PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Jerry Tempesta survived the Vietnam War — but just barely. On April 2, 1970, he was shot in the head during the Battle of Renegade Woods.
Tempesta was a 21-year-old infantryman, sent to Renegade Woods to rescue a unit of Army Rangers who had come under attack. He recalled the gunfire and deaths Monday at a rain-soaked Memorial Day commemoration at Philadelphia’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Society Hill.
“As soon as we walked into the hedgegrove area, we were opened up on with machine gun fire, small arms fire,” he said. “The point man in the right column, where I was at, was immediately killed. My platoon leader who was in front of me was shot in the stomach. I got him and shielded him and dragged him out of harm’s way. Eventually, I got shot in the head, pulled out a hand grenade and took out the machine gun that took out all the people in my platoon.”
Tempesta recovered. He had a career at the Navy Yard, and now he enjoys retirement in South Philadelphia. He comes to the annual ceremony to pay his respects to his fellow veterans.
The event is one of the city’s largest Memorial Day gatherings, packed with veterans who survived and the families and friends of those who did not. Marie Garvin says it’s always a bittersweet moment for her.
“I didn’t want to be here this morning, but I’m happy to be here,” she said.
On the veterans memorial wall is the name of her first husband, James J. Morrisey. He was killed in action in Vietnam.
“And the fellow that was with him the night he died, if he hadn’t identified Jim’s body, he would have been considered missing in action because he wasn’t … it was just the remains that came home,” Garvin said.
It still hurts, even though she found happiness with another veteran, Bill Garvin, her husband of 53 years. But she keeps Morrisey’s memory alive, as do many other families and friends, with loved ones' names on the wall that frames the wreath-laying and speeches at the annual ceremony. Behind each one, heartache and healing.