10-28-2021
Tribute to David Arthur Dick (DAD)
2-19-47 – 5-4-21
As I write this I’m still in a state of shock yet I feel compelled to tell you about my friend Dave.
I first met Dave Dick in Colorado Springs at the very first 519th Transportation Association, Thailand reunion. He was the guy who for the next several years became our “official” photographer. He would drive or fly out from back east (Ohio & later Pennsylvania), rent a car and go into the mountains taking pictures. Quite often I would get a phone call and we’d talk for an hour or so about the reunion or the next one coming up.
Dave went with the 519th Transportation Battalion from Ft Meade, Maryland to Camp Charn Sinthope in Phanom Sarakham, Thailand in 1966 and became the battalion photographer under LTC Harry Fred Middleton. They had both finished their tours in Thailand before I arrived in 1968, and it was a treat to have Fred as one of our guest speakers that first reunion and his photographer (Dave) doing his thing.
Before he retired from his city job in 2005 Dave told of the time of his horseback riding accident that broke his leg and put him on crutches for a time. He came into the office on crutches and someone yelled, “Look there’s broke Dick” or something to that effect. I smile when I think of that story.
Dave had a special place in my heart as we shared our Thailand and 519th bond. I often joked about bringing the USARSUPTHAI reunion out to his place in Linesville, Pennsylvania so he could show off his extensive gun collection.
Dave’s last reunion was in 2014 where his old running buddies came for their first reunion. The last conversation I had with him earlier this year was when he asked to be taken off our email list which I figured it was for health reasons.
I’ve thought about Dave often these past months, but I never thought I would come across his obituary. It was Dave who brought me a framed picture of the riderless horse from Fred Middleton’s funeral in 2003 at Arlington.
Dave often played taps at Veteran’s funerals. Today I salute our “Tiger”! – I am the Real Truckmaster!
Realtruckmaster.blog
MeWe.Com/The_Real_Truckmaster_Series – 2021
The Real Truckmaster 