Retired Steelworker and a Marine for ten years And I see them when I least expect it, one wear a cap saying Vietnam Veteran, another might have a patch on a jacket saying Veteran of World War II or Korea. Many will have a patch saying "veteran" of the war they were part of. Another might seem like he is older than his years.
I remember as a 6 year old awaking in the middle of the night to screams in Spanish by a Marine, "Those carbon's napponese have broken through our lines! Get that SOB!!!" Then one my uncles went to that Marine and told him, "It's all right brother, you’re in my house, safe."
And I see them when I least expect it, one wear a cap saying Vietnam Veteran, another might have a patch on a jacket saying Veteran of World War II or Korea. Many will have a patch saying "veteran" of the war they were part of. Another might seem like he is older than his years.
I remember as a 6 year old awaking in the middle of the night to screams in Spanish by a Marine, "Those cabron napponese have broken through our lines! Get that SOB!!!" Then one my uncles went to that Marine and told him, "It's all right brother, you’re in my house, safe."
Years later, I would understand the why of it all. My thoughts are of Marines walking in column and my orders to spread it out because the herd mentality had taken over, one mine might take out several.
Days on end, you were living for that moment, because a few moments later, you might be vaporized by a shu-mine. You couldn't even think about living day to day, it was madness.
Yeah, I seen them!
And I see them in all that served in any war. Death has always been by our side. After a while you became hard, in the sense that you couldn't get tight to anybody.
We were a platoon of some 30 or more Marines, when we should have had 52 or more, whose thoughts were of surviving. It meant doing all you could to help everybody, but you couldn't get tight with just one Marine.
If he was to die, it might drive you insane in a world of insanity. But hasn't it always been that way in every war?
Yeah, I seen them!
Marching in different parades, and they're might proud of the service. They did but they might never talk to just anybody about what they did in any war, because it's not talk for polite company.
Yeah, I seen them!
Rendering honors to other veterans at their funerals. And I know what they're thinking, “Will mine be next funeral?“
Yeah, I seen them!
At the VA, some missing limbs, others not able to walk are in wheel chairs, some being pushed by another veteran, because we understand what cause their injuries.
Slowly they are leaving us and the nation hardly notices their passing...
Yeah! I seen them!
When a widow gets an American Flag as tribute to their service.