JAMES LOTT
CHU-LAI '67
The sun rose golden bright
Reflecting upon
The turquoise blue China Sea
Washing upon
The sand red-tinted white
Vandalised by barbed wire, sunken trenches, and
stark bunkers.
Written in 1967 by James Lott
Corporal Jim Lott was a New Zealander who's father had been a US Marine during WWII stationed in New Zealand. Jim and his brother Gary, and a friend Mike Golaboski (also a Kiwi and the son of a WWII Marine), joined the US Marines together and served in Vietnam at the same time. Gary as a Grunt at Khe Sahn, Mike as a Mechanic with an A4 Skyhawk Squadron (VMA 311, VMA 121, VMA 211) at Chu-Lai; and Jim as an Air Controller; also at Chu-Lai.
Mike Golaboski now lives on Great Barrier Island in the Hauraki Gulf, and Gary lives in Auckland. Jim Lott was Killed in Action on the 8th May 1968 when the control tower received a direct hit. He was posthumously awarded the US Navy Commendation Medal and the Purple Heart.
from
'The Vietnam Scrapbook'
by Mike Subritzky