United States Army Specialist Four James Edward Niehaus enlisted in the Army in March, 1964, and served in Korea and Germany before re-enlisting and being sent to Vietnam in August of 1967.

He was not able to find a job when he returned home the first time, so went back in to make a living for himself and his beautiful fiancée, Bernadette.

He was a member of the 15th Support Battalion, First Logistic Command.

He was walking his guard post as a company security guard on Tay Ninh Base Camp near Saigon early on the morning of June 26, 1968 when the camp came under intense hostile mortar fire. He was struck by shrapnel at about 12:25 AM and died as a result of the wounds he received.

His remains arrived in Cincinnati, OH on July 4th.

He received the Army Commendation Medal, the Purple Heart and the Good Conduct Medal. Also the Government of the Republic of Vietnam awarded him the Military Merit Medal and the Gallantry Cross with Palm.

He was a 1963 graduate of Princeton High School. He loved football and dancing and had the most beautiful smile and kindest heart. His football career started at Purcell High School in Cincinnati, OH with a later famous professional player, Roger Staubach.

It was comforting to know that Jimmy was well liked and an excellent soldier who performed all of his tasks in a cheerful and efficient manner, according to his commanding officer.

But, this story has a happy ending, and for that, I am truly blessed.

Years later, my mother shared letters with me that she had been receiving for over twenty years from a young soldier who said he had served with my brother. I was working with many vets and their families with Operation Orange Ribbon at the time, so my mom asked if they could confirm that he could have been there that night. The letters were troubling. I realized that Chris had been visiting the grave in Cincinnati from Cleveland every year on the anniversary of my brother’s death, sharing a 6 pack of Vietnamese beer until he was kicked out. He also continued to reach out to my mother to tell her how sorry he was - both of these things at the advice of his psychologist.

He wanted to share my brother’s final words to my mother, spoken as he died in Chris’s arms.

Chris was supposed to watch guard that night, but my brother went out for him. The guilt and blame were a lot to handle, so as many veterans do, he struggled when he got home.

When it was confirmed that Chris was with his unit, I reached out to him.

I told him that we did not have to forgive him – it was not his fault.

We met shortly after our first phone conversation, and we have remained friends ever since. Chris was five years younger than my brother – only eighteen at the time my brother was killed - so we are the same age and have much in common.

Eventually my mother was able to meet Chris as well, and they truly loved each other.

Chris re-married, adopted three girls from Brazil with his second wife ( the first child was the same age as my twins so they could be friends and vacation together) and had a successful career until retirement.

We stay in touch and now enjoy watching our grandchildren grow.

I often say that in some ways, my brother was one of the lucky ones – that he did not have to live the rest of his life with the horror of war that destroys so many veterans’ and their families’ lives - PTSD and suicide.