Good for you for respecting his privacy!

On my one and only visit to LA in 1980, I saw RJ pumping iron at what I think was the Gold's Gym in Venice. He was a fitness nut, for sure. I would have loved to have gotten his autograph but didn't think it was appropriate.
If you put me on ignore, then how can I notify you when I win the lottery?

My father knew him from a gym in LA after the war. Dad said he was a great guy but a big spender.

As it is with the both of you, Richard Jaeckel has a special place in my heart as one of my favorite character actors. The first time I saw The Devil's Brigade, I thought it was certainly bizarre to see Jaeckel completely bald, as usually he is seen with his short closed cropped blonde hair, but it added great character to his protrayal of Omar Greco. He was fantastic in both this and of course, The Dirty Dozen and his Oscar nominated performance in Sometimes a Great Notion.
I am always saddened when reminded that this character actor vet passed on in 1997.
I'll have you eviscerated for this!
Richard Jaeckel, John Carpenter's Starman

Agreed, he was always one of my favorite character actors, and his part here as Omar Greco is no different.
His scenes with Guthrie are really good, especially the scene in the barracks after he's received a cigar from Bricker and their last scene together on the German mountain.
"Congratulations, Major. It appears that at last you have found yourself a real war." Ben Tyreen