Dear Mr. and Mrs Rosebrugh,
I still cannot believe that the Lord saw fit to take Butch from us. Butch was one of the finest persons I have ever known and he was one of the best friends that a person can have. I always have and always will have a deep affection for Butch. He was one of the most unselfish people I have ever known.
It seems like just yesterday that we were all in high school together and all of a sudden we all grew up so fast and we all went our separate ways. Butch always seemed to be just a little more grown up than the rest of us, and he proved that when he gave his life for us and an ideal that he always upheld to the utmost.
Knowing Butch as I did I can’t help but believe with all my heart that he died as the man of courage that he was and that right now he is being eternally rewarded for the unselfish life he lived and for the way he died.
The news of his death was a tremendous shock to me and it has brought into reality the awfulness of the war we face. The last time I saw Butch we talked of the war and he said that he was prepared to face death if the need be. Many a night I have said a silent prayer for Butch but the Good Lord saw fit to show Butch much greater thing than the earth has to offer.
My deepest sympathies to you the parents of a truly great person, for I know that your loss is the deepest and the greatest. I am sure though, that you share my feelings as to Butch’s living an everlasting, wonderful life and perhaps this and the great pride that you should have in your son will help to lessen the pain.
As for myself Butch will live forever in my thoughts and his memory will be a great inspiration to my life as it will be to all who knew him well. The hurt of loosing Butch still is deep inside me but this is slowly being swallowed up by the pride I have in Butch and the pride I possess for having known and been close to a person as great as he was.
Again my deepest symp sympathies to the both of your and if there is anything I can do for you or for the memory of Butch please call on me. It would give me great pleasure to be able to do something for Butch for he did so much for me.
Sincerely yours,
Terry Magee
Francis “Butch” Rosebrugh (b.1946-d.1966)
U.S. Marine Corps, 1965-1966
In this 1966 letter, Terry, a school friend of Butch’s, writes to Butch’s parents offering his condolences after learning Butch died while serving in Vietnam.
Courtesy of Brenda Orman and the Livingston County Historian's Office
