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In Memory of LCPL Gregory Paul Kelly, USMC
La Crescenta, California
July 30, 1944 - June 10, 1967
a Dear Friend and Classmate
KIA Thua Thien Province, RVN
June 10, 1967
Sometimes I ask WHY they had to die,
and WHY I was left alive to grieve...
The answer seems we shouldn't try
to question mysteries we can't perceive.
Life at best, is happenstance,
We're here to live life the best we can,
The rest then, must be left to chance...
and accept Fate as a man.
Our Birth was much like being vexed,
for in that place, we feared to leave.
No one can tell what happens next,
No answers come, and none receive.
You may miss those who did not survive,
For those whose blood was spilt...
But more: Be happy that you're alive,
And dwell not, on all this guilt.
For that is what they'd want you to do,
To live your life for them...
Life goes on, and so must you!
And in this way, you'll honor them.
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November 3, 1996
by Jake, his loyal friend.
Copyright 1996 - All Rights Reserved
Visit My Tribute to Greg Kelly
I've played a lot of roles in life;
I've met a lot of men.
I've done some things I'd like to think
I wouldn't do again.
And though I'm young, I'm old enough
To know some day I'll die,
And to think about what lies beyond,
Besides whom I would lie.
~
Perhaps it doesn't matter much;
Still, if I had my choice,
I'd want a grave 'mongst soldiers when
At last death quells my voice.
I'm sick of the hypocrisy
Of lectures of the wise.
I'll take the man, with all the flaws,
Who goes, though scared, and dies.
~
The troops I knew were commonplace
They didn't want the war;
They fought because their fathers and
Their fathers had before.
They cursed and killed and wept---
God knows
They're easy to deride--
But bury me with men like these;
They faced the guns and died.
~
It's funny when you think of it,
The way we got along.
We'd come from different worlds
To live in one no one belongs.
I didn't even like them all;
I'm sure they'd all agree.
Yet I would give my life for them,
I hope some did for me.
So bury me with soldiers, please,
Though much maligned they be.
Yes, bury me with soldiers, for
I miss their company.
We'll not soon see their likes again;
We've had our fill of war.
But bury me with men like them
Till someone else does more.
~ Author Unknown ~
Our son, so much time
has passed away
since you said goodbye: How we remember the tears!
Yet your handsome, smiling face is as clear to us, today
Through the mists of the passing years.
~
With your birth, you gave us such wonderful joy...
In our youth, what happiness you brought to us two,
When God gave us such a wonderful boy,
Our Pride was complete in you!
~
How can we describe the emptiness
that we daily and yearly must face?
In inadequate words, that we cannot express,
Nor the sorrow that time cannot erase?
~
We had you, it seemed, for such a little while,
From childhood, as to a man you slowly grew..
We can still see your face, and your lovely smile,
And the love we had then, we still have for you.
~
If we could have but one answered prayer:
To see you son, as you are today...
And in you, our son, the Pride we share,
Has never gone away!
~
Though son, you're gone, and though we had to part,
Know, this, that our love for you will never die;
Your memory is safe within our heart
And we'll never again say goodbye.
~
So son, be at rest, find in God, Perfect Peace...
The time will come when we'll see your smiling face...
Then sorrows will end, and our tears then will cease,
When there, in That Perfect Love we'll embrace.
~
No more tears we'll shed, no more mournful sighs,
And our Happiness will forever increase.
And our Joy will be Full: No more sad goodbyes,
in that Place of Perfect Peace...
~
When the burden of our soul is overwhelming,
and the load, we doubt we can bear...
We can go to our knees, and in faith resounding,
And find the Lord Comforting us there.
by Jake
November 1, 1996
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Visit My Tribute to Gary Nelson