Memorial to a Friend
by John W. Hopkins
May 8, 2000

We flew over there together,
we were very young.
I was only eighteen,
I think he was twenty-one.


He shared his sandwich with me,
we spoke of those at home.
We quickly became good friends,
it's not good to be alone.


The place that we were going
was very far away,
with names that sound exotic
like Tay Ninh, Cu Chi, and Hue.


by the time our plane had landed,
we were tight as we could be.
We were going to win a war,
my good friend and me.


The first night as I lay there,
in my folding cot,
you could feel the steamy air
and smell the jungle rot.


My new found friend called out my name
and asked, "are you asleep?"
"No!" I answered, "nothing works
not even counting sheep."


We went outside, It seemed much cooler there.
He told me of his girlfriend with long and flowing hair.
I showed him a picture of my family
and we wished that we were there.


The night went on, our friendship was fast.
We said that we would be together
from this day
to the last.


We went to R and R in Hawaii
where he made his girl his bride.
I was his best man,
we stood there side by side.


We returned to the jungle
where we fought some more.
We thought we were invincible,
we thought we'd win this war.


Back at home things were crazy,
the newspapers did report.
But we really didn't care
'cause we were getting short.


Then one day it happened,
as we walked side by side.
A Viet Cong mine exploded
and my brother died.


I hollered for a Medic
as I held his bloody hand.
I watched my buddy's life
flow out onto the sand.


I haven't seen my partner now,
for thirty some odd years.
But I can still see his face
through the flowing tears.


His bride has since remarried,
his little girl has grown.
Her children have a Grandpa,
they have never known.


I went to see my friend
the other day.
His name is written on a wall,
in a city far away


I touched his name so tenderly,
I miss him don't you see.
He gave his life for liberty
and for you and me.


As I stood before the wall,
my reflection did I see.
No! Wait! It is my friend
looking back at me.


I told him he was looking good,
just like way back then
He said, "you've put on a little weight
and your hair's a little thin.


I said, "I'd like to thank you
for all that you have done.
In giving up your very life
to save another one."


As the reflection faded,
I heard his words you see.
"It is all right my friend
if you always remember me."
***************************
Greater love hath no man than this,that a man
lay down his life for his friends John 15:13

Please remember those warriors who have given so much for us...