MARION LIPINSKI

1946-2017

Marion Lipinski, age 71, of Needville, TX passed away on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2017. He died at Memorial Hermann in Sugar Land, TX approximately 48 hrs after being released from a 28-day hospitalization at Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Medical Center in Houston.

Marion was a Vietnam Veteran, Specialist 4th Class, US Army. He began his first eight weeks of Basic Training at Fort Polk, LA, and completed Combat Training at Fort Lewis, WA. While serving in Vietnam 1966-1967 he was in the 35th Combat Engineers and later in the 20th Combat Engineers. He served at the Army Special Forces Camp in Duc Co (pronounced Dew Co near the Cambodian border), Kontum, Qui Nhon, and Plei Djereng Special Forces camp where in 1966 the 20th Engineers built a new airstrip. Pleiku was Marion’s base camp. During Marion’s tour he was briefly hospitalized in “China Beach” Cam Ranh Bay. His date of separation was 114-1967, and he received an honorable medical discharge 5-20-1970. Marion received the Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Weapons Sharpshooter Medal with Rifle Qualification Bar.

Marion was not always proud of his military service due to public opinion of the Vietnam War during the 1960’s and 1970’s. Upon returning to the United States, allowed only a short sleeve shirt to wear in winter, and being spit on at the West Coast airport by war protesters, he had no reason to speak about his time served. Veterans were known as “baby killers.” After Marion reached his home town Needville, he was outright surprised at a local downtown cafe, when the lady owner said that because he was a Veteran, she would pay for his burger.

Marion began civilian life again in 1967, working as a machinist in the plug valve division at WKM in Missouri City, and in 1982 his division was bought by J.M. Huber and relocated to Tomball, TX. Marion retired in 2008. Marion received Perfect Attendance Certificates as he was always punctual, rarely missing work. In his early employment, his co-workers would throw styrofoam coffee cups at the safety shields on his machines, just to watch him panic and duck, then they would laugh at and mock him. Marion could not escape the Vietnam ridicule, and his mental anguish was later diagnosed by the Veterans Administration as Combat-Related PTSD. He drank alcohol as a release from combat nightmares, which only intensified his anger toward the government and others. He had a hard time relating to non-combat individuals. Marion not only was exposed to Agent Orange, they regularly sprayed it around the perimeter of base came. He sent home white T-shirts and briefs for his mother to tie-dye green. When he got them back, they would be camouflaged while drying on bushes in the Central Highlands jungle.

How could anyone never there possibly know anything about combat? One of Marion’s tragic images was a best buddy, football playing partner, being blown up in a jeep hitting a land mine. Cleaning up after attacks it was such hell that survivors couldn’t sort out body parts, and thought nothing of dropping two left arms in the same body bag. Marion had nightmares about “Graves Registration” where soldier remains are prepared for possible identification.

Marion tried getting help at the VA for Agent Orange exposure and was entered into a registry for physical and mental testing that he completed in the 1970’s. But with so many Vietnam veterans returning, all their claims for wounds and cries for help were denied. Their records were “lost” in Vietnam or “burned” in St. Louis Permanent Storage. By 1988 the US began to have “Welcome Home” parades and Vietnam Veterans started getting recognition. In the 1990’s Marion reduced his drinking, life improved. Then 36 years after his discharge, Marion met Humberto (Bert) Romero of the DAV (Disabled American Veterans). Bert’s members were similar, had things in common, could help each other with cutting red tape, and could relate with Marion. In 2006 Marion began regular meetings and had perfect monthly attendance for over 11 years. He never missed a Forget-Me-Not Fund Drive that assists veterans and their families. Marion made tight friendships with a few DAV members, and he looked forward to seeing them at meetings. They grieved with each other when a member died, and Marion became an active uniformed DAV Honor Guard member to serve at funerals. Marion continued having combat nightmares until he died. But his life was better because he knew DAV members that had equivalent experiences.

Marion’s best forever lifetime-childhood friend is Sonny Hackstedt of Fairchilds, TX, and wife Vickie Hackstedt was closer than a sister. Marion was a loyal Dallas Cowboys fan and enjoyed watching games with Martha Barosh and Skinner Satsky. Marion was a member of the American Legion for 46 years, a Life Time Member of the VFW, and a Life Time Member of the DAV. He is preceded in death by his parents Stanley and Theresa Lipinski of Needville. He is survived by Verna Lipinski his wife of 47 years, sister Elizabeth and husband A.J. of Sweet Home, TX, sister Janice Fenske and husband Mike of Needville, and sister Jeanette Migl and husband Matt of Needville.

Tributes and words of condolence may be left for the family at www.davisgreenlawnfh.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of Davis-Greenlawn Funeral Home, 3900 B.F. Terry Blvd., Rosenberg, Texas 77471, Phone: 281-3418800.