Vietnam veteran, 83, stands guard over fellow Marine to fulfil 50-year promise

An elderly war veteran stood guard over his Marine friend’s coffin this year to keep a promised made over half a century ago during the Vietnam war

 

 

Retired Marine Master Sgt. William H. Cox met Marine First Sgt. James ‘Hollie’ Hollingsworth while hiding from rockets and mortars in a bunker in 1968.

At the time, both men had been fighting in the Marble Mountains on New Year’s Eve. Fearing they would not make it out alive, the men – who at the time were strangers – made a pact that if they both survived the war, they would contact one another every year on New Year’s Eve for a chat. And they did exactly that for the next five decades.

Earlier this year, a now 83-year-old Mr Cox made the trip from his home in South Carolina to say goodbye to his dying friend, Hollingsworth, 80, in Georgia. It was then that he was asked to make one final promise – to stand guard over his coffin and deliver the eulogy at his funeral.

 

 

Speaking to Greenville Online, Cox said: “I said, ‘Boy, that’s a rough mission you’re assigning me to there‘.”

The final meeting of the pair was photographed by Hollingsworth’s son, who uploaded the image to Facebook. In the post, he said:

“Two great Marines were reunited once again. These two flew over 200 missions on the same Huey in Vietnam. ‘I have always been proud of my father and his service to our Country. Love hearing the stories from his closest friend‘.”

He added that the last thing Cox said to his dad was: “Hollie, you keep ’em flying, and I’ll keep ’em firing.”

Months later, Mr Hollingsworth passed away and keeping his word, the 83-year-old put on his dress blues and turned up at the service on October 20.

 

Cox’s took to Facebook once again to share the image with the following caption:

“BROTHERHOOD.”My 83 year old father, Master Sergeant William H.Cox, (Wild Willy), USMC, Retired, honouring one of his Vietnam brothers, First Sergeant James J. Hollingsworth (Holly), USMC, Retired. They made a pact in a bunker while under heavy fire at Marble Mountain, RVN, to stay in touch, if they survived their tour, and they did. Both were door gunners, and dad was the only enlisted man in VMO-2 to be awarded the DFC in Vietnam. Both served twenty years in the Corps, and Holly was highly decorated as well. Dad has to use a cane most of the time now, but he insisted on not using it during his vigil at the casket and at the funeral.”

 

 

 

 

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