Mark Charles Rokaski
Lance Corporal
A CO, 1ST BN, 3RD MARINES, 3RD MARDIV, III MAF
United States Marine Corps
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
November 27, 1948 to May 29, 1968
MARK C ROKASKI is on the Wall at Panel W63, Line 12

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22 Oct 2002

In Memory Of You

In Flanders' fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders' fields.

John McCrae

From one who remembers.
fidiminnie@cs.com


 
23 Oct 2002

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The photo and following article is taken from The Philadelphia Daily News, special supplement entitled 'SIX HUNDRED AND THIRTY,' October 26, 1987. The special supplement was issued in conjunction with the dedication of the Philadelphia Viet Nam Memorial.

Nicknamed "Rouge" for his red hair, the June 1966 graduate of Frankford High School fulfilled a lifelong ambition the following October by joining the Marine Corps. His father, a Marine veteran, had fought with Carlson's Raiders in the South Pacific during World War II. Young Rokaski loved outdoor sports, especially fishing in the Poconos, and was considering becoming a forest ranger after the service. The lance corporal, a rifleman, was sent to Viet Nam and assigned to Company A of the 1st battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Marine Division. Rokaski died in Quang Tri Province, Viet Nam on May 29, 1968. He was 19 and engaged to be married. Survivors included his parents and a brother.

SEMPER FIDELIS, MARINE!

From a native Philadelphian and Marine,
Jim McIlhenney
christianamacks@comcast.net

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16 May 2007

Mark, you were and still are the love of my life. Your picture sits on my bedside table and I miss you each and every day. Since the day you left my life has only been half a life for my heart and ability to love died with you.

As the years pass and I become older I do not fear death for I know that it is the pathway back to you. How I long to hold you close and never let you go.

We met on the path of destiny, you smiled and took my hand. Little did we know for us fate held a tragic plan.

Carol

From his fiance',
Carolee Chelius
carolee_baldwin@hotmail.com


 

A Note from The Virtual Wall

During May 1968 the 1st Bn, 3rd Marines were employed in Operation NAPOLEAN/SALINE, another of the never-ending sweeps intended to prevent North Vietnamese regulars from setting up shop in the area south of the DMZ. Between 25 and 31 May the Marines conducted sweeps north of the Cua Viet River, encountering stiff opposition on 27 May (7 US dead) and 29 May. The latter engagement, near the destroyed hamlet of Pho Con, resulted in the loss of 13 Marines:

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