Everyone called him Gus

Monday was the 11th of November, 2013.
It was Veteran's Day.
It was also the first Veteran's Day I did not get
a phone call from Gostisha who had called
faithfully every year since 1972, which was the year he
returned from his Vietnam War tour.
We were both in the US Army and
 met north of Saigon in early 1970 at the
compound for Advisory Team 95.
Interesting times, those.
But he always called.
He was from Santa Clara, California.
I knew he was feeling bothered by things, but
how bothered and what things he didn't say.
He didn't want to burden me.