This past Monday in the park across the street from the post office, Jal held its Memorial Day ceremony. Several dozen attended the observance in honor of the Jal men who have sacrificed their lives in service for their country since the first died in 1918 during World War I.
In World War I, Reginald Edwin ‘Rex’ Baird was the first man from Jal to be killed in action in 1918.
In World War II, eight brave young men gave their lives in service for their country, all serving in the US Army: Hudie Bagley, Larry Loggins, Billy James Moore, Charles Arthur Toby, Paul A. Walsh, Harmon E Boyd, Curtis Alin Howell, and Ocie E. Brown.
From the JHS Class of 1964, two US Marines gave their lives in the Vietnam War, Anthony Mark Cass and Earl Davies. Jimmy Mathis, also of the class of ’64, was killed in action while serving in the U.S. Navy in Vietnam. James Richard Phillips, JHS Class of ’61, was killed in action while serving his second tour in the US Marine Corps in Vietnam. Buddy Duane Pyeatt, also of the Class of ’61, was killed in action while serving in the US Navy in Vietnam. Harold Hager, Class of ’67, was killed in action while serving in the US Marine Corps in Vietnam. Jackie Leisure, also of the JHS Class of ’67, was killed in action while serving in the US Army in Vietnam. Jack Silliman, Class of ’66, was killed in action while serving in the US Marine Corps in Vietnam.
The Memorial Day observance this past Monday was fairly brief, with no special speaker scheduled, though Cliff Kidd of Monahans, who served in Vietnam with Jackie Leisure, spoke a few words near the end about his friend who was killed in action in Vietnam, Jackie Leisure. He mentioned how Jackie was supposed to have been on a plane home, but instead chose to stay one more day.
Community Services Director Joe Cole opened with a word of prayer, followed by Mrs. Roxie Swain, who read aloud a letter Jackie Leisure had written to Cliff Kidd just before Leisure was killed in action.
The following is a poem written by Jackie Leisure while serving in Vietnam:
“I’ve Been Here”
To you who are protesting;
Stay where you are.
With your hair long,
Drive your new car.
You can’t see why we are here in a land of woe.
You are free men, you wouldn’t know.
So dodge the draft, and drink your beer.
Cause I’ll be glad to say, “I’ve been here.”
In time my son may not have to fight.
Because I’m doing my part over here.
The world may be free, a world of peace,
There won’t be a soldier’s death, a mother’s tear
But you, my friend, and those like you
Carry your sign so plain and clear;
“Pull Out Of Nam, stop that game.”
But I’ll be proud to say, “I’ve been here.”
So many have died and there’ll be many more.
They gave their lives to keep loved ones free.
Their blood covers the ground in this war,
And they have died for you too, you see,
But someday when your chance is gone,
and your son leaves, while you hold back that tear.
“Wish I’d been there.” I may hear you say,
While I hold my head high because,
“I’ve been there.”
Sgt. Jackie Leisure Co. A2-28 Inf 1st Inf. Div. Vietnam
