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I wanted to start this page in honor to all the Veterans who have been able to let out some of their
experiences
of war in their arts of communication. It is first in honor of a brave and
close friend who let me
read his poems. He had given me his papers, and “life happened” and I
only saw him for a
brief moment after that. I have long since moved away from that area and he has disappeared for any
intents and purposes. So, Cliff, to you and all veterans, this page is dedicated.
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‘Just a
Simple Soldier’ (excerpt from the Deming Headlight 9-21-01, submitted by Rev. Roger
G. Johnson) He was getting old and paunchy, and his hair was
falling fast, and he sat around the legion, telling stories of the past. Of a
war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done. In his exploits
with his buddies; they were heroes every one. And ‘tho
sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke, all his buddies
listened, for they knew whereof he spoke. But we’ll hear his tales no longer,
for ol’ Bob has passed away, and the world’s a
little poorer, for a Soldier died today. He won’t be mourned by many, just
his children and his wife, for he lived an ordinary, very quiet sort of life.
He held a job and raised a family, quietly going on his way; and the world
won’t note his passing, ‘tho a Soldier died today.
When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state, while thousands
mourn their passing, and proclaim that they were great. Papers tell of their
stories, from the time that they were young, but the passing of a Soldier,
goes unnoticed, and unsung. Is the greatest contribution, to the welfare of
our land, some jerk who breaks his promise, and cons
his fellow man? Or the ordinary fellow, who in time of war and strife, goes
off to serve his country and offers up his life? The politicians
stipend and the style in which he lives, are sometimes disproportionate, to
the service that he gives. It’s so easy to forget them, for it is so long
ago, that our bobs and Jims and Johnnys, went to
battle, but we know. It was not the politicians, with their compromise and
ploys, who won for us the freedom, that our country
now enjoys. Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand,
would you really want some cop-out, with his ever waffling stand? Or would
you want a Soldier, who has sworn to uphold and defend, his home, his kin,
and country, and would fight until the end? He was just a common Soldier, and
his ranks are growing thin, but his presence should remind us, we may need
his like again. For when countries are in conflict, the(n)
we find the Soldier’s part, is to clean up all the troubles, that the
politicians start. If we cannot do him honor, while he’s here to hear the
praise, then at least let’s give him homage, at the
ending of his days. Perhaps just a simple headline, in the paper that might
say: “Our Country is in Mourning, for a Soldier Died Today.” |
Send your work to webmaster@vfw1477.org and a short
paragraph about yourself if you wish. This page and it’s
links are for you.
The VFW and VFW Post 1477
assume no responsibility for the content submitted by contributors to the page
and related links.
NOTE Some submissions may be
graphic in nature, but then so is war!
| Lester "DOC" Forsythe Poems from a Viet Nam Special Operations Officer |
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Poems from a Mekong
River rat |