View single post by KenC
 Posted: Sun Mar 7th, 2010 10:39 am
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KenC



Joined: Sun Sep 4th, 2005
Location: Florida &, Arizona USA
Posts: 11288
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 When I left the Bandidos as their Commanding Officer, they gave me a Zippo with my name, etc. and  the Bandido and Regimental crests on it.  (I also received a beautiful brass plate made from an old artillery shell with crest and Infantry crossed rifles on it - it hangs on my wall)...I lost the Zippo just before I stopped smoking in 1984.  Yesterday, I got the following emails:

zippo lighter
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Steven LesureLoading...Mar 6 (1 day ago)

 Reply |Steven Lesure to bandidocharlie6
show details Mar 6 (1 day ago) 

I found a zippo lighter and think it may belong to you. I googled  the name and military info on the lighter and found this site. On one side of the lighter is the name K J Costich II Captain Armor Commanding , on the other is Viet Nam 1968 – 1969. If it’s your lighter I’d like to get it back to you.

I responded and he replied with a couple of very fuzzy, cell phone photos.

Steven,
 
WOW!  This is amazing.  From your email address it looks like you are from the South and perhaps Florida where I lived for 20 some years prior to moving to Arizona in 1996.  YES...I would love to get the lighter back....I can provide whatever proof of identity you might want.  My current address is:
 
Kenneth J Costich II
4500 N Quartz Hill Drive
Tucson, AZ 85750
 
I am now a disabled Veteran and the lighter was a gift from my men...on my 2nd combat tour in Vietnam I commanded Company C, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry (aka Bandido Charlie)...I will gladly pay for boxing and shipping and any other expenses you may have... additionally, I have a great Bandido Charlie golf hat I can send to you.
 
Thank you so much for taking the time to look me up...the Zippo is so rich in memories.
 
Thank you.
 
Sincerely,
 
Ken

Steven Lesure to bandidocharlie6

Wow, this is great.  My wife found it one day when we were at a Harley Davidson event but we can't remember what one, to Key West we think. She saw it and thought it was mine and picked it up. We live in Davie Fl about 15 miles west of Ft. Lauderdale. I took a couple of pictures of the lighter with my phone so they're not the best. The lighter's a bit beat up, not too bad, Zippo will recondition it free if you send it to them, I had several done over the years.  I'll ship it out from work on Monday.