Thanks so much for sharing your story about Ken Brinks (“The Name on the Wall,” fall 2016). Ken was my cousin. I loved him so much. I do recall the day Ken was leaving for Vietnam. He came to Kalamazoo to see us and say goodbye. It was so bittersweet. I honestly felt like he somehow knew that would be the last time we would ever see him. I wrote lots of letters, and he would often reply. He talked not about the horrors of the war, but about the beautiful surroundings, the people who lived there and his fellow soldiers. He was so compassionate and always encouraged me in my faith.

My life was forever changed the day he died. I had lots of questions about God but what I kept remembering were Ken’s letters reminding me to stay strong in my faith. So in his honor and memory I continue to trust in God and feel close to Ken in the kinship we share by blood but also through the blood of our Savior.

Deb Brinks LaRoy, Otsego, Michigan

It was personally most refreshing for us to read “The Name on the Wall” (fall 2016). Ken Brinks is our nephew, the oldest of Betty’s family from McBain, Michigan. We visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial several years ago and did a pencil rubbing of his name.

We were teachers in Ontario Christian School in California when we received the awful news that Ken had been killed in action. Another gold star went up on the banner hung in our church.

Vandersteen’s description of Ken was most accurate. We often referred to him as a young Timothy. We would add that Kenny was compassionate to the extent that as a child he would be heartbroken when he saw a person walking with a cane. His favorite song was “Fill My Cup, Lord, Fill It Up,” a tune he would play on his guitar and sing with his sister, Karen. They often sang duets in local churches.

When we think of Ken’s life and the last paragraph in your article, about your desire for all Calvin graduates, we set our minds on I Timothy 4:12. “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but instead set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”

Thanks for reminding us to focus on the names on the wall.

George and Betty De Vries Groen ’63, Thousand Oaks, California