JJ-1-Poem

Our battalion was afloat when I met this brave Marine

Who brought laughter on this very dismal eve

He barely knew me nor I knew he

But there was a twinkle in his eye that made me believe

That everything will be alright tomorrow

When we are dropped into this war of sorrow

We will go out and fight for our buddies lives

Because that's all we have in this country of blight

The morning dawns on the CH-46's

To be dropped into the middle of nothing but thickets

We start our sweep in search of the enemy

But instead find mines of which there are plenty

Many Marines were left without appendages

Many Marines were taken by God for eternity

This brave Marine was wounded with less severity

And Medevac'd out to begin his recovery

A few weeks later on another operation

This brave Marine returned to continue his dedication

But something was wrong - you could see it in his eyes

That blank stare of death that makes you want to cry

This brave Marine told me he was going to die

But I refused to believe what I saw in his eyes

This brave Marine was killed in an ambush that day

This brave Marine was J. J. and I pray to him every day

Dedicated to James Juna Johnson

KIA - Feb 28, 1969 in Quang Nam Province, RVN

PA 31W, ROW 35 of The Vietnam Memorial

By: Keith "Rocky" Miller

HM2 / KILO & H&S Co.'s

3 rd Battalion / 26th Marines