Today would be the 66th
birthday of Marine PFC Joseph John Meyer Jr., who died in Vietnam at age 20 on
the Fourth of July 1969 in an enemy mortar attack. He was from Mechanicsburg,
Pennsylvania.
It’s been more than 45
years since his death, but he is still remembered and honored by family and
friends.
In 2008, when his high
school class met for their 40th reunion, a classmate, Thomas Dunn,
posted this message to PFC Meyer on an online memorial wall:
“Well,
Joey, we had our 40th class reunion for Cumberland Valley High School, and you
were in our thoughts and prayers. You were missed by all and a lot by some. We
had a moment of silence and prayer in your memory. Rest in peace and SEMPER-FI
Joey.”
His
sister, Bonnie Fisher, posted this message in 2002:
“Joe
was my brother and my friend. He was one of the greatest guys on earth. He died
much too soon and is greatly missed by all his brothers and sisters. He was the
kindest person and once you knew Joe you had a friend for life.”
In
2014, his sister, Betty Meyer-Britton wrote:
"PFC Joseph J. Meyer Jr. lost his
life on 7/4/69. I lost my brother and best friend that day. Even after all
these years, Joe....my love and pride is still carried in my heart."
His
father, Joseph J. Meyer Sr., and sister, Barbara Hammaker, wrote in 2002:
"You may be gone but you are always
in our thoughts and prayers. Dad and I miss you so much. You were taken young
but we can honestly say we are left with many a great memories of you. How you
made us laugh, your walk, smile, and how you always went out of your way to
help people. Joey you were a great son and a super brother and we are so
grateful that God gave us the time he did to spend with you. We are so proud
and honored to say yes he was my son or yes he was my brother. Rest in peace
Joey, we love and miss you."
And a high school friend, Joyce
Dyson, wrote in 1999:
"I was in a foster home back in 1969,
living in Mechanicsburg, PA. I remember riding the school bus with Joey and his
sisters. Joey's girlfriend, Susan, also rode the bus. Joey and Sue were so much
in love. You could always hear them making plans for the future. They were
going to get married after they both graduated and moved into the house next to
where Joey's parents lived. Then the day came when Joey got the word that he
was going to Vietnam. The last thing I remembered was riding in the back of a
pickup truck and seeing Joey's sister Barb running as hard as she could up the
street screaming that Joey was dead. I will never forget that day. I will
always remember how happy Joey was. We all liked Joey, he made everyone laugh.
See you in heaven Joey!"
PFC
Meyer is buried at the Gettysburg National Cemetery in Pennsylvania.
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