We are not positive what caused his passing. He had several things going on at the same time. The doctors called it acute lung inflammation and pulmonary embolisms. It was very sudden none of us expected this.  I apologize for notifying you in this manner.

I can not believe how many people he touched in his life. I will keep his e-mail function for a while.  If anyone wants to pass on stories I would love to hear them.  

larryrjohnson@hotmail.com

Brent Johnson

Dear Brent,
Please don't apologize for e-mailing me with this very sad news. I appreciate you taking the time to notify me, regardless of how you had to do it.
    
We all had a great time at the reunion, and getting to see each other again after so many years was a huge treat for everyone. Some of the best sea stories we shared concerned your dad and his exploits as a crew chief. One of the best concerned your dad snatching a Viet Cong flag from a pole (perhaps he told you that one already). As it happens, his HAC (Helicopter Aircraft Commander) on that mission lives down the road in Henderson, and had we known, we could've reunited them that evening. Ships in the night, I guess.

We were fortunate to have the opportunity to enjoy the company of your dad for those few precious days in October. We've lost several other old friends over the years, but they never made it to a reunion, so we missed out on having the privilege of seeing them one last time. As we enter the twilight of our lives, the bonds created between us so long ago become even stronger, and losing a buddy becomes a deeply emotional loss. Your dad was one of our finest and most well liked crew chiefs, and the Purple Fox family, both officers and enlisted, are going to miss him dearly. Please convey my condolences to your mom.

Brent, I don't know who else from HMM-364 you've notified, but I'm going to pass along this sad news to some of the crew chiefs, gunners and pilots who flew with your dad, and to our squadron web site honcho, "Uncle Frank" Gulledge. Uncle Frank will post your dad's obituary so visitors to the site can say a belated good bye to a great friend and heroic Marine. Please stay in touch.
 
Semper Fi,
Bob "Steiny" Steinberg