POW/MIA Links

FROM THE OTHER SIDE By Patrick Camunes

At first there was no place for us to go until someone put up that Black Granite Wall. Now, every day and night, my Brothers and my Sisters wait to see the many people from places afar file in front of this Wall. Many stopping briefly and many for hours and some that come on a regular basis. It was hard at first, not that it's gotten any easier, but it seems that many of the attitudes towards that war that we were involved in have changed. I can only pray that the ones on the other side have learned something and more Walls as this one needn't be built. Several members of my unit and many that I did not recognize have called me to the Wall by touching my name that is engraved upon it. The tears aren't necessary but are hard even for me to hold back. Don't feel guilty for not being with me, my Brothers. This was my destiny as it is yours, to be on that side of the Wall. Touch the Wall, my Brothers, so that we can share in the memories that we had. I have learned to put the bad memories aside and remember only the pleasant times that we had together. Tell our other Brothers out there to come and visit me, not to say Good Bye but to say Hello and be together again, even for a short time and to ease that pain of loss that we all share. Today, an irresistable and loving call comes from the Wall. As I approach I can see an elderly lady and as I get closer I recognize her.......It's Momma! As much as I have looked forward to this day, I have also regretted it because I didn't know what reaction I would have. Next to her, I suddenly see my wife and immediately think how hard it must have been for her to come to this place and my mind floods with the pleasant memories of 30 years past. There's a young man in a military uniform standing with his arm around her......My God! ......It's...it has to be my son. Look at him trying to be the man without a tear in his eye. I yearn to tell him how proud I am, seeing him standing tall, straight and proud in his uniform. Momma comes closer and touches the Wall and I feel the soft and gentle touch I had not felt in so many years. Dad has crossed to this side of the Wall and through our touch, I try to convey to her that Dad is doing fine and is no longer suffering or feeling pain. I see my wife's courage building as she sees Momma touch the Wall and she approaches and lays her hand on my waiting hand. All the emotions, feelings and memories of three decades past flash between our touchand I tell her that it's alright. Carry on with your life and don't worry about me...... I can see as I look into her eyes that she hears and understands me and a big burden has been lifted from her. I watch as they lay flowers and other memories of my past. My lucky charm that was taken from me and sent to her by my CO, a tattered and worn teddy bear that I can barely remember having as I grew up as a child and several medals that I had earned and were presented to my wife. One of them is the Combat Infantry Badge that I am very proud of and I notice that my son is also wearing this medal. I had earned mine in the jungles of Vietnam and he had probably earned his in the deserts of Iraq. I can tell that they are preparing to leave and I try to take a mental picture of them together, because I don't know when I will see them again. I wouldn't blame them if they were not to return and can only thank them that I was not forgotten. My wife and Momma near the Wall for one final touch and so many years of indecision, fear and sorrow are let go. As they turn to leave I feel my tears that had not flowed for so many years, form as if dew drops on the other side of the Wall. They slowly move away with only a glance over their shoulder. My son suddenly stops and slowly returns. He stands straight and proud in front of me and snaps a salute. Something makes him move to the Wall and he puts his hand upon the Wall and touches my tears that had formed on the face of the Wall and I can tell that he senses my presence there and the pride and the love that I have for him. He falls to his knees and the tears flow from his eyes and I try my best to reassure him that it's all right and the tears do not make him any less of a man. As he moves back wiping the tears from his eyes, he silently mouths, God Bless you, Dad...... God Bless, YOU, Son...... We WILL meet someday but in the meanwhile, go on your way...... There is no hurry.......There is no hurry at all. As I see them walk off in the distance, I yell out to THEM and EVERYONE there today, as loud as I can, .........THANKS FOR REMEMBERING and as others on this side of the Wall join in, I notice that the US Flag that so proudly flies in front of us everyday, is flapping and standing proudly straight out in the wind today. THANK YOU ALL FOR REMEMBERING.........

NAM SONG

If I could take a single song And knock on heavens door. The song would tell the story Of those who went to war.

A song of sadness would I bear For him to hear me sing. I know that when he heard my song His heart would feel the sting.

A hero's welcome all received In World War one & two. Korean vets when they returned Were treated right and true.

And you all gently took them in To heal their hurts and woes. When we returned from Vietnam You crushed our very souls

The signs you carried told your side. But what gave you the right? The ones left dead or missing, That fight this countries fights?

The young men not yet 20 Who fought until their deaths? The whispered names of loved ones That were their dying breath?

The father of three children. A war so far away. The children are all grown now. But he's an M.I.A.

Our wounded, dead or missing, Were not honored like before And when we needed welcome You simply shut the door.

Vietnam we left behind For what we knew before. What we found in you my friends Was just another war.

A war with different weapons. A war we could not win. And loving God and Country Had been our only sin.

The casualities you've caused us, In suicides and insanes Has added to the coldness We all have now ingrained And now you offer me your hand. A friend? A friend indeed . Where were you my cherished friend When my soul had the need.

So when you need forgiving From me for bygone days. Then take away the suffering From 10,000 pain filled days.

The kind of pain that gets inside And tears your soul apart. The kind of pain you only feel From deep inside the heart.

For those of you who judged us And watched us like some show. Our freedom has a flavor friend That you will never know. ~~compliments of RNnAL