jahhead88
09-14-07, 11:17 PM
To those of on this forum that served in Vietnam. I officially want to say thank you. I know as a VA employee, I am part of a system that has caused a lot of heartache for veterans, but know this, I do care. I made this up off the top of my head.
I'm more than a name;
on the Vietnam Wall.
I was someone's brother or sister;
their husband, their wife; their love, their all.
I once had hopes and dreams;
I wanted to have a family,
a house with a picket fence.
I died in a far away land;
So you could have those things in my place.
I once had fears;
I worried about the one's I left behind.
They called me a mindless killer;
with thoughts of my future running through my mind.
I was the kid you went to school with;
I was your college roommate.
I received my draft notice;
I went because that was how I was raised.
I went to Vietnam;
I did what I was asked to do.
My friends came home and were spat on;
by those that said they cared.
I died in the rice paddies and jungles;
I guess you could say I was spared.
I didn't have to deal with nightmares;
and being called a killer.
I did not know PTSD; or the frustration of getting adequate treatment
at the VA.
Many years later;
my name was put upon the Wall.
My friends began to heal;
and felt they could stand tall.
Some cruel heart decides to act out;
and deface the Vietnam Wall.
Names are erased.
Yet despite this action;
the undisputed gall.
You can't erase what I stood for;
for what I gave my all.
My brothers and sisters will fight for me;
they will once again stand tall.
And restore the sacredness;
of the Vietnam Wall.
Semper Fi. and thank you for those that went to Vietnam, and for those that have their names on the Vietnam wall.
I'm more than a name;
on the Vietnam Wall.
I was someone's brother or sister;
their husband, their wife; their love, their all.
I once had hopes and dreams;
I wanted to have a family,
a house with a picket fence.
I died in a far away land;
So you could have those things in my place.
I once had fears;
I worried about the one's I left behind.
They called me a mindless killer;
with thoughts of my future running through my mind.
I was the kid you went to school with;
I was your college roommate.
I received my draft notice;
I went because that was how I was raised.
I went to Vietnam;
I did what I was asked to do.
My friends came home and were spat on;
by those that said they cared.
I died in the rice paddies and jungles;
I guess you could say I was spared.
I didn't have to deal with nightmares;
and being called a killer.
I did not know PTSD; or the frustration of getting adequate treatment
at the VA.
Many years later;
my name was put upon the Wall.
My friends began to heal;
and felt they could stand tall.
Some cruel heart decides to act out;
and deface the Vietnam Wall.
Names are erased.
Yet despite this action;
the undisputed gall.
You can't erase what I stood for;
for what I gave my all.
My brothers and sisters will fight for me;
they will once again stand tall.
And restore the sacredness;
of the Vietnam Wall.
Semper Fi. and thank you for those that went to Vietnam, and for those that have their names on the Vietnam wall.