highsalute 
Posts: 1299
Huntsville, AL
Home is where the Heart is!
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| 09 Aug 2006 1:55 PM |
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UPDATED AUG. 11, 2006
Confirmed Mission August 15, 2006- Marine Sgt. Billy Joe VanGaalen, Union Maine
I am sadden to report that Maine has lost another hero:
On August 8, 2006 Marine Sgt. Billy Joe VanGaalen past away at the age of 57. His wife Cindy has extended an open invitation to the Patriot Guard Rides for both the wake and services.
During Billy Joe's tour of duty with the United States Marines he was a highly honored hero: Up to this time in his life he had already earned 3 Purple Hearts and the US Government is currently working on his fourth. Along with the Purple Hearts Billy Joe received several other commendations.
1967- National Defense Ribbon
1967- Vietnam Service Medal
1967- Navy Marine Commendation
1968- Navy Military Merit Medal
1968- 2 Bronze Starts
1967-1969- Vietnam Campaign Ribbon
Billy Joe served 32 months in Vietnam.
Wake: August 14, 2006 6-8pm
Burpee Carpenter & Hutchins's Funeral Home
110 Limerock Street
Rockland, Maine
Staging: 7pm at Funeral Home
Services: August 15, 2006
10:30 am: Burpee Carpenter & Hutchins's Funeral Home to
1pm: Chapel Veterans Memorial Cemetery (Augusta, Maine)
Staging: Mic Mac Market on Rt 17 @ 9:30am, Kickstands up at 10:00am
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In honor of those who serve(d)
American Legion Rider: Topsham, ME Post # 202 & #8 Guntersville, AL
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PGRLabLuvr
Posts: 9270
Naples, FL
Senior Ride Captain
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| 09 Aug 2006 2:02 PM |
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| My deepest, heartfelt condolences to the Family & Friends of this decorated veteran. I appreciate your service, SGT VanGaalen. |
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Joan "PGRLabLuvr" Colosimo
Florida Senior Ride Captain
Proud Military Blue Star Mom
USAF - TSgt Jennifer and her husband, TSgt Mark "Mac" McIntosh - Dyess
USAR - WO1 Dominic Sutherland - Ft. Rucker
Standing the Flagline...
In Honor of:
SP4 L. Gary Grassi - 4th Infantry Division - Kontum, South Vietnam - 05 FEB 1968 - 37/35
In Memory of:
Ed "oldiron6" Barrett
Jack "jacklok" Loken, Jr.
Mike "deltoid79" Bland
Tom "Flaman2u" Rowell
Throughout the centuries there were men who took first steps, down new roads, armed with nothing but their own vision.
~Ayn Rand |
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sargie
Posts: 73
Northfield, Maine
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| 09 Aug 2006 2:03 PM |
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| My condolences to the family and friends of this American Hero. Thank you for your service. |
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Mike Chandler
Maine Ride Captain |
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Rdbling Lady
Posts: 789
Lincoln County Ride Captain Dresden, Maine
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| 09 Aug 2006 2:13 PM |
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Good Afternoon Everyone,
Your Ride Captain for this mission will be John"Pushboats" Mullett. Please keep your eys on the threads for updates. Thanks
Christine |
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Christine Suydam
Retired Spouse USCG South Portland
Proud American |
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Eagle1SG
Posts: 61
Biddeford, Maine
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| 09 Aug 2006 2:18 PM |
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Rest in peace brother..
My condolenses to his family. He is with his other family now, they will take good care of him. |
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Granny Red
Posts: 689
Paradise, TX
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| 09 Aug 2006 2:31 PM |
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| Our most sincere condolences to Cindy and the family and friends of Billy Joe. |
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Granny Red
Wife of USAF Vietnam Vet 68-69,
Volunteer Fire Fighter,
and PGR Chip (Dragonmaster) Foster
In loving memory of our son, Kirk Foster 1966-2003
"We pray that God will visit that empty place inside your heart where tears are born, and give you comfort, and a rock to cling to in the storms this tragedy has brought." |
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NHPaul
Posts: 474
Milford, NH
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| 09 Aug 2006 2:32 PM |
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Thank you Billy Joe for your service and your sacrifice! To his wife and family, may God be with you during this trying time.
Although work has me unavailable to pay my respects in person, I will ride with you in spirit!
Paul
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- Paul -
Milford, NH
Cell (603) 554-7527
NH PGR Ride Captain
USAF Ret (76-97) |
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Rdbling Lady
Posts: 789
Lincoln County Ride Captain Dresden, Maine
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| 09 Aug 2006 2:34 PM |
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Mrs. VanGaalen, Our thoughts and prayer are with you and your family at this time. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to assist at this time.
Sincerely,
Christine and Rick Suydam |
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Christine Suydam
Retired Spouse USCG South Portland
Proud American |
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jif48
Posts: 403
Marysville Ohio
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| 09 Aug 2006 3:56 PM |
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Cindy, our thoughts and prayers are with you, your family and friends.
Though I can't be there please know I will be there in spirit with all my
brothers and sisters to honor Billy Joe.
Billy Joe, I'm sorry I'm late with a...welcome home....you will not be forgotten.
Rest easy now brother........
Butch 69-70 |
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Respect for the military has sometimes been lost. This should not happen again....ever.
The hero is one who kindles a great light in the world, who sets up blazing torches in the dark streets of life for men to see by.
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Great Dane
Posts: 367
Union, Maine
Liberty, Unity, Hope, Freedom and Friendship are always close.
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| 09 Aug 2006 4:16 PM |
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To the family of Sgt. Van Gaalen, my sincere condolences. If I can be of any assistance to you, please let me know. You can get my contact information from any of our captains here in Maine.
To Billy Joe, rest easy now, you earned it. And thank you for all that you gave to all of us.
I know the flag that John speaks of below. I was going to write E8 about it, but figured another Marine would just say. "What's wrong with that?" And in fact, absolutely nothing! |
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“Everyone has the power for greatness, not for fame, but greatness, because greatness is determined by Service.” Martin Luther King
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pushboats
Posts: 37
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| 09 Aug 2006 4:16 PM |
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| Although I did not know Billy Joe personally,being in a small town in Union I had heard the stories and his antics about town...His friend of twenty five years was on the ambulance run Tuesday morning to Pen Pay Hospital.Sgt Joe was aware of his condition with his battle with lung cancer broughrt on by Agent Orange.I met his wife Cindy today and as you might expect she was a Marine wife" Hard as Nails".I have not been this proud in a long time to see his wall of honor will all his medals and awards.Cindy ,Luke,and I sat awhile and looked at his photo album of his other life in country, almost like he put everthing in order before he past.He was proud to be a Marine,right from High School,volunteered for three tours ,lived his life as a Marine,flew the Marine flag above the American flag on a pole in his front yard for 25 years. SEMPER FI brother we will always remember you. John |
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Swaybar
Posts: 872
Spruce Head, ME
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| 09 Aug 2006 5:14 PM |
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| My condolences to Family and Friends of Marine Sgt. William "Billy Joe" VanGaalen. Rest in Peace. |
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Mike
State Captain
Maine
USN 74-80 FTM1 (ESWS) USS America CV 66
ME Army Guard, 1-152 FA M198/155mm "ON THE WAY"
ALR Charter Member Rockland Post 1
I may not always know who I am standing next to, but I certainly have no doubt who and what I Stand For! |
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Phantom II
Posts: 21
Stetson, ME
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| 09 Aug 2006 6:17 PM |
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My condolences to the family of Sgt William "Billy Joe" VanGaalen. Thank You for your service to this country. Rest in Peace.
Bryan |
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Cruizer
Posts: 785
Ride Captain Augusta, Maine
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| 09 Aug 2006 6:20 PM |
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My family and I mourn your loss. Sgt. William "Billy Joe" VanGaalen, thank you for the many sacrifices you have made. You have demonstrated honor and respect for your fellow brothers and sisters in arms by giving so much of yourself. It is now time for us to honor you, one of our fallen, but never to be forgotten heros.
Mrs. VanGaalen, Cindy, Billy Joe has found his peace. He now is in the company of that Band-of-Brothers we all will once again meet one day. We are all to proud to honor your Marine. Semper Fi.
John, I stand ready to assist if needed.
Cruizer |
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Cruizer
US Army Retired
1972 ~ 1993
Special Events Coordinator
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sonny883
Posts: 84
killeen texas
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| 09 Aug 2006 6:44 PM |
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| my condolences go out to the VanGaalen family.though i now live in texas i try to keep up with maine since that is where im from.my grandfather lived in union for over 60 years until he died a few years back,and probably new your family,and would probably be there to honor Billy Joe and you personnaly.i am sorry for your loss and pray that with time your wounds will heal and you need to know that Billy Joe was, is, and always will be a hero. |
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sonny883 CENTEX RIDE CPT |
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01deuce
Posts: 602
Milford, MA
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| 09 Aug 2006 7:57 PM |
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| My condolences to the family and friends of Billy Joe. I thank him for his service and bravery. |
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Jim Boland
Senior Ride Captain
Massachusetts
IX XI NEVER FORGET
"Paying respect to our country's honored dead means that much to me. Without them we would not have a country." The Lone Bugler - Richard Pinter MSGT USA, RET |
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JIGGY
Posts: 39
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| 10 Aug 2006 5:12 AM |
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TO CINDY,FAMILY,AND LOVEONE'S ,MY HEARTFILLED SORROW TO HEAR OF THE LOSS OF "SGT BILLY JOE" MY BROTHER. ALTHOUGH I NEVER MET YOU "BILLY JOE" I WILL NEVER FORGET YOU,
SEMPER-FI BROTHER
JERRY PATTISON U.S.M.C. RET 68/70
N PEMBROKE MASS |
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mailman
Posts: 24532
West Branch, MI - Michigan Regional Ride Captain Zephyrhills, FL - Florida Senior Ride Captain
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| 10 Aug 2006 8:36 AM |
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| Thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of SGT. William VanGaalen. Rest in Peace Marine. |
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"Eyes on the olive branch, but arrows at the ready."
Jim
"mailman"
US Army 1970 - 1972 |
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alec4751
Posts: 844
Apple Valley, CA
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| 10 Aug 2006 9:28 AM |
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Mrs. Van Gaalen, our prayers are with you and your family at this great loss. We stand shouldar to shouldar in great respect for your husband Marien Sgt. William "Billy Joe" Van Gaalen. To us these are the real heroes of our country.
Chet & Karen Alexander
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Chet & Karen Alexander
U.S. Army 66-68 /
Americans by birth - Patriots by choice.
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ROJ
Posts: 215
Long Beach, California
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| 10 Aug 2006 10:52 AM |
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My deepest sympathy and condolences to the family and friends of Sgt. William VanGaalen. May you find comfort in these trying times, for he is truly an American hero! Sgt. VanGaalen, your mission is complete and your service to this great Country is truly appreciated. Rest in peace forever.
Royal Jester
HOG SCRC JOW FMRC PGR
USA "Big Red 1" 58-60
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Royal Jester
HOG SCRC JOW FMRC
PGR #2694
United States Army "Big Red 1"
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dlema25247
Posts: 806
Rhode Island - Lead Ride Captain
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| 10 Aug 2006 1:41 PM |
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My condolences to the familiy of Sgt. William "Billy Joe" VanGaalen. Thank you for your service sir, you will not be forgotten.
Respect & Honor,
David |
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David Lema
Lead Ride Captain - Rhode Island
"One person with passion is better than forty people merely interested."
E. M. Forster |
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47UL
Posts: 225
State Captain Maine
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| 10 Aug 2006 6:07 PM |
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To the family and friends of Sgt. "Billy Joe" VanGaalen,
He is a true American hero. We recognize his sacrifice and thank him for his service, we mourn his passing.
Mrs. Van Gaalen, please let us know whatever you need.
Sincerely,
Mike and Laura Vaughan |
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The Maine Week of Heroes...Sept 11 |
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SPADE
Posts: 354
RI
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| 10 Aug 2006 6:08 PM |
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RIP Brother.
Can't make it during the week. Wish I could. My condolences to your family and friends. |
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Riding in memory of SSG Ken Gentry (Gunner, Track Alpha Two Four) and SGT Ed Kutz (Gunner, Track Alpha Two Two), Alpha (Apache) Troop, 4th Squadron, 7th Cavalry (Divisional Cavalry, 3d Armored Division), Killed in Action by friendly fire during the Battle of Phase Line Bullet, Operation Desert Storm, 26 February, 1991.
Master Sergeant James E. Smith, Commo SGT, TUSLOG DET 67,Turkey. Gunned down by a radical Islamic terrorist faction in Istanbul December 15th, 1979
John Westlake
SFC, U.S. Army Infantry, Ret (77-98)
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Jharley48
Posts: 149
Franklin, Ma
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| 10 Aug 2006 6:26 PM |
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My deepest condolences to Marine Sgt "Billy Joe" VanGaalen and his family. Another VietNam Vet leaving us for fiddlers green may you rest in peace. I will be ready to ride.
Joe
VN69 |
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mum2shadow
Posts: 276
Sumner, Maine
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| 10 Aug 2006 6:56 PM |
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To the VanGaalen family, please accept my deepest sympathies. My prayers are with you. Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you
God Bless Our Troops |
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OUR DEBT TO THE HEROIC MEN AND VALIANT WOMEN IN THE SERVICE OF OUR COUNTRY CAN NEVER BE REPAID, THEY HAVE EARNED OUR UNDYING GRATITUDE. AMERICA WILL NEVER FORGET THEIR SACRIFICES.
PRESIDENT HARRY S. TRUMAN |
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