Sgt Joseph Anthony Bovia
Born: January 24, 1986
Died: August 31, 2010 in Helmand, Afghanistan
Sgt. Joseph A. Bovia of Kenner, Louisiana is the son of Herbert and Teresa Bovia. He is a 2004 graduate of Bonnabel High School where he was a decorated ROTC cadet. His family is no stranger to serving in the military; his grandfather, grand uncle and an uncle have all done their part. And Joseph was so eager to jump start his own military career that he asked his parents to sign for him in his senior year of high school. He did his training at Paris Island, South Carolina, before shipping out to Japan. He was currently serving in Afghanistan and had previously served two deployments to Iraq. Joey leaves his parents, Teresa Moorhead Bovia and Herbert Joseph Bovia, Jr., and a brother, Matthew Bovia. He died at age 24 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Marines
3rd Combat Assault Battalion
3rd Marine Division
III Marine Expeditionary Force
Okinawa, Japan
Burial is at Garden Of Memories in Metairie, Louisiana
To be updated…
The Sgt Joseph Anthony Bovia by Freedom Remembered, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License.
THE FINAL INSPECTION
The soldier stood and faced God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.
‘Step forward now, you soldier,
How shall I deal with you ?
Have you always turned the other cheek ?
To My Church have you been true?’
The soldier squared his shoulders and said, ‘No, Lord, I guess I ain’t.
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can’t always be a saint.
I’ve had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I’ve been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny,
That wasn’t mine to keep…
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
When the bills got just too steep.
And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear..
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I’ve wept unmanly tears.
I know I don’t deserve a place,
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fears.
If you’ve a place for me here, Lord,
It needn’t be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don’t, I’ll understand.
There was a silence all around the throne, Where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
‘Step forward now, you soldier,
You’ve borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven’s streets,
You’ve done your time in Hell.’
Author Unknown~