23 Jun 2001

The Mettert family and I were long-time friends, we grew up together. I first met the Mettert family in 1956 at MacArthur Elementary School in Vancouver, Wa. There were three brothers and one little sister, Mary Mettert. I went to school with the three brothers, Robert Arnold Mettert being the middle brother, first at MacArthur Elementary School (1956-58), then McLoughlin Junior High School (1961-64), and finally at Hudson's Bay High School (1964-67), all in Vancouver, Wa, where we lived and grew up together.

Robert Arnold Mettert was one of one of the finest young men a person would ever would have wanted to meet. Being well grounded in the Catholic church and coming from an all Marine Corps family, he had a firm foundation for "God and Country". Robert's dad, John Mettert Sr., served as a Marine infantryman for four years in the South Pacific during WWII, including on Guadalcanal. The oldest son, John Mettert Jr., served as a Marine infantryman in the Central Highlands of Vietnam for two tours and came back without a scratch.

CPL Robert A Mettert completed his first tour as a Marine infantryman in Vietnam and lived to come back and talk about it. Following in his family's footsteps he volunteered for a second tour, and was very tragically killed only seven days into his second tour. Younger brother Tom Mettert (my age) also served as a Marine, but was assigned to a radio battalion in DaNang, Vietnam.

Robert Arnold Mettert was an honest, hard working young man, whose loss has changed the face of Vancouver, Wa, forever. His loss was felt deeply by many people. Robert Arnold Mettert was a man of destiny. May he rest in Peace in the golden light of eternal Love from now and forever more!

Your good friend
Greg Payne

OREGON VETERANS HOME
700 Veterans Drive,The Dalles, Or 97058
sp4gregpayne199thlibrvn69@gmail.com