Jerry Fields

I never met Jerry but he had a special place in my mother's heart. You see, Jerry never had a family other than several foster homes and placements that never seemed to work out. All he had that was a constant was a social worker named Naomi Norris Murphy, my Mom!

If not for a visit to my home in Virginia in 1990 I might have never heard about Jerry. Mom had to go to the Wall, just as everyone does who has a loved one's name listed there. After asking me to find Jerry's name for her I was more than suprised when, as she approached the Wall, tears began to form in her eyes and she said as she cried "Poor little boy - I never found anyone to love you!!"

The years have passed but Jerry has never left my thoughts, especially the day Mom passed away three years ago. You see, Jerry was Black and I am white, Jerry didn't have a family and I did, Jerry died in Vietnam while I served my time stateside, but we both shared my Mom.

They are together in heaven and it gives me a warm feeling. You see, Mom was wrong about one thing: there was one person who loved Jerry and now there are two.

I have located Jerry Fields' grave ... he rests today in Lebanon, Kentucky.

Jerry, it's been 35 years since you passed on. I just wanted you to know I have contacted several of the Marines you served with and they all talk kindly of you. Goes to show you that it's not how long you live but the number of people you touch in the time you are here. Tell Mom, Dad and Mike I'm doing fine and think of all of you each and every day.