"Shup's Song": A Poem From a Fallen Soldier of the Korean War

Friday, June 25, 2010 marks the sixtieth anniversary of the start of the Korean War.

This week I had the blessed honor of meeting Jack Larson. Jack is best known as Jimmy Olsen to George Reeves' Superman in the classic TV Series.

Jack has lived a remarkable life. He has walked with Garbo, cried with Monroe, and lived with Monty Clift. He's an accomplished author writing librettos for some of America's greatest contemporary operas. Jack is a walking history of the generation just on the other side of WWII.

Jack's rich life is tempered by the passing of his best boyhood pal Jerry Shup, who died on a hill fighting our Korean War. When Jerry's belongings were sent home, Jack received this poem Jerry had written on the front. Jack is such a noble man. I cannot help lament the loss of the contributions his friend Jerry might have made to society.

War, no matter how advised or patriotic it may be, is one of mankind's constant flaws. Thank you, Jerry Shup; your humanity still cries out for peace.

Jun 26, 2010 | permalink | comment | subscribe via rss