Sylvester Land was born on July 20, 1943. A native of Elizabeth, NJ, he lived most of his life in Roselle, NJ. His home of record is Roselle, NJ. He was a graduate of Lincoln School and Abraham Clark High School in Roselle, where he was an end on the football team.
Prior to entering the US Marine Corps in August 1963, he was employed by Allen Industry in Rahway, NJ.
He was assigned to the Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division where he attained the rank of Sergeant (SGT).
On March 16, 1967, at the age of 23, Sylvester was killed in action when he sustained multiple fragmentation wounds from a hostile explosive device.
Sylvester, “Ves” as we called him, shared a summer playground assistant’s job while in high school with my other brother, George. One day while he was home on leave, Ves, George, James and myself, formed the whole defensive backfield for the Plainfield Red Oaks semi-pro football team in a game in Mt. Vernon, NY.
Sylvester, along with Jo Jo Calvin, Elsworth (Ackie) Boss and Patrick Loodhalt, entered the Marine Corps in 1963, under the buddy plan where they trained together in the same platoon at Paris Island. They were later followed by Moses (Mickey) Stratford, Otis (Pee Wee) Phipen, Kenneth (Dirt man) Johnson, Butch Shell, Melvin (Buggy) Hall and Mikey Jinkins all from the Borough of Roselle.
Jar Heads, the term given for moving along with the grunts, was what we used to call them. Sylvester and I discussed Vietnam before he left. My argument was that the United States was acting like an Imperialist Power taking over for a colonialist power. The French interfering with, and controlling, a third world nation.
Sylvester truly believed he was going over to Vietnam to save the free world from communist expansion. Sylvester was in the 1st Division, 9th Marines (The Walking Dead) who were given the job of guarding the air bases in the far north of Vietnam near the DMZ. A tough task in a limited war with a very high casualty rate.
Written by Jesse Land, brother
May 1999
The following poem was written by Jesse Land:
INNOCENCE
In inexperience of youth spirit soar
With the teenage love of country dream
Innocence the first casualty of war
For God and country a winning team
Put into position to be killed or kill
While war makers are safe and unsound
Giving praise and medals to them with skill
The overall meaning can be profound
Youngsters watching their friends die
Rewarded with a post traumatic stress
Nightmares giving a vivid picture why
Only to fellow travelers can they confess
Stuck at the pearly gate to heaven
Saying I done served my time in hell
Being number ten trying to roll seven
Still beautiful souls sad tales to tell
It takes the wise to honor a hurt brother
Who served time on the frontline
Hearing things you can’t tell mother
Putting pressure on the gasket of the mind
Some appreciate what you been through
In a political conflict told not to win
Revealing flaw in red, white and blue
A state of being that’s hard to comprehend
Folks back in the states having some fun
While some step forward doing their duty
Patrolling the jungle with a big old gun
Hoping not to get shot in the booty
All in the name of the domino theory
Cause super powers can’t afford to fight
So it is left to the innocent and weary
With time gone by look back at it right
It was another time in a different day
Ho Chi Min was just doing his job
In his shoes you would do it his way
Outside powers came to loot and rob
Great people came in all shades
Many of them wearing military green
The story of our times seldom fades
History changes by what we say and mean
I bring it up again so we may never forget
The meaning behind the names on the Wall
To accept the facts without any regret
For the sacred brave who answered the call
Town where I grew up was Jarhead city
With an unusual amount of Gung Ho
Where folks got down to the nitty gritty
Saying Semper Fi will help me grow
Young men who went down to Parris Island
Jo Jo, Ackey, Pat and Ves on the buddy plan
Mickey, Mikey, and Juice said make me a man
Pelly, Brown, Gene and Buggy took a stand
Dirt, Collie, Butch and Egg all enlisted
Another Butch, Page and PeeWee close-fisted
Sherman, Freddie and George D said yes I can
They all looked up to my brother Ves Land
We all do what’s needed worrying later
Among many of you who paid your dues
In many minds eye there are few greater
America right or wrong we must choose
If you served your time, you deserve praise
A message from the head and the heart
Every life has some good and bad days
Where strong willed loyalty played a part
In war that was life and death for real
When youthful pride had a renaissance
There is no apology in how people feel
For God and country, we lose innocence
It Still Hurts
Sources: Jesse Land (brother), Roger Liggon (veteran) and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024
