26 Mar 2007 You were just 17 when you joined the Corps. You arrived in Viet Nam Jan 6 1967 and on May 28 1967 you were killed in action while on Operation Choctaw in the Thua Thien Province. In two more months it will be 40 years that you have been gone. The pain and emptiness I still feel when I think of you, and what could of been. Junney, I miss you, Brother, thinking about the days we grew up in Brooklyn. I was 17 years old at the time of your death and the only one home that May 29 1967 when three Marines in their dress blues knocked on our house door. I will never forget that day nor the way my whole body started shaking after looking them straight in their eyes and I broke down and started crying. I am almost 58 years old now with a wife and two daughters who are now 22 years old. Now that I look back I can clearly see that your it was your destiny to become a Marine. You were a loving brother and always kept me out of harm's way. I miss you, man, and deep within my heart I know our paths will meet up again. Rest, Marine ... Semper Fi 06 Apr 2007 Missing You. Woke up this morning thinking about you. In one more month it will be forty (40!) years since you were taken from us. You were just 18 years old at the time Of your death and I seventeen years old. I remember us growing up in Brooklyn New York. As kids we were always together even though at times you did not want me around but we were very close. I am 57 years old now and in my heart I know now it was your destiny to join the Corps at 17 years old. I remember when we were no more than 12 or 13 how you displayed the heart of a Warrior. It was almost the fourth of July. We had bought our fireworks already that included about five ash cans And five cherry bombs. We both knew the ash cans were more powerful than the cherry bombs. We lived in the Marcy Projects, 6th floor, our father's bedroom window faced the back of our building, what we used to call the the "back yard" and the young guys who lived back there. We always had conflicts with them. Pop was at work ... around noontime we went into Pop's bedroom and looked out his back window and the kids that we were always in conflict with were sitting on the bench. I could never forget that day. It was both our idea so we decided to toss a lit ash can out Pop's window at the boys in the backyard. We both knew there was no room for mistakes so we decided you would light the ash can while it was in my hands, with the window wide open. I was already in position with my right arm pulled back, ready with the ash can in my hand. You lit the fuse, I knew I had seconds to get that thing out my hands. I missed the center of the open window and the ash can hit the window frame and bounced backed, landing on top of our father's bed. There was no time to try to pick the ash can up and toss it out the window. I hit the floor very quickly to take cover. I looked up and you put your foot on top of the ash can - all you had on your feet was a pair of cheap sneakers - then you put your hands over your ears and motioned for me to stay down on the floor. It all happened so fast, then I heard a big explosion. My ears were ringing, the room was filled with this blue smoke and the smell of gunpowder ... there you were, on the floor holding your foot in pain. Then you removed your sneaker - there was no blood, just pain from the force from that ash can. We looked at Pop's bed - there was a big hole blown all through the mattress. I guess by your foot being on top it when it went off directed most of the force downward. You put yourself in harm's way to protect both of us from serious injury. We both had no time to think once that ash can bounced back in our house on top of the bed with a lit fuse - you just reacted to the situation. I am smiling now, looking back on those days that you kept me out of harm's way more than once. I miss you so much, Junney, the pain and emptiness I still feel after almost forty years. There is not a day that goes by in my life that I don't miss and love you. May 28 1967 in Thua Thien Province - a Sunday I will always remember. In my heart I know I will see you again on the other side. Rest, Marine. Love from your little brother, Teddy 26 May 2007 Junney, today is May 26, 2007. In two more days it will be 40 years since you were taken away from your family. It feels like it was yesterday. The pain and emptiness I feel within my heart and soul makes my whole body shake within, just like it did May 29 1967 when three Marines knocked on our front door. I was the only one home that day. I was 17 years old at the time. I looked into their faces and my whole body started shaking and I started crying. We were very close growing up in the streets of Brooklyn, New York - playing war games with the kids with our Mattell Thompsom machine guns. I have to go now. I miss you being a part of my life in this world. I love and miss you so much, Junney. Love you, your brother Teddy From his brother, Theodore Jackson 171 Trantor Place Apt 2-C, Staten Island, New York 10302 theonam@verizon.net In Vietnam

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall The 2nd Bn, 4th Marines' Summary for 28 May 1967 contains the following entry: "281115H. Echo at YD643315 received 350 rounds automatic weapons fire from unknown number VC at YD641315. Returned small arms fire, air strike, and artillery. 3 VC KIA conf; 5 VC KIA prob." Pfc Jackson was the only Marine killed in this engagement.

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