just another vet

In memory of Walter Erik Volkenannt

I just learned today that a friend of mine, Walter Erik Volkenannt, died a couple of years ago of a heroin overdose. We were in basic training together. His parents have since set up an addiction recovery center in his memory. I really don't feel like typing right now, so I am just going to reproduce the post I left on his memorial page sign in book.

My heart goes out to Walter Erik's family. I was in basic training with him. I recently found our basic traing year book and was reading things people had written in it when I came across a message he had left with his home address and number. I googled his name just to see if anything came up. We became friends after having ammo dump guard duty together. We used to sit around and tell wild stories about our lives before the military. Neither of us was very happy to be there. But we got through, and moved on. I hadn't thought about him or basic training in years. Today is the 4th of July, and I just wanted to remember my buddies from the military. I used to have a picture he drew me. I wish I still had it. He helped me make it through basic training. He was funny, a little reckless, and a good friend. It tears my heart out to read about what path his life took after basic training. I have been reading lists of soldiers killed in Iraq for months, looking for friends names. He wrote that I should look him up some day. I never dreamed I'd find this instead.
We were so young and crazy in those days. I went into the Army to escape the drugs and violence back home. He was the only person I could talk to about my past. We joked about the things we had done and told over exagerrated stories of our explotes. But mostly we just talked. I remember how we smuggled a Heavy Metal Magazine from the PX once and it was a treasure to have in basic. I still have it.
I wish I had found that yearbook years ago. I wish I had had the chance to tell him thank you for being my friend.

His message in my yearbook:

Drug Buddy #1,

Legalize Mother Nature! (pot leaf drawing)
Dude it's been cool chillin' with you in Basic. (all o's with peace signs in them)
Keep in touch.
Maybe someday we can trip together.
PEACE
Volkenannt
Drug Buddy

I hope you finally found peace.

Posted by monkey at July 3, 2004 02:36 PM