I remember Jesse Penna today


Jesse was a Navy Corpsman serving with the Marine Corps in Viet Nam. He lost his life serving his country and his fellow man. It was 1968 and Jesse and I would sit in the barracks and sing along with Janis Joplin "Piece Of My Heart" We were a mess. I remember him today and many other days. I thank God that I am home today free and healthy and with my family. I remember all who served and didn't make it home. God bless America.
rec

Jesse, another year my friend, like so many days I am thinking of you today. More acute today on Memorial Day. Looking back and thinking of those days listening to Janis and straining our voices. Will play her today and sing at the top of my lungs and in my heart I will hear you next to me. I'll never forget my brother.ย 

The years are coming faster now Jesse, I am thinking of you on this day my brother. Janis is singing and you and I are trying to keep up with her in the background. I will never forget for all the days of my life.

Hey Recย  - I was getting worried about you as I told my wife earlierย today that I didย not see your post today. Thank you and especially Jesseย onceย again on this day for your services. Stayย well โ€ฆ..ย ย ย ย ย 
Another year my brother. I think of you often, especially on this day. A year like no other. I will never forget Jesse, the days are getting shorter now but I will always remember our time together and ย how we sang along with Janis so long ago...
I was just sitting out on the back porch watching the gentle rain come down, an unusual occurrence here in "tornado alley" in the Spring. I thought of another day long ago when you and I sang along with Janis. How we loved her music. Jesse you are on my mind this Memorial Day like soย many other days as well.ย I honor your memory and I will never forget you my brother.
โ€ฆโ€ฆ.hey, thank YOU REC for your service as well as for your fallen friend. I also posted 2 years ago on this thread for you and your friend since then, ย my Dad who was a WW II Vetย has passed. Stay well ย ย 
Jesse, it's been 51 years since we sang "Piece of My Heart" In many ways it seems like yesterday even though it's been a lifetime. I will never forget my brother...I honor your memory and think of you often but most acute on the day.
Jesse ,my high school is building a Viet Nam Memorial to honor the boys of the 60's who didn't make it home. There were 22 ofย them from my high school with my class, 1966 having the highest number.They will ย have a veteran's wall. I am going to place your name and my name onย separate bricks. I know on a Summer's night if one listensย closely they will hear you andย me singing Janis at the top of our lungs...I will never forget my brother.
I am hopeful that your buddy is up there or whereverย looking out forย you andย watching over you. Rhyno's words are soo true. My dad is 91 and was at Pearl Harbor for the clean up after 12/7/41ย  -ย  he still talks about it and the guys he was with. He doesn't remember what he had for breakfast - be has never forgotten those friends. Rec - live your life well for your buddy .....peaceย ย ย 
Another song Jesse "Where Haveย All The Flowers Gone" Thinking of you today my brother. I promise I will never forget all the days of my life.
Another Memorial Day Jesse, I remember you this day and many others. Recently saw a Janis special on PBS and she sang "Piece of My Heart" I remembered our fractured version we sang together when the song was new. I'll never forget you Jesse.
I recently saw Bob Dylan and one of his encores was "Blowin In The Wind" It struck me how relevant the song was still today. Thinking of you today Jesse, I will never forget...
Wonderful and heart filled post. Rec, your faithful tributes are inspiring. I am about to head out the door to visit my father's grave, WW II vet. I will lay some flowers and take a picture for my 94 year old mother who is unable to go to the cemetery.
Elton John's song, "Talking Old Soldiers" comes to mind this morning, a poignant lyrical portrait of an old man whose long time comrades in arms have gone on to the world to come.

"I know what they're saying son
There goes old man Joe again
Well I may be mad at that
I've seen enough to make a man go out his brains
Well do they know what it is like
To have a graveyard as a friend
'Cause that's where they are boy, all of them
Don't seem likely I'll get friends like that again"

Thank God for those who have given their "last full measure of devotion"
I recently received an e-mail of what dead rock stars would look like today if they would have survived. There was one of Janis and I immediately thought of you Jesse. I can still see her singing Piece of My Heart and I can still see you and me singling along with her. On this special day like many other days I remember you my friend.
Another year Jesse, I promise you I will never forget. I think of you more with each passing year. I will play Janis tonight for you and for me.
my grandpa (RIP) was a WW2 vet who was in the Normandy landing. lived a grand long time, died in his late 70s with family around, and influenced all of us tremendously.

i think what a fine man he was, and then i think of when he was a young man, he was serving with other fine men, but some of whom made the ultimate sacrifice for us. great men who never got the chance to have a family, a future, anything---only sacrifice.

its good to spend time thinking of the men who didn't make it back. what they did, what they gave, and all for us.
I'll never forget Jesse, the years are coming fast, the hair is gray and the children have children but I'll never forget our friendship. It was 42 years ago this fall that we listened to Janis and sang so out of tune. I miss you my brother.
Brother Jesse, another year, miss you more with each passing year. Remember how we loved the music? There will never be another Janis. Thank you for all that served and waited for us to come home. I'll play "Piece Of My Heart" for all of us tonight.
Thank you Jesse, Janis is playing, I don't care how many years it's been I'll never forget. Thank you all that served and all that waited and supported us, we all share a Piece Of My Heart.
We salute you, brothers. May the Lord have mercy on your souls. Thanks to all of you.
Sitting here playing Piece of My Heart for you Jesse. What a song! I miss you and wish you were here. Too many years Jesse, we were so young. I pray for all who went and those who didn't come back. I still believe we did the right thing and I know the men over there today believe the same.

Somehow the music makes it all easier. I raise my glass to you and play Janis one more time. We could never hit those high notes could we?
It's been another year Jesse, you are still in my heart. Semper Fi my brother.
Great post. I remember my Dad today- and the countless other souls who died in service of this country.

I'm also remembering a guy in my neighborhood when I was a kid- Jimmy Bordeaux. About 8 years older than me, Jimmy taught me to play football. Jimmy died in Vietnam in 1967, a very proud Marine.

May God truly bless the families of all service men and women tonight.
I respect and thank you for serving our country.
My youngest son is an Airborne Ranger with the 101st and will be returning to Iraq for his second tour of duty in October.
Again, thanks and sorry for the loss of your friend.
Art