LINK LAMKINS FEB 12, 1947 - AUG 31, 2001 Dave sent a note of thanks to Link's doctor at the Little Rock VA Hospital. Dear Dr. Zent, We in Link's family deeply appreciated your care for Link. I know that he thought the world of you, and he had great faith in you and in your decisions on his behalf. Thank you very very much. Sincerely, David R. Davies (one of Link's brothers) Dr. Zent's reply: Dear Dr. Davies, Thank you for your note and copy of Mr. Lamkins' obituary. Your brother was a great man. He dealt bravely and wisely with a devastating disease that not only took his life, but threatened his most basic integrity and humanity for 2 years. He fought well when appropriate and had the insight to understand when the medical battle was over. We will all miss him. The staff on 6C have lost a friend. We all appreciated Tracy's incredible support and work in looking after her husband, and the support and care that he received from the rest of his family. I have distributed your note to my colleagues on 6C. Our condolences on your loss. Dr. Clive Zent Both e-mails were read at Link's funeral service 9-5-01 by Dave. E-mail Dear Bill, I was very sorry to hear of Link's passing the other day. We had been friends for a number of year up to the point when was forced to retire from his business due to failing health. By the time that you receive this, We may already see each other at the funeral that I do plan to attend.. Again please accept my sincere sympathy upon your loss. Sincerely, Fred Spence (9-04-01) Thanks for your note & being at the funeral. I appreciate it. Send me your postal address & I'll send you a copy of remembrance newsletter for Link I made. Bill (9-11-01) Letter To The Editor Malvern Daily Record My father, brothers and I, with our families and friends, were in Malvern last week for the burial of my brother Link Lamkins. My family wants to express our deepest appreciation to all Link's numerous friends and business associates for the many courtesies and consideration shown us during our stay in Malvern, at Link's viewing on Tuesday and at his funeral services on Wednesday. Special thanks are due to Richard Taft and the Malvern Police Department, Ron Ball and the Sheriff's Department and the Honor Guard at Link's service. There isn't room to thank everyone individually. All of you (from the folks at the Super 8 Motel to old high school friends who came by) who were so kind and caring, you helped this ex-Malvernite weather a stormy period of my life. Thank you all so much and I will never forget. Bill Lamkins (9-9-01) E-mail Dear Jake, I am so very sorry to hear that Link has passed away. Please forgive me for not responding sooner. I have just now been able to sit down and get online and check my emails. I am just so sorry. I have sent Tracy an email also. I thank God that Link was able to go peacefully, and in his wife's arms. So many of us just don't get that chance. I know there are no words to bring you comfort right now, but please just know that you and Tracy and all of your family and all of Link's loved ones are in my heartfelt prayers right now. May God give you strength as you go through this extremely difficult time. I pray that all the good memories you have of Link, throughout his lifetime, will help you to heal. That is the main thing that has helped me in my life when my loved ones have passed away... remembering them as they would have wanted to be remembered. I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be a philosopher, I just want so badly to say something that might be of some small help during this painful time. Again, you are all in my prayers. Love, Cathie Marie Key Lauderdale (9-10-01) Thank you, Cat, Our thoughts ran along the same lines you mentioned. I even did the eulogy in which I recounted Link's life. I put together a notebook of remembrance for Tracy. Now I've gotten "newsletters" printed up from that material and I'll send you a copy. Jake (9-11-01) HERE IS SOMETHING KINDA FUNNY AND MORBID. SINCE I CAME OVER HERE I DECIDED TO HIDE LINK. HIS URN IS A VERY PRETTY OAK BOX AND LOOKS LIKE A JEWELRY BOX. WELL, THEN I THOUGHT ABOUT IT IF SOMEONE BROKE IN THEY WOULD FIND HIM. SO AFTER HIDING HIM AND FORGETTING WHERE I HID HIM, I DECIDED TO LOOK FOR HIM AND BRING HIM WITH ME. TOOK ME 20 MINUTES TO FIND HIM. HOPE ALL IS WELL FOR YA'LL. LOVE, TRACY (9-11-01) Sounds like Link is up to his old practical jokes. He loved a good laugh. Jake (9-11-01) This was written by my cousin Link Lamkins on 1-8-88 and I would like to pass it on to special people in my life. When I die Give what's left of me away To children And old men that wait to die And if you need to cry Cry for your brother Walking the street beside you And when you need me Put your arms Around anyone And give them What you need to give to me I want to leave you something Something better Than words Or sounds Look for me In the people I've known Or loved And if you cannot give me away At least let me live in your eyes And not in your mind You can love me most By letting Hands touch hands By letting Bodies touch bodies And by letting go Of children That need to be free Love doesn't die People do So when all that's left of me Is love Give me away Link Lamkins 2-12-1945 8-31-2001 Link I am giving you away. I hope every one who gets this passes it to every one they know, and you will always be living in our eyes and hearts. I love you, Judy (2/11/02) Thank you for that, Judy. I'll post it on his webpage. Today would have been his 57th birthday. Jake (2/12/02) Hi Jake, Yes, I certainly do remember Link very well. We were in 1st Division together for a while. He sure could tell some good stories. There was a certain Japanese girl in the red light district that we were both fond of. He was a great guy and one of several shipmates I will always remember. I'm sorry to hear he's not with us anymore. I'm glad you wrote to me. That's why I put my name on the Small website, hoping other shipmates will see it and write. Take care, Don Abbott Shipmate on USS Ernest G. Small (5/4/02) Hi Jake, Thanks for sending Link's website. Its great, I really enjoyed looking at all the pictures. The ones of Link in the mid sixties are the ones that bring back memories of a man I was glad to know. Thanks again and all the best to you. Don (5/19/02) Hello Jake, I havent been on line for quite sometime as you can see by how fast l reply, sorry. I do remember Links face - thanks for the picture. Although its been sometime since the Small, the memories are still fresh. Yes, the Small spent alot of time in Viet Nam on the Gunlines in the Tonkin Gulf all the way up North to engageing a NVR regular Gun Battery. There was a small write up about us dueling with enemy shore battery. We also pulled plane guard duty chasing numerous Aircraft Carriers while they launched the air strikes. They called it Yankee Station and it was all over the Coast of Nam. I remember times when we were so close to the shore you could see the Gooks running when we started shelling them to protect our ground forces who were out numbered. It made all of us feel good about being there. I hope this information helps you understand what a role Link played over there. We were all Shipmates and proud of the E.G. Small and our actions. If the VA said it was agent orange from Viet Nam then l would believe them. We spent months off the coast. God Bless you and Link's family and again my deepest sympathy for his passing. He was a true American and proud of his role in Viet Nam. The Small ( Dirty Ernie ) was our nickname for the ship but no one else could call the ship that unless you were a crew member, ha ha. Bye for now. Ray Kieren U.S.S. E. G. Small (5/24/02) Facebook Thinking about my brother Link today on his 74th birthday. http://LAMKINS.tripod.com/Link.html -Jake Lamkins (2/12/19 Facebook Tracy Lamkins August 31, 2021 ยท Ok so 20 years ago today my world changed, my husband went to heaven! Man I cant believe he's been gone 20 years, there are days it seems as if he was just here. My heart still breaks when I think of all the good times we had. He was a very fun loving person, he's personality would liven up the darkest of rooms, he'd try anything! Twice if he liked it ๐Ÿ™‚ Link Lamkins you are still missed even 20 years later. Your memory will always live on as long as I'm around. I love you and miss you! Always your wife Tracy Lamkins Wendy Werpecinisky-Hughlett Prayers for ya today hula hoop Alberto Rocha Praying for you GOD BLESSED YOU Marybeth Stbernard Love you sister. He knew he had one Hell of a woman for a wife. Best friends forever. Rose Tomczak Prayers for you. I was was honored to meet him. Yes he was funny polite. He loved so much Remember all good memories. Thinking of you today. Call me if you need to talk. Love you Girl Joan Baer You are in my thoughts and prayers I love you Brenda Jones Thinking of you, Love ya !!! Tracy Lamkins Thank you everyone you know I haven't cried for awhile I was good with it but today it really hit me hard! I'm at work and cried like a baby I'm trying to soak up my tears. Man how I loved him! Love still yet today Marybeth Stbernard You always will. He was your soulmate David Davies I miss him. Jake Lamkins Hello Tracy, great to see your posts. Take care. Ellen Penny Meeks You guys were meant for each other. God blessed you, even though too short. Love you (8/31/21)