That was how everybody knew you. You made me real proud when I heard you have registered to be a marine. See, I never thought you were going to be serious about it. You were this funny, friendly, jolly, good natured person that I could not imagine holding a rifle in the middle of the battlefield. It was never clear to me if you entered the camp because you were one of the so called crazy braves or you had some other reason but I did not question you for that. I told myself, if you found your purpose on being a US marine and you would give it your best shot, why should I speak against it?

 

 

            The training started and everybody on your platoon said you did poor. You could not climb over the beams; you could not pull yourself up the bar, could not jog long enough, nor handle your rifle right. You were such a fat lunkhead but I do not condemn you for that. After all that was the real Lawrence Lennon. You may be a mess but you are actually good at everything you have a heart for. It was good news that Joker came to help you with everything. You were always singled out of your platoon but you learned.

            Then came this inspection night. You were caught hiding a jelly doughnut with your rifle. You knew that was prohibited but you did it because “…I was hungry sir!” And you were not given any jelly doughnuts because “…I’m too fat sir!” He could have just punished you and let everybody else laugh the night away but no. He forced the doughnut on your mouth and ordered you to eat while the rest of your platoon was doing push-ups. Yes, the platoon was punished for every mistake you did. The next morning you felt that everybody was angry of you but Joker acted naturally. Then that night on your sleep, each of them hit your stomach with a solid soap bar wrapped in a towel. I bet everybody remembers the way you wailed on your bed the whole night. Was Joker any proud about how many times he hit you?

            The following day you were totally different. Joker even noticed you talking to your rifle. You did great at everything since then but were dead silent. They will never know how you blamed yourself for the shortcomings of the platoon. They were too blind to see your pain. And most of all, they were such an awful bunch of selfish lunkheads to see your beauty as a comrade.

 

 

            Graduation came and I was so proud of you. I watched you marched gracefully under the sun.

            But on your last night at the camp you took everybody by surprise. Joker was on watch and he saw you loading Shirley, your rifle, at the restroom. It was like all hell broke loose and everything was hazy for you. They could not talk you out of it, they were too late. You shot the noisy sergeant and to Joker’s shock, used Shirley to blow your brains out through your mouth.

            Yes it was an awful way to die. But do not worry or you still looked good buddy, And about honor? No, no one at the platoon could ever redeem his honor the way you did. Your feat was great and could never be branded ugly. You may be a victim of this perfect world, yes you are. But you won the battle old friend. You did not let it dishonor you just like that. And for that I throw my hands on you.

            You did not make it on your first war but I think you have done enough. Rest now weary soul where everyone can no longer bother you. My salute to you, Mr. Lawrence Lennon.

 

“Sir, permission to leave sir!”