MY FRIEND EDDIE

Eddie was one of my church friends when I was a teenager.  His family was deeply invested in the New Brighton Free Methodist Church, just like mine! We saw one another on Sunday morning, Sunday evening and at other youth or church events. He was three years older than me, but when I hit high school, we began running around together. He had a VW  ‘bug’. Four of us would run the country roads on Sundays and then rush to get back in time for the youth group meeting at 6:30. We kept bathing suits in his car so that if we came across a pond or creek – we could swim.

Eddie was a daredevil! He would try anything! We got stuck in fields and backwoods areas frequently but always managed to get out. Being older, he would pick me up – with a few select friends – and we would fly to Beaver Falls for lunch. [We had over an hour for a lunch period since our school had no cafeteria.]  It was always an exciting and dramatic hour as we flew down country roads to try to get back to school on time!

Eddie was a good friend, but not necessarily a good influence. 🙄

During my senior year, Eddie’s number came up and he was drafted into the Army. As his departure date drew closer, he became very serious and started to withdraw from us. Despite his wild side, Eddie was not a fighter!  I believe that he really struggled with his impending future.

His parents had a party for him at their house in Beaver. Eddie spent the entire time upstairs with his family. His departure date was close. Some of us went to the Pittsburgh Airport to see him off. It was back when you could go out on a roof and watch the plane board.  He never looked our way or waved.

I graduated that spring and went to Roberts Wesleyan College in North Chili, New York.  In January, I began the second term of classes which included General Psychology.  There were very few professors that I didn’t care for, and this class was taught by one of them. 

I received a call from home one day telling me that Eddie had been killed in Viet Nam! I was devastated! I went to my class but was totally distracted. The professor noticed it and called me out for daydreaming. I ended up failing that class and had to repeat it with the same professor!

I would later attain a M.A. in Counseling! It was a little embarrassing to have failed General Psych!

I struggled for the rest of that semester! Suddenly, the war in Viet Nam took on a personal meaning for me! Of course, I went home for the funeral. Our pastor was a staunch, stern man named C. D. Weinel.  He had proven his love for the youth of the church by having a ‘Rap Session’ with us on Wednesday evenings. He promised that nothing we said there would be shared outside that room! We trusted him. He never broke his word.

He maintained contact with Eddie and counseled with him during his last days at home. Their correspondences indicated that Eddie had put his trust in Christ for his salvation. He shared some excerpts from Eddie’s letters and they were very encouraging.

I still think of Eddie from time to time. I’ve run my fingers over his name on ‘The Wall’ in Washington numerous times! I was thrilled when they brought ‘the travelling Wall’ to East Liverpool while we were there. I visited it several times that week!

He was one of the many casualties of a confusing and complicated war.  I’m thinking of him again on this Memorial Day! I take comfort in the fact that someday I will have the opportunity to enjoy his friendship again!

Rest in peace Edward Allen Bischoff!  YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN!