Tanya Rachel Sigman: JERRY HESKETT

A few days ago, I posted something here about a soldier from my hometown of Coshocton, Ohio, Jerry Heskett. A friend read the blog and sent me a note in Facebook about Jerry. She thanked me "for listening". What follows first is our exchange of messages. Please welcome Tanya Rachel Sigman:

Hello Tanya,
Thanks for listening? Hey, my friend, all I can say is, you wrote this about Jerry with so much feeling and a passion for life through your eyes. I would like your permission to put what you wrote on the Memoirs From Nam blog for the memory of Jerry. Would you please allow me the honor?
A hug to you,
Cathy

Cathy,
That would be fine. Better check my spelling.
Tanya

Hello Cathy,

While we were in high school, I knew Jerry through Linda Olinger, Mary Zink, Diane Hougendobler, and Connie Totsch, just to name a few. They had classes with him and, maybe, belonged to some of the same school clubs or the yearbook staff even.

Back then, I used to sit on Main Street in the early hours and watch the young men get on those busses heading to Columbus from what I guess was the draft board office and the recruiters. When he died in Vietnam, I remember feeling so guilty that he gave his life for me.

I didn't know Jerry's family, but I imagined that he had a life that was quiet, peaceful and loving like he was. My life was more rugged and upheaved, my parents' divorce scandel didn't help -- I felt I would have been a better selection to 'go fight a battle'.

Jerry enjoyed talking to the girls named above. He opened up with them and always smiled. That's how I remember him -- smiling and laughing with the girls, and putting his shyness away momentarily.

Thanks for listening.
Tanya


“I am only one, but I am one. I can't do everything, but I can do something. The something I ought to do, I can do. And by the grace of God, I will.” ~Everett Hale