My name is John Stenmo. “Joey” and I served together in the Army and Vietnam together. I first met “Pops” (as he was later called) at Fort Riley, Kansas in 1966. An airmobile infantry platoon was being formed for the  9th Infantry Division’s Blackknight Cavalry Squadron. Seems as though it didn’t matter what “they” told you your job in the army was going to be, we all ended up in the infantry.

      I was saddened to hear of “Pops” passing last year. We too are still grieving the loss of Theresa, my wife of 44 years. We miss her dearly. Pops did manage to meet Theresa when we were dating sometime around 1969 when he came for a visit here in California. I’m so glad he had the privilege of meeting Theresa because I didn’t know at the time we would spend the next 48 years together.

      Pops and I spent a miserable 8 or 9 months together in Vietnam until he was transferred to the 4th infantry division in the central highlands.Physically and mentally it was tough but I never saw him falter or “drop out” like I did with some of the other guys. We spoke only once a year to “catch up.”Another friend he visited in Texas was Gilbert Miranda who we called “The Donkey.” Miranda was a career soldier who was sent back to Vietnam two more times. The “donkey" was a very good soldier when he wanted to be but he would rather hang out with us guys who just wanted to go home after our year was up. I miss Sgt. Miranda too, a brave man. We did a lot of laughing during our phone conversations about disobeying orders from the “lifers.” What penalty could be dealt us, shave our heads and send us to Vietnam? Heck, we were already there!

   Recalling our time in the military, being around nothing but young men from all walks of life, and personalities, some good and some bad, Joey never compromised his principles OR his belief in God.

   A rare quality Joey had as a friend was that he was Joey or Pops and NEVER pretended to be someone he wasn’t. He was well liked, had many friends except for those who would not respect his beliefs.      A lifelong friend, John “Johnny” Stenmo