Tired war-torn weeping eyes
Shouted out the echoed cries
Of men who could not verbialize
The hellish curse of battle!
Soldiers landed on the beachhead
Internal fears were left unsaid
As they bravely trodded straight ahead
Into the hellish consequence of battle!
A Medal Of Honor and a Silver Star
A Purple Heart and a jagged scar
Managing to stay alive so far
Through the hellish experience of battle!
Many 'fell' as the war raged on
As orders came from the Pentagon
And bombs exploded near Saigon
Constantly fighting a hellish battle!
A soldier, a warrior sent home in a bag
Identified only by a metal 'dog-tag'
All for the glory of the American flag
And the hellish results of battle!
The was over; they came home at last
Baby killers, war mongers, always harrassed
No honor, no parade; they became outcasts
Hero's rewards for a hellish battle!
'Agent Orange' and amputation
Alcoholism and drug addiction
Flash back nightmares and apprehension
Their internal hellish battle!
Final recognition, a wall shows each name
A memorial, a tribute of honor to claim
Marine, Sailor or Soldier one in the same
Fought side by side wars' hellish battle!
By: Joyce O'Neal