Cpl Joy
KINGSTON – Over 100 people attended a ceremony held Sunday afternoon at the grounds of the Kingston Kiersted Avenue Armory in Kingston. The event was held in honor of fallen Vietnam veteran United States Marines Corporal Chester Joy, who was killed in action on May 16, 1967.
Corporal Joy, the second local Vietnam casualty, would have returned in August of that year, but suffered a mortal head wound in Quang Tri Province.
Known to his loved ones simply as “Buddy,” the city native was just 20 years old while serving with F Company, Second Battalion. He died in the vicinity of the 26th Demilitarized Zone, attacking hostile forces in a push by the United States Marines.
“He was a bright young man, with all sorts of possibilities before him, but he chose to serve his country, and so he put his fate in his leaders, and in God,” said William Forte, chairman of the Kingston Veterans Association. “Today isn’t a day to debate why these brave men were sent. Odds are a lot of them didn’t agree with or understand those reasons. The fact is, once someone starts shooting at you, you don’t care why you are there, but were sent there. There are two unbreakable rules in war. Number one – people die. Number two – nobody can change rule number one. Buddy knew this when he enlisted.”
Forte (podium): “He was a bright young man”
“Our family is overwhelmed by the number of people who have come to this memorial service,” said speaker Virginia “Ginny” Douglas, the late Corporal Joy’s sister. She thanked Assemblyman Kevin Cahill’s office for helping to organize the event, also local veterans’ organizations for their participation.
A United States flag, 20 feet by 30 feet, was presented and donated to Ulster Hose Company 5 in Kingston, in honor of Corporal Joy. Douglas explained that the gesture was made in reciprocation to a flag donated at the time of Joy’s death.
“That flag flown over the headquarters of 2nd Battalion, 26th Marines, at Phu Bai, during the war,” Douglas noted.
Joy was the recipient of the Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.
For more info, visit www.virtualwall.org/dj/JoyCJ01a.htm
