HEROES

Heroes, it is said, are not born but are made.
Veterans become heroes by choice instead.
They choose to give freedom, but pay a dear price.
They pay with their blood, their tears, and often their life.

These brave men and women go where most wouldn't dare.
They go into battle and face horrors of which few are aware.
They then return home to a new, more difficult war.
A war which haunts them and shakes them to the core.

Returning warriors become heroes as they deal with this beast.
As they fight, and struggle, and take ground through the mist.
The grey mist called PTSD, would stop most in their tracks.
But courage and perseverance are qualities no Veteran lacks.

So, my dear hero, as you wage this new war.
Remember, dear one, just what you're fighting for.
You're fighting to live, to love, and to find light,
You're fighting for hope, laughter, and all that is right.

Written by Brannan Vines
(Brannan@VietnamVeteranWives.org)

On Eagles Wings

An Eagle flew into my dreams last night...
On mighty wings we two took flight.

Soaring free up in the sky, we touched the clouds...
This friend and I.

Higher and Higher we did soar...
Freedom and peace was mine once more.

He showed me visions of what could be...
The choice he said, was up to me.

We flew once more around the sun...
A bright new journey now begun.

An eagle flew into my dreams last night...
On his wings I saw Spirits Light.


D.A. Claudio
Copyright 2003

For Memories

Go!
Go my child.
Go into the world.
Find all the knowledge that you can
devour each book that comes your way.
Store in your mind.
But, save a corner of that mind
For memories
Of the things you say and do.
Then one day in winter’s chill
You may sit before a fire
Open that corner of your mind
As if it were a book.
Recall the things you said and did
And Laugh at the fool you were.
Then as a tear comes to your eye
Say,“Yes’

For more information on the works by Don Laura Yates, or how to obtain the entire collection of For Memories. She can be contacted at the following e-mail address.

Don Laura Yates
l_yates@sbncglobal.net

You Waited

He went off to war and left you waiting here,
With the heartaches, the worries, the pain and the fear.
Not knowing if you would ever see him again,
You stood bravely as he boarded his plane.
You held him close as you said your goodbyes,
Then averted your face to hide the pain in your eyes.
You returned back home with heart of lead.
Not wanting to face that cold empty bed,
Where, in his arms you used to sleep.
Then you broke down and began to weep.
You anxiously waited for the postman to come,
With that letter from your dearest loved one.
Waiting each day, slowly going insane,
Wanting his arms to hold you again.
All through that wait, you endured the pain,
Hoping 'gainst hope that it wasn't in vain.
Finally he returns and is safe at home,
Promising you never more will he roam.
Back in your arms and safe at last,
That awful waiting is now in the past.
Now the waiting is over but the memories remain,
And every so often they haunt you again.
All you who waited, stand tall, walk proud,
You too are heroes, standing out from the crowd.
You stayed faithful, loyal and true,
So here is my tribute, just to you.

28 July 1998
For my dear friend Sharon (TShooters) and all who like her endured the agony of waiting for their man to come home from war.

Lee O'Neill
uruz@downunder.net.au

MY SOLDIER CAME HOME FROM NAM

My soldier came home from Nam.
The memory of that hellish war still haunts him thirty years later.
The scenes of blood and gore still invade his mind.
He remembers seeing dead comrades in body bags.
He helped count the dead and load them onto the noisy choppers.
The sound of the choppers has never left his mind.
The smell of the dead has never left his senses.

My soldier came home from Nam.
There are memories of many sleepless nights spent guarding the platoon,
His sleep a restless one,
The slightest sound in the bush a cause for terror.
Once home, he continued to jump at noises in the night.
I could not comfort him as he lay cradled in my arms

My soldier came home from Nam.
The days were long and hot in the field.
The rainy season was wet and dirty.
The sound of rain brings unpleasant thoughts,
as he recalls a unquenchable thirst,
the polluted springs,
canteens filled with rain

My soldier came home from Nam.
His many medals given for courage mock his survival.
My soldier came home with the killer instinct still in his veins,
with anger in his heart.
His anger from the forgotten war still stews in a porridge of pain.

By Mary Lou Adams, Copyrighted
marylou_adams@msn.com

The Final Inspection

The soldier stood and faced God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as brightly as his brass

"Step Forward Now, You Soldier
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek
To the Church have you been true?

The Soldier squared his shoulders and said,
"No Lord, I guess I ain't because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a Saint.

I've had to work most Sundays
And at times my talk was tough
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep....
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep,

And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here,
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears

If you've a place for me here,
Lord, It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't I'll understand."

There was a silence all around the Throne
Where the Saints had often trod
As the soldier waited quietly
For the Judgment of his God

"Step forward now, you soldier,
You've borne your burdens well,
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."

To all who have served their country
Wayne Gunter

A SOLDIER'S PAIN

The pain of a thousand
Veterans in my ears,
Paltalk brings me
To tears----------

Wanting to share
Wanting to care

As if tears can wash
Away the ravages of war

Gone to serve
Gone to say an oath.
To serve God and Country.

Not wanting to die-
But suffering worse-
To live when close
Friends die instead.

Bitter feelings of
Coming home.
Of why me not him?
Then the country
Turning Treason on Vets
Who served proudly.

Wondering
Wondering.
Confusion!

Anger with our
Country and our people
Who forced us T
o go to war.
Who drafted us
Into service, then rejected us
For serving!

Confusion!

What did we do wrong?
Serve proudly?
Yes we did!!

Fight bravely?
Yes we did!!
We are the proud.
We are the ones.

Our country has broken us
Even when the enemy
Could not.
We were defeated, not by Vietnam
But by the USA.

We were defeated
By our own family,
Friends, loved ones

And all those who
Did not support us
Like Hanoi Jane Fonda!

You broke our hearts
And our minds.
Our bodies
And our spirits---
More than the bullets
Killed us on the battlefield.
Your words and actions
Killed us
When we returned to you.

You spat on us!!

You rejected us!!

Then accepted with honor
Those who ran to Canada
To avoid duty.

You took our honor
And gave it to traitors!!
And
Gave us shame!!

Through our depression
A strange thing happened.

We awoke---
This sleepy thing
Called Veterans

And we united.
All Branches of service
Blended
Together as one.

As an armed forces combined.
To give comfort
And caring and sharing.

We will overcome!
We will be proud!
We will hold our heads high!

Through our shame we have arisen!
And
As a force of one army
We shall change
People!
We shall change
Thoughts!

We shall defeat all those
Who tried to shame us.

We stand proud
And say this to our Country----

You have stained the flag
With the blood of our fallen Brothers and Sisters!
You have made Veterans take their own lives
After they returned home!

Their blood is on your hands now.

Because when you shame us----
You also shame yourselves Because,
my friends-
We are you!!

We are your Sons and Daughters
Your Grandsons and Granddaughters
We are your Aunts and your Uncles
We are your Cousins
We are your Brothers and Sisters
We are your Loved Ones.

We are in essence
YOU

Now who has the shame?
Now who has the pain?
Not us!
We finally hold our heads high
And say proudly to you---

Yes we are Vietnam Veterans!!!

We are the ones
Who fought the fight!
We never ran
We never crawled away----
Even though, by God,
sometimes we wanted to
We tasted fear---
As all soldiers do
We overcame our enemies over there
And now

We will overcome You.

Perhaps if only one thing happens
From this
event And then we will be proud of America.

May America never again be ashamed
Of her Vets who proudly
Served and Died.

But more importantly----
May the Vets who proudly
Served and Died
For their Country
NEVER AGAIN BE ASHAMED OF THEIR OWN COUNTRY AMERICA!!!!

Rich Young - Aka Guncarver on Paltalk
Guncarver@cableone.net
Guncarver@Hotmaiil.com
Vietnam Veteran ----- Proudly Served USN 1967-68 TET Clarkston, Wa. 20001