book I offer my thanks and gratitude for the memories. Sadly, many of them have already departed on their “last patrol.” I must also give a special word of thanks to Shirley Meadows Harvery and Grace Meadows for finding the photographs of Dick as a youngster —thank you, ladies. Thanks must also go to Roger Cirillo, Steve Wrinn, and the whole of the very professional team at the University Press of Kentucky. 228 THE QUIET PROFESSIONAL My greatest accolades, however, must go to the Meadows family . Not only did they give me tranquil bases at Crestview, “The Lot,” and Fayetteville from which to work, but they accepted all my questions (some very personal) without hesitation. I was made a welcome guest even during the period when Dick died and immediately afterward, when the family had every right to grieve in peace and privacy. I was honored to read one of the scriptures at Dick’s funeral. To Pamela, Mark, Michele, Lisa, Pamela Hayley, and, of course, the grandchildren that Dick never really had the time to get to know, Carrington, Alexander, and Andrew, my warmest appreciation along with enormous respect. All of you gave freely of your time and offered me superb hospitality —thank you—and “Keep the Faith.” ...

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