Michael Hendren
Eric “Benjie” and I go back a very long way in the USMC as well as being good buddies for many years...
I was friends with Eric’s 1st wife June, daughter Brandie and 2nd wife Judy when they lived in Vista, CA and I lived in Fallbrook, CA...
I don't remember dates and time frames now, but Benjie was stationed with me in VMO-2 (OV-10 Broncos) off and on for many years...
After completing a tour of Recruiting & Officer Selection duty in 1978, I was reassigned back to VMO-2… Benjie and I went on a 6 month deployment together to Okinawa, Japan where I was the Detachment NCOIC and he was the Flight Line NCOIC... Eric was a good Marine and leader of men... I must say that of all the Marines I’ve known and been stationed with in my 20 years of service, Eric was the best…
Benjie got out of the USMC sometime later and owned or operated an automotive repair shop in Vista, CA while I was stationed at Naval Air Station North Island, CA (San Diego) with the Navy...
At some point later on, Benjie rejoined the USMC and we lost contact until a mutual friend of ours located me last year and informed Benjie and I of our email addresses...
We corresponded by email and I sent Eric AMUSING email content to Cheer him up...
Benjie and I had many EXPLOITS together which I have very fond memories of… I SMILE whenever I think about the GOOD Ole’ Days...
It was a great pleasure to know and serve with Eric… I am proud of who he was, and I will never forget him…
I trust you’re in a better place now… I miss you…
Semper Fi,
Mike, Michael, MMIKEE
Thursday September 7, 2017 at 12:30 pm
