"Lieutenant Joyner - killed June 15, 1968
Bullet between the eyes. AK-47."
That's what it says on the back of one of your pictures.
It must be true
Because I wrote it a long time ago.
I always thought your first name was Lieutenant
Until I looked it up in DC one hot, humid day.
It was Stephen.
I didn't find your name on The Wall that day
Because there were too many,
And it was too hot,
And we didn't have much time,
And we would be late for dinner,
And we were tired from looking at colleges for my son,
And it was humid,
And I can't stand the heat since Dong Ha,
And there were just too many.
Too many names.
But it's there
Somewhere.
It doesn't really matter that I didn't find your name that day
It does matter that I didn't find mine.
"Lieutenant Joyner
Killed June 15
AK-47 bullet between eyes."
"Sergeant Canant
Still alive in '95"
Thank you, God.
Take care of Stephen.
