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Ojibwe writer, Vietnam veteran and Anishinaabe culture advocate Jim Northrup combined personal tragedy with a dry wit. He had a keen sense of observation that turned into poems, books, and his popular newspaper column, “Fond du Lac Follies.” Northrup walked on Aug. 1 after battling cancer. In this pre-recorded show, we honor his memory by talking with the people who knew him best.
I enjoyed your broadcast on Jim Northrup. He is missed by many–but his words will live on for ever.
Jim and I have known each other for 55 years. It was the Corps that brought us together at Camp Pendleton, Calif., home of the USMC, and A Co. 1st Bat. 1st Mar Div. This was back in 1961, just prior to the Cuban Crisis and Viet Nam. Together, we were deployed to Cuba but was called back and later left for the “Rock” (Okinawa) where we were attached with E Co 2nd Bat. 9th Mar Div. at Camp Hansen. For these two young Marines, it was an adventuresome journey and we shared many laughs and good times together seeing and experiencing new things in these various countries and cites of Japan, China, Philippines etc. Jims volunteering for Viet Nam and my discharge did not separate us and it was a pleasure to greet him back to the States and share our lives together again. He was always the teacher and from him, I learned to make the winnowing basket at the Language camp and a great one for encouragement n my bow making. Semper Fi, Marine. RIP.