Lawrence Paul Pennel
Specialist Four
D CO, 3RD BN, 8TH INFANTRY, 4TH INF DIV, USARV
Army of the United States
Springfield, Missouri
August 02, 1943 to March 26, 1968
LAWRENCE P PENNEL is on the Wall at Panel 46E, Line 40

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Lawrence P Pennel
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13 Oct 2001

To a sweet, gentle friend who went when called.
You have been remembered often and
your sacrifice will never be forgotten.

You are missed.

A memorial initiated by a friend,
Sue
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12 Aug 2002

How Can He Not Be Among Us?

Darkness before dawn heavy with silent watching--
Without warning, shrill comes a grenade
Carrying with it Death's democratic blow.
Shrapnel flying:
"GET OUT!"
"GET BACK!"
All safe but one--
but one.

Around the world life goes on.
"Good morning. In Vietnam shortly before dawn
two perimeter bases were overrun. . . ."
Eardrums strain.
Heartbeats pause.
Muscles contract.
"It cannot be." And life goes
on and on . . .
For all but one--
but one.

Two days later a man in green
On a sorrow mission calls.
"It is my duty to inform you . . . ."
Thunder in my ears covers cold empty words
Full of ugly Truth:
Death news of that one--
that one.

Once laughter, love, lingering smiles,
Tender touches, sharing souls, myriad moments,
Now whirling wounds.
How can he not be among us?
That one--
That one.

Begun Fall 1968
Revised May 1976
Posted August 2002

From his widow,
Georgia Pennel Herod
gherod1243@juno.com


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