Thanks David. I have heard something to the effect that more Vietnam vets committed suicide after returning than were killed in Nam. Do you know if that's true? My brother Bill took to writing during his time there. One of the things he wrote is published on a website for vet's poems. He has given me his permission to share it, so I will, and you may share it as well if you wish. I always liked it out of everything he has written. This was written in '68:
- Migs.
BOB
I THINK OF YOU A LOT, BOB
AND OF THE DAY YOU LEFT US SUDDENLY
FOOLISHLY, BUT WE WERE YOUNGER THEN
MANY THINGS WERE BLACK OR WHITE THAT NOW ARE GRAY
YES, YOU DO HAVE A WAY OF FORCING YOURSELF INTO MY MEMORY
STRANGE THAT WE KNEW EACH OTHER FOR SUCH A SHORT TIME
SOMETIMES IT SEEMS LIKE I KNEW YOU FOREVER
AS BOYS ON A HOT AUGUST NIGHT, AS CHUMS IN SCHOOL, AT A BALL GAME
OR ON A DOUBLE DATE, I KNEW YOU SO WELL
AND STRANGE THAT WE SHOULD MEET IN A DISTANT LAND WHEN YOU LIVED IN MY TOWN FOR SO LONG
WE COULD HAVE RUN INTO EACH OTHER AND BECOME FRIENDS!
I COULD HAVE SHARED YOU DREAMS LONG BEFORE THAT NIGHT WE TALKED SO QUIETLY
YOU KNOW I REMEMBER EVERYTHING ABOUT THAT NIGHT, THAT TALK, EVERY DETAIL,
EVERYTHING OF WHAT YOU SAID, AND EVEN WHAT YOU ATE,
PEACHES FROM THE CAN WITH YOUR DIRTY FINGERS.
LONG AGO, BUT I COULD PICK YOUR FACE TODAY FROM A MILLION.
HOW WAS I TO KNOW YOU WOULD DIE THE NEXT DAY?
AND THAT DAY LIVES IT'S OWN LIFE IN MY SOUL.
I HAVE A FILM OF IT THAT PLAYS AGAIN AND AGAIN,
GOD HELP ME! I DON'T KNOW HOW TO MAKE IT STOP.
AT THE STRANGEST PLACES, AT THE STRANGEST TIMES, AND OF COURSE, HOW CAN I
EXPLAIN TO MY FRIENDS WHY I'M CRYING AT A PARTY?
I AM ASHAMED.
I PUT YOU OUT OF MY MIND AFTER IT HAPPENED. AND WHEN THEY DRAGGED
(LIKE A DEER, I REMEMBER) YOU BACK,
I WOULDN'T LOOK BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO SEE WHAT THEY DID TO YOU.
YOU WERE SHOT SO MANY TIMES, I AM ASHAMED. I WANTED IT TO BE LIKE IN THE MOVIES.
I WOULD HOLD YOU IN MY ARMS, WHILE YOU FORCED A GUTSY SMILE AND SAID
SOMETHING NOBLE THROUGH CLENCHED TEETH, BEARING THE PAIN LIKE A MAN.
BUT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN THAT WAY AND I AM ASHAMED I SHUT YOU OUT.
TELL YOU WHAT, I'LL PROMISE TO REMEMBER YOU NOW AND FOREVER, TO MY LAST
BREATH AND BEYOND IF I CAN. I'LL BRING YOU ALONG WHEREVER I GO.
YOU CAN SHARE MY JOYS AND MY PAIN.
YOU CAN SEE WHAT I SEE, FEEL AND HEAR AND BREATHE, AND SIT IN THE WARMTH OF THE SUN.
I PROMISE TO TREASURE THAT BRIEF SPARK OF LOVE THAT WE SHARED.
- LT WILLIAM P. BRANDT, FORWARD OBSERVER, VIETNAM