In Memoriam

Dad glad wife talked him into son's trip

By Andy Smith
Staff Writer

LONDONDERRY -- Driving across country with his son last month, Peter Sora could not have imagined the two were saying goodbye.

A Navy veteran himself, Sora was well aware of the dangers his 19-year-old son would face in his new life as a Marine. But he certainly did not expect his boy to be killed two weeks later while training at Camp Pendleton in Twentynine Palms, Calif.

A graduate of Londonderry High School, Lance Cpl. Peter "P.J." Sora died Tuesday when the Humvee he was on top of as a machine gunner rolled over during a training exercise. The Marine Corps said yesterday that the accident is under investigation.

Sitting in their Anthony Drive home yesterday, Sora said it was his wife, Gail, who convinced him to drive to Twentynine Palms with their son, who couldn't bear parting with his cherished red pickup truck.

"I thank my wife for that opportunity," he said, referring to the hours of conversation he and his son shared during their journey.

As his parents exchanged stories of their late son, P.J. Sora's half sister, Melissa Macchi, 32, of Madison, Wis., assembled a photo montage of him wearing the military uniform he adored.

Sora had always wanted to serve in the Marines, and according to his mother, the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 only confirmed that desire. His half brother, Carlo Macchi, 33, was working at the World Trade Center, but was uninjured in the terrorist strike. Gail Sora said the close call left P.J. surprised "they could come that close to hurting people he knew."

"He wanted to protect the people he loved," she said.

Shortly after high school graduation in 2002 -- a month before his 18th birthday -- Sora's parents signed the forms allowing him to join the Marine Corps. He had approached them as early as age 16, but at that time, his mother said, she could not allow herself to give her "blessing."

Sora spent the fall of 2002 at the University of Southern Maine, but quickly decided it was not where he wanted to be. So in January 2003, he began boot camp at Parris Island, S.C., as a Marine reservist. That summer he worked at his father's workplace, Fireye Inc., a fire suppression equipment manufacturer in Derry.

His parents said he spent that summer feeling he was letting down the active-duty "brothers" he'd trained with. During the fall of 2003, he assisted at the Marine Corps recruiting center in Manchester, but it was not enough to satisfy his urge to serve. He filed papers that fall to go to active duty, and was formally activated March 15.

Despite showing external toughness as a wrestler at Londonderry High and a Marine, his parents said yesterday, their son was a pensive and sensitive young man. He loved his young nephews and nieces, and he loved all types of music. At Londonderry High, he played trumpet in the concert, marching, and jazz bands.

He also understood exactly what he was getting into, his mother said. And he readily admitted to a degree of fear over the possible consequences of his decision to serve. But his father said Sora knew the importance of that service.

"He joined to serve his country," his father said. "He felt if you joined for any other reason, you joined for the wrong reason."

A full military funeral will be planned for P.J. Sora, but his parents do not yet have the details.