Vietnam Memorial

A Tribute to Our Lost Brothers

For many of us the name Vietnam means little more than a far-away Asian land where a war was

fought and Americans were involved. The war has been the subject of songs as well as several

movies, such as "Platoon." But to many of us, Vietnam and the whole area of the 60's is

something remote and increasingly unimportant for us as time passes. But to us at Father Judge,

that cannot be the case.

Outside, by the front doors of the school, stands a granite monument dedicated to the memory of

the 27 young Judge Alumni who gave their lives serving in Vietnam. The names and graduation

years of the brave men are inscribed on the stone. As the song goes, they were just 19 -- those 27

young men. Those 27 men have left us a legacy we are privileged to share.

Who were these young men we honor today? Where were they from? What did they do? And

what was the war they became a tragic part of?

To begin with, they were people like ourselves. They were from Mayfair, Tacony and

Holmesburg. They went to our grade schools and were from our parishes. They walked the same

hallways, sat through JUG just like us. They used the same auditorium and even had some of the

same teachers we have now. Both of our worlds, in some ways, were very much alike but, in

other ways, it was radically different.

The young men of Judge who fought and died in Vietnam were real people with real histories

and backgrounds. We should take it upon ourselves to keep them in our hearts and memories,

and live the legacy that they left behind.

All totaled, Father Judge High School lost 27 alumni in the eight years of the Vietnam War. The

school holds the singular distinction of having the most number of alumni killed of any Catholic

high school in the United States, a distinction we proudly possess because it shows the bravery

and honor of these young men. However, we also recognize that with this distinction comes the

responsibility of remembering and honoring those who have died so that the lessons of Vietnam

may not be lost on us or on future generations.

The clothing and personal effects of a Philadelphia KIA will go to the 25th Infantry Division

Association to be displayed in their museum. This is only the second set of gear like this that

they have been given for display. The event will be at 10 AM on Friday, May 2nd, 2003 at the

Philadelphia, VARO in the "Royal Simms Conference Room.

Butch Sincock of the 25th Div. can be reached at phone number: 215-248-2572 (office) and 215-

880-1919 (cell).

The veteran's name is: 1st Lt. John M. O'Farrell. He was with Co. B, 2nd Battalion, 22nd

Infantry, 25th Infantry Div. He was KIA 1-14-69 on a road clearing mission outside DauTieng,

Vietnam. His decorations include 2 Silver Stars, 3 Bronze stars with "V', 1 Purple Heart, 1 CIB,

1 Army Commendation Medal with "V", Paratrooper Wings, Vietnam Service, Vietnam

Campaign, National Defense and the Croix De Gier rope unit citation. He went to and graduated

from Father Judge High School in Philadelphia.

Remember the 27

A Tribute to Our Lost Brothers

Raymond Ahern '65 Leonard Albany '64

John Bense '63 William Brown '62

William Carpenter '66 Fergus Carroll '66

Patrick Corcoran '68 Michael Giannini '61

Joseph Gradel '64 Clement Grassi '64

Donald Hertrich '66 Ronald Iller '64

Francis Kane '67 Michael Kilderry '64

Thomas Killion '67 Bernard Kissel '64

Michael Koper '64 John Lyons '66

Stephen Miller '63 Philip O 'Connell '60

John O 'Farrell '64 Joseph Pelligrino '61

William Schussler '67 James Snock '65

George Townsend '66 Michael Vitale '66

Edward Zackowski '66

The Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial