Fran Harter was born and raised in Laporte, Indiana. I was from Chicago so Fran and I quickly became good friends since we both could relate to a lot of things. The picture above is a very special one to me. When it was taken, little did I know that 3 hours later he would get killed. Fran is kneeling down to pet a puppy ... He had traded a carton of cigarettes for the puppy earlier that afternoon. A few hours later the rest of the squad had headed out to an ambush location with 5 ARVN soldiers. On the way there they walked into an ambush (which we believe was set up by the 2 ARVN's walking point since we never found them, believing that they went over to the other side). Also killed that night was Randall Lee Ellis. He was our squad leader. Unfortunately I don't have a picture of Ronald J. Di Bartolomeo who lived for 2 days after the ambush. Randy and Fran Died on Nov. 9, 1970, Ron died on the 11th. We were all in Co. B 1/5th Mech, 25th Infantry Div. November 9th 1970 was without a doubt the very worst day of my life and these three great people are to this day my heros. I will remember them always! Thank You, Randy Kethcart randy@bobcat.ws  REMEMBERED BY HIS COMRADES AT http://www.bobcat.ws/jjflash/frantrib.htm Visit the 1st Bn, 5th Inf

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