By William Tauro
This past Monday September 17th a ceremony took place honoring the 50th anniversary of PFC RONALD J POINTER’S ultimate sacrifice to his country In the Quan Tri Province In Vietnam.
PFC Pointer died saving lives and he is buried In the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Somerville .
Ken Manzi played TAPS at the ceremony in full military uniform honoring PFC Pointer.
About PFC Ronald J. Pointer:
Ronald, the grandson of Caroline Sasso of Somerville MA, the son of William Pointer deceased, and the son of Louise Pointer of Waltham MA enlisted in the US Marine Corps on February 6, 1967 in Boston MA. He arrived in Vietnam on April 17, 1968 assigned to Company H BLT 2/26 9th MAB FMFPAC.
During Operation LANCASTER II, in Hoang Hoa District of Quang Tri Province in the vicinity of LZ Margo the BLT 2/26 CP (Command Post) was hit with 60 rounds of 60mm and 82mm mortar fire, small arms fire was also exchanged by the Marines and enemy force before the NVA withdrew. Thirteen Marines were wounded and PFC Pointer was killed as a result of multiple fragmentation wounds by the hostile mortar fire.
MY NAME IS DONNA M. TARTAGLIA…MAIDEN NAME :
DONNA MARIE POINTER. I AM RONNIE’S YOUNGER SISTER. I FREQUENTLY LOOK AT RONNIE’S SITE AND CAME ACROSS
THE ARTICLE IN THE S.N.W.BLOG. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE
THE PAIN OUR FAMILY EXPEARANCED WHEN MY BROTHER RONNIE’S LIFE WAS VIOLENTLY TAKEN FROM AT A VERY YOUNG AGE. I WAS 13 YRS.OLD WHEN HE DIED AND YET
I THOUGHT HOW COULD THE GOVERMENT SEND YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN OFF TO WAR AND YET THEY WERE
NOT OF LEGAL AGE TO PURCHASE LIQUAR.
I KNOW HOWEVER, THAT THEIR WILL SOON COME A DAY
WHEN WE WILL NOT HEAR REPORTS OF WAR , OR ANY FORM OF INJUSTICE. NEVER AGAIN WILL FAMILIES HAVE
TO SAY GOODBYE TO THEIR SON’S OR DAUGHTER’S
PRAYING THAT THEY BE SAFE AND HOME AGAINS SOON.
I WISH NOW THAT THEIR WOULD BE NO NEED TO
HONOR THE DEATH OF SOMEONE WHO DIED AS A
RESULT OF WARFARE. UNTIL THAT TIME ARRIVES
I AM AFRAID THAT OTHERS WILL EXPEARANCE
THE AGONY OF LOSING A LOVED ONE IN SUCH A CRUEL WAY. THOSE DEAR ONES THAT GAVE THEIR LIFE SO OTHERS COULD HOPEFULLY LIVE IN “PEACE” , MAY THEY CONTINUE TO BE KEPT SAFE IN GOD’S MEMORY .
TO RONNIE WHO LIVES ON IN MY HEART
FOREVER AND ALWAYS. 💕