Remember Our POW/MIA
Poetry Written By and For Veterans
          Poetry Written By and For Veterans





          A HOT DAY IN MAY

          I was twenty or twenty-one
          When Uncle Sam said you're the one

          It was a hot day in May
          The farmers were planting hay

          I checked the mail, the letter came
          and suddenly life was not the same
          You see they had my name

          I looked at the letter and it was
          addressed to who I am
          It said you're going to the Nam

          I had just gotten out of school and was
          planning my future while in the swimming pool

          I had an idea I and a bunch would go
          The letter was just a little slow

          It was a hot day in May,
          The farmers were planting hay

          The longer I read the letter
          I did not feel any better
          I had that queasy feeling
          My head it was a reeling

          Finally in disgust I said dang
          However, the letter said no,
          you're going to DaNang

          I could go or I could run
          Uncle Sam said you better not run or clammer
          I can give you three hots and a cot
          In the slammer.

          I decided to go rather than stay,
          It was, after all my patriotic duty
          It was a hot day in May,
          The farmers were planting hay.

          It did not take long to decide to go
          I was no better than anyone else
          I had grown up as a dependent in the AF

          I went to the recruiter and said here I am
          My father was a career Air Force man,
          get me in the Air Force as quick as you can

          I told the recruiter my father was a Master Sergeant
          He said not to worry, You're a man that's fully grown
          The Air Force takes care of it's own

          It was a hot day in May
          The farmers were planting hay.

          About half way through my tour the letter came
          life was tough, hot, sticky and dreary
          I must admit I was an airman tired and weary
          Life was just the same that day until the letter came

          My father, had sent the letter
          I began to feel a little better
          I opened it with my pocket knife
          and suddenly felt a new lease on life
          I did not feel the fear,
          although I did shed a tear.

          It said, son I know what you're going through
          I've been there and done that too!
          In Korea and WW II

          He said son when the rockets and mortars come in
          say a little prayer and let the Lord come in

          Grab your flack jacket and steel pot
          and hit the dirt, hopefully in a safe spot

          Son, your mamma worries about you on and on
          so, try not to tell her all that's going on
          Try to comfort her a letter at a time
          And hopefully you will be home by Christmas time.

          It's been a year and a half since we laid him to rest
          with full military honors, he was one of the best

          Life goes on and is getting a little better
          I'm learning to live with his death but, how I miss him
          Oh Lord, I wished I had that letter.

          When I visit the grave I have no fear
          I know he's gone to his rest
          I remember the letter and shed a tear


          Written by:
          Lester C. Barnard
          Sgt, USAF
          DaNang AB, S. Vietnam
          '70 - '71
          In loving memory of my father
          H.B. Barnard, MSgt, USAF (Ret)




          Heroes Like You

          You left your mother and father,
          your family and friends
          You went and fought for freedom
          in a far off foreign land
          Though your actions were questioned,
          to your heart you were true
          God bless America and heroes like you

          Everytime I see our flag,and hear our anthem play
          I realize the sacrifice,you were all willing to pay
          A nation once divided now stands
          united through and through
          God bless America and heroes like you

          Names on a wall,statues standing tall
          The tears that fall,reminds us all

          Freedom is a gift,paid for by the courage of a few
          God bless America and heroes like you

          P.Borucki



          YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN

          by AMY GENNE'
          at the time she was only 20 years old.

          I was sitting at the railroad station waiting patiently for the next ride out.Then I noticed a man dressed in rags,wearing a worn jacket with some old medals. WHY? I thought quietly,would a man who looked so important, look so lonely and neglected? Just then I went into a dream. I dreamt I was in a land only half a world away. People were running and screaming. Men scattered about the land crying for help, but there was nothing I could do. I overheard a conversation, from one man to another."Why are we here?" he said,with a hardened painful look in his eyes."I have no idea, Sceeter, just dont die on me!" They were huddled in the bushes, bombs falling around them, guns firing. Just then it got quiet, and I felt a bit older, as I walked through this town. There were foreign people everywhere, or was I the foreigner? I saw one American carrying what looked like half a telephone pole on his shoulders, with his arms wrapped around it. He was dirty and scared like an endless tattoo. I then walked further. Looking down at my feet I saw a man in the ground with only a lid of straw. He was malnutrioned, his eyes were sunk into his head, and maggots just eating away at his skin. Still I walked on. Then I saw a small cage of bamboo, only 3ft.high and 3 ft wide. With a man inside battered. He reached out for me,I took his hand and he said "don't let them forget me!" Just then I woke up with tears in my eyes. The lonely ragged man was sitting beside me. I reached out to him, held his hand, and said
          "YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN!"

          This was dedicated to all Vietnam vets, and POW/MIA'S, where ever they may be. It was written by a daughter to let you all know. The young people do care!!!



          Vietnam

          A War that was fought far across the seas,
          for people who were oppressed,
          to help set them free.

          A lot of lives were lost which can never be explained,
          innocent people were sometimes its victim,
          but the call of freedom was just the same.

          There were no looser or winner,
          for all who fought endured pain and sorrow,
          for now the war is over we all must look toward tomorrow.

          Some returned home without a parade of glory or honor,
          they were made to feel as though they had done something wrong,
          but these were men just the same who fought to keep our country strong.

          Many years have passed,
          wounds are still on the mend.
          It will take some time for these men to forget,
          because they fought in a war that they were not allowed to win.

          Our countries have now started reconciliation,
          and some say this is very wrong,
          because it is a disgrace to those of us who did not make it home.

          The time has come for all of us to make peace within or forever be damned,
          trying to forget the war we fought in a small country called, Vietnam.

          By: SGM Walter D. Turner
          U.S. Army Retired
          109 Greenstone Drive
          St Charles, MO. 63303



          Forgotten

          When you pass me on the street
          You turn your head in fear I'll speak
          I'm a vet on your city streets
          Homeless, Hungury nothing to eat

          A past you see
          One you try to ignore
          But I'm still here, with many more

          My out stretched hand is asking of you
          Find a kind moment a dime or two

          My country forgot, but I fought for you
          And I'd do it again, for the Red, White and Blue
          Spare a moment find the time
          All I'm asking is one thin dime

          I won't beg you my pride's too strong
          I fought in Vietnam and you think thats wrong

          William Karandos
          1st Marine Division
          Vietnam 68-70






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