John and Jimmy

this seems very personal, as in he might have known those guys himself: "Yeah I'm still playing in that stupid band". They went off to war, it seems, and they used to know eachother quite well, and Jeff is sorta reminiscing?

I believe this song is how although Jhon & Jimmy are the pride of the town

(Neighbor boy, fathers pride & newspaper)

the narrator is questioning the war but doesn't want to offend them(i bite my tongue).

Also seems to me like he feels somewhat below John & jimmy

"while i was back home safe and clean. john and jimmy...say a prayer for us...the passive sinners."

but realizes that they are both working towards a goal

'cause we all do what we gotta do, boys we're all doign whatever we can.))

does anyone know what the "234" is referencing? i see there is a 234th signal battalion that includes a good portion of soldiers from marshalltown, but can't be sure that's it.

I think Millz is right. I'd say that they're soldiers obviously, and he feels like they've earned something more than he has because they've been there and seen the horrors of war. He's safe and clean but by sitting idle while it goes on he's more of a "passive" sinner whereas they play the active role. I think that ultimately the "goal" that Millz is talking about is one of a "victory" in a world where he can rail against active and passive sinning. That he's kind of realized that it's not entirely beyond him and by making music to bring light to these issues, he's doing his part.

something along the lines of "i wouldn't ever fight that stupid war and nobody should, but you're back and are supposed to be respected, so here it goes...

I know Jimmy, he is the lunch lady's son at Marshalltown High School, the song is about Jeff opening the paper and seeing him holding a gun in Iraq...