[CIB-173RDABN]

Back when I watched M*A*S*H I thought the best showed they ever did was when Col. Potter was a member of a tontine. He and his buddies saved a bottle of brandy to be opened by the last surviving member. Col. Potter is that member, and when the bottle arrives, he puts on his old uniform and has a drink for the "friends of my youth"..."

Some days, I will pause, and think back to the "friends of my youth", the ones that have gone before me.

I guess as long as someone remembers us, we are never really gone...

[hillyes]

Brig.Gen.Simon B.Buckner,Jt.-KIA,Okinawa,WW2. Son of Lt.Gen.Simon B.Buckner,CSA

[19th LA Inf]

He and his buddies saved a bottle of brandy to be opened by the last surviving member

I believe Doolittle's Tokyo raiders have this arrangement. Each of the 80 was presented a silver cup, and these are kept in a case with the brandy. When the man passes his cup is inverted in the case.

Some didn't survive the war. I expect well over half are gone now. Jimmy himself made it to 96.