Steven Siegel Poet Prose

A Victim of the War

A Victim of the war 
 * 
 Steve L. Siegel 
 December 2, 2014 
Once there lived a fine young city boy, 
once so brave, true and Restless, filled with 
energy And somewhat foolish too He went to join 
the US Army Adventure filled his mind He knew that 
for a soldier's life, all of this he was destined. 

He did his training in a camp at Ft. Ord Calif. 
Than on to Ft Benning GA, home of the jump school. 
Where he became a member of the 101 First Airborne 
Oh, man did he ever wear those silver jump wings proud 
and the Wings of the 101 First, Screaming Eagles. 
He did not know it at the time, but maybe he did, 
for he was destiny was Vietnam. 

They stole his feelings, taught him how to kill 
and walk those jungle trails And taught him 
that the enemy were the evil men 
Then he went off to fight a war that he might not 
of believed in but the call went out, now 
he'll serve his country's need; just as his dad 
had done in the last great war. 

Now the old young man of what was, 
Only now he's a shell of a man, 
A victim of the war now too. 
He can't seem to find himself in this world. 
His own nation has turned against him, 
the nightmares never seem to go away. 
His next door neighbor that he knew forever 
called him a baby-killer. Don't that beat all? 

Now he is on his fourth marriage, and they wonder 
why he can not stay put, his wife wonders why 
she end up going to bed alone most nights? 
It's because he has to make sure that 
everything is in place before 
he goes to bed; Yes, 
It's hell being a Victim of the damn war... 

For my bother who was killed in May of 68 and 
myself who I think sometimes part of me died 
at Albany with the 120 brothers of mine who 
did answer the roll call the next day in Oct of 65.

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