20070228 Reconnecting a friend to Fred Magsamen

Web site helps reconnect a friend to Fred Magsamen

February 28th, 2007 – Posted March 3rd, 2007

Last Wednesday’s Westminster Eagle has a letter to the editor about a column I wrote for the Westminster Eagle – and later a blog post I wrote on the Winchester Report on May 26th, 2006: "On Memorial Day, Freddy Magsamen is No. 11 in our hearts."

Web site helps reconnect a friend to Fred Magsamen

I just blundered (literally) across a story about Fred Magsamen that Kevin Dayhoff wrote for The Westminster Eagle way back in May 2006. ("On Memorial Day, Freddy Magsamen is No. 1 in our hearts," May 26, 2006.)

His story brought tears to my eyes. I am the Ken Van Arsdel whom he quoted in the article.

I can't tell you how much the article means to me. I counted Fred as a good friend É best friend É although I knew him for only a few short months.

The intensity of life as a soldier in Recon Company, CCN, seemed to distill daily experiences into moments that were both potent and poignant. Great friendships were formed quickly in the maelstrom of the events we lived. Sadly, they were often brought up short, as the odds caught up with us.

Mr. Dayhoff's article told me more about Fred than I ever knew, and I miss him all the more for it. Thank you for remembering him, and for sharing those memories with the world.

The Internet is a wonderful thing; without it I would never have seen your article.

Or would I? It is an experience like this that makes one question whether "divine intervention" or "karma" are more than just pop culture concepts.

Ken Van Arsdel

San Andreas, Calif.

(Editor's Note: The Magsamen article and others are available on our Web site, at http://www.thewestminstereagle.com/.)

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