Brother of Mine

This collage was inspired by the song Brother of Mine written by Paula Jones. Paula has been gracious to allow me to use her words to pay tribute at the Wall many times. I just wish you could hear her sing this!

Brother of Mine
It was a cold fall day, to visit you
I didn’t call ahead, no need to.
I come with pictures, flowers,
my mission and quest.
The book says your home is 15 west.
Brother of mine, I miss you so.
Reflections of your name;
I’m all grown up now, you look the same.
It’s been years without you, do cuts always heal?
If I could only tell you how I feel.
Brother of mine, I miss you so.
I feel your touch, is that you on the other side?
I touch your name, is that you calling mine?
Sometimes it seems like you’re just standing there;
looking at me, looking at you.
It was a cold fall day to visit you;
Darkness takes the sky, way too soon.
I’ll be back one day, someday , I’ll never forget!
How your hands touched mine, and spirits met.
Brother of mine, I miss you so.
I feel your touch is that you on the other side?
I touch your name, is that you calling mine?
Will I ever know why you had to go?
Brother of mine, I miss you so.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Permission granted by Paula Jones

Song Writer and Vocalist

A very short Bio

Mark grew up in South Florida in the 50's and 60's with 4 sisters and parents. He graduated from Hialeah High School in 1966 and then attended Miami Dade Junior College. Mark loved cars, music and flying. First airplanes in Opa Locka then helicopters after training in the Army. Mark left for Vietnam in September 1968. He spent 9 months flying support for the 5th Special Forces being inserted into Laos and Cambodia. Then June 16, 1969 while flying cover for a supply convoy, Mark as Aircraft Commander and Mike Mahowald , front seat gunner, were shot down between Ben Het and Dak To in the Central Highlands in Vietnam.

Did you know Mark?

Maybe you knew Mark in school or maybe you worked with him at Aerodex near Miami International Airport. Wherever you knew Mark from, maybe you have wondered about him at some point in the last 40 years.

Or maybe you have a story to tell from Vietnam or from flight school. With this blog I hope to find someone with a story or two to share so that even though Mark has been gone for almost 40 years, he will never be forgotten.