"
roar
And Frankie kicked a mine the day that mankind kicked the moon
God help me - he was goin' home in
Since the moon landing was on the 20th of July, the line, "And Frankie kicked a mine the day that mankind kicked the moon."
Therefore we assume his friend died on the day that mankind touched the moon.
In the next line it mentions that "he was going home in june" therefore Frankie was 11 months was away from going home.