It might have been merely one photograph

in an album of long ago memories

had you not died

Instead it became the last image etched in Kodachrome

of a life cut short

for a friend who still mourns your loss

No one could know 

as you stood in that Honolulu airport 

holding the baby of a stranger

(because you were going to Vietnam for a year 

and might not get to hold a baby)

that in a few short weeks you would be killed,

ironically stabbed to death 

by one of the soldiers you had come to help

Many years after the shutter snapped shut

that photo forged a treasured bond 

between your family who had never seen it

and your friend who was finally able to give it to them

Even in death you have helped to heal the living

Thank you for posing

emily strange

© 2000

__________________

Virginia E. (Ginny) Kirsch served with the American

Red Cross as a "Donut Dollie" in Vietnam. She was killed 

August 17, 1970 in Cu Chi, RVN. Susan McLean was

her friend who took the picture during their lay over on 

the way to Vietnam.

For more of the story go to:

http://www.war-stories.com/donut-dollie-diary-ii-slook-1970.htm

OTHER INFORMATION ON THE MURDER OF GINNY KIRSCH