JOHN FRANCIS FRANCAVILLA


LCPL - E3 - Marine Corps - Regular
19 year old Single, Caucasian, Male
Born on Jun 24, 1948
From RENTON, WASHINGTON
His tour of duty began on Dec 08, 1967
Casualty was on Apr 09, 1968
in QUANG TRI, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
ARTILLERY, ROCKET, or MORTAR
Body was recovered
Religion
ROMAN CATHOLIC

Panel 49E - - Line 1


Renton High News
May 3, 1968

The  War in Viet Nam  gains new identity with every   article   written  about  it,  every  peace march that is made and with the death of each soldier.

Each month  the War touches closer  to home.  In  April a  Renton  Marine,  Lance  Corporal John  Francavilla  was  killed near  Khe Sanh. LCpl. Francavilla, a 1967 graduate of Renton High, entered the Marines in June.  During his service in Viet Nam he had been eligible for two Purple Hearts.

Like many other  soldiers the war  had become his responsibility and  he saw disgust in  the  way people  showed disrespect for  the United States,  when so  many  men  are dying to keep  it free.  The  following poem was written by  LCpl.  Francavilla in dedication  to all U.S. soldiers who have died in Wars:

THE IMMORTALS

The Crosses stand so straight and tall,
Almost as if nothing happened at all.
I stand here looking all around,
Thinking of the brave men, in this hallowed ground.

Yet why have they died is your question, in mind,
Why did they leave all their loved ones behind?
What thing in man made him come here?
When he still looked forward to many good years.

Perhaps for his Country.
Perhaps for his God.

Additional Poems Written by John F. Francavilla
Given to HM3 David M. "Doc" Steinberg by John's father.


THE GREEN FIELD

The Green Field where the white cross is
Where the mother cries, where her only son dies
She is down by his grave weeping with tears
Wishing she was back in the good old years
When her son was a baby and said his first words
When he always got in mischief and pulled girls hair.
When his first pet was run over I remember - how he cried
He said he would remember that pet till the day he died
And now he is dead during a careless war
But as long as I know he did good deeds I will not grieve needlessly.
.
MY ENEMY

He's famous for the agony he gives
Death he breathes on all that lives
He always hits and runs
The name of my enemy is - Viet Cong.

He's very good in jungle war
Fires several shots and he's there no more
He tries to gain the element of surprise
This is how our soldiers die.

Suddenly he's not so good
Suddenly he doesn't surprise like he should
Something's wrong with my enemy
Or is it because he has met his first U.S. Marines.
.
TO MY COUNTRY

My Country, My Country
You mean so much to me
Yet there are no words
That can express my love for thee.

My Country, My Country
I would gladly die for you
I only wish that there -
Was more that I could do.

My Country, My Country
You give me such pride
You make me understand
Why so many men have died.

My Country, My Country
It hurts me inside to see
The disrespect people show you
When so many fought and
Died to keep you free.
My Country, My Country
I do love you
And to show you my great love
I'll lay my life down for you.
.

LCpl. Francavilla's name is currently aboard the Stardust spacecraft, launched Feb. 7, 1999, which visited Comet Wild-2 (pronounced Vildt-2) in 2004.  Stardust spacecraft is now returning to planet earth for recovery on 15 January 2006.  You may read more on this project here.

Comments
KAREN WALTERS
He was a friend of my Daddy.
504 SE 121st ave #194
Vancouver, WA98683 USA

From what I have learned about him, John was one of those who was liked by everyone.  He was in my dad's class in school, Renton High School class of 1967.  They had some classes together and my dad liked him very much.  They both joined the Marine Corps.  Because of the Sullivan Act, Dad wasn't allowed to go to Vietnam.  This is why he didn't realize John had passed away until I found this site on the Web.  It saddened him to find out that a fine young man like John had to die.  Like they say, the good die young.  I wish I had met him.  He had a very sweet face, like one of those guys you can't help but like.  If there is anyone out there with some info on John please e-mail me; I am trying to put together a page for him.  He was a brave man who no doubt faced some terrible things I can't even begin to imagine.  Some people say it doesn't hurt to be dead. I think it does, otherwise, why do we cry?
Monday, September 18, 2000

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