Memorial Day A Soldier I will Never Forget Remembering Corporal Earl L Crissell Jr

This weekend we remember our loved ones and this includes our soldiers who gave their lives for our country.

Whenever I think of those soldiers I remember my step brother Earl L Crissell Jr, who was a Corporal in the United States Marine Corp.

‘Pork’ was his nickname, and I remember he was the first ‘Army Man’ I ever knew, my first memory of him was when he came home on leave in his dress blues and I thought he was GI Joe.

My mother tells the story about one Christmas when Pork was home on leave, he got drunk and opened all our gifts, I guess there was a delay Christmas morning as they re-wrapped our gifts.

Pork was stationed in Vietnam, on July 16 1966, he was wounded along with several other soldiers and received a Purple Heart Metal, he was 6 days shy of his 19th birthday.

In September of the same year he rejoined his unit.

On March 1 1967 at approximately 4:20pm he was killed when he stepped on a booby trap, he died within minutes; he was just 19 years old.

Many people feel we had no business being in Vietnam, we’ve all heard the stories, but whatever stand you take on any war, we must remember that these were young men, who had dreams of building a life, they had families that loved them and still morn for them all these years later

So this weekend when you’re enjoying time with your family and friends, remember Earl L Crissell Jr and all the brave soldiers who are part of the memories of Memorial Day.