Gentlemen,

Via the emails and whenever we have met as Old Tigers over the years, I have always said that Col. Bill Shadrick is one of the finest Marine Corps officers with whom I had the honor to serve. I believe that each of us has a favorite “Skipper”, and with all due respect to all the fine CO’s with whom I have served, Col. Shadrick has always been at the top of my list.

I have been corresponding with Mary Shadrick, Bill’s wife. She has given me permission to pass along to all of you the following excerpts from her email to me. Please feel free to write to the Skipper, and Mary will see that he gets your messages. Many of us owe more than we can ever repay to this Marine brother of ours. I am sure that a word or two would be most welcome as they will not be able to join us this year, as they did in Washington a few years ago.

Semper Fi –

Jake
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Dear Jake,

Thank you so much for your kind words. They bring tears to my eyes.

Yes, you may share Bill's condition with the men, of course. If not them, then who?

He has Alzheimer's disease. He is probably a bit past the initial stages, but he is still in very good shape. He knows people, where he is, what is happening. He has trouble finding the words he wants. He no longer drives and has not for over a year. He still reads quite a lot and knows what he is reading. We do not discuss his condition and do not say the word "Alzheimer's," but I deeply suspect it is a mutually protective game.

We have a fine home health care worker who helps him with diabetic blood sugar tests. She prepares the syringe and he injects himself at breakfast and lunch. I prepare it in the evening. She and I see to it that he takes his various pills and eye drops.

Our quality of life is very good. I take him out almost every day. He is handsome at 78 and has a full head of beautiful silver hair and dresses well. The guys might get a kick out of knowing that we have a local restaurant we enjoy. We usually go to the bar and sit near the open kitchen end and watch the action. The kids who work there are top notch. They get iced tea, etc. at a station right next to us, and they all know him. The girls hug and kiss him and the young men stop by to say hello. Bill gets lobster bisque and a diet coke. We have dinner at home later.

It is so good for him to get out of the house. The stimulation is very good for his mind, and there is so much action there. He watches the bartenders, waiters and waitresses, kitchen activity, and the customers. He loves the little children. Regulars and neighbors stop in and chat with him. A couple of former Marines know him and are so kind. We go other places for variety, but this is close to our home and is our favorite anyway. We drive past the back side of Arlington National Cemetery and never fail to pay respect. So many graves. So much history and valor and sacrifice!

There are signs of the start of physical failings, but he has not fallen. I don't think he is quite as steady on his feet as he used to be. The changes are so gradual that it is hard to say. I certainly can not say how long he has had the disease, but I was sure of it when I realized that he was not eating lunch because he could not work the microwave. That was a year and a half or two years ago.

Bill had a quadruple bypass 12 years ago and got a pacemaker then. He is doing fine with his heart and his diabetes, and he is in remarkably good shape except for this cruel disease. He has lost weight which he needed to lose, and I am a svelt 105, but I did not diet to get there. There is stress on the caretaker, of course, but I am doing fine. Occasionally, I have to remind myself to have patience with him, and I am ashamed to admit that I am not always successful, and I get exasperated, but not very severely.

Bill enjoys swearing at other drivers, but maybe he always did. I have picked up the habit and have found it most satisfying. They can't hear me, anyway, and it is probably a relatively harmless release.

He gets frustrated, of course, and who can blame him? Is Bill aware of what is happening to him? You know him and how bright he is, and you know the only answer is, "Of course he is." But he loves me very much, he is a Marine, and he is the toughest Mother in the Valley. He has never once complained or indicated that he felt sorry for himself, so I don't either. He is an excellent role model, still. I have made a rule for myself that I am allowed to "lose it" twice a year. You would not be surprised to know that that is two times more than Bill allows himself.

He remembers you all and his experiences with you, probably with gaps, but you are still part of his memory and his life. He would love to be with you. Please know that he sends his love and best wishes to you all.

Semper Fi

Mary and Bill

Col. Ural W. Shadrick, USMC, Ret.
6546 Mapledale Court
Falls Church, VA 22041

703-354-8003 after 3:00 p.m.
703-354-8004 UUwshad@aol.com