Notes About The Poem

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Bill Disney - Dizzy

If you ever drive through our small Oregon Town
You won't help but notice the house that's run down
A man called Bill Disney lived there for ten years
When we learnt of his story it brought many tears.

He was covered in burn scars and walked with a limp
As kids we knew no better and called him the gimp
He rarely went out, sometimes stood at his front door
The only one that spoke to him was a girl at the store.

When folks in town died we'd always show respect
What happened at Bills service we didn't expect
Ten Vietnamese women stood by a general’s side
When the general told his story many of them cried.

"It happened in Vietnam in the year sixty five
These women standing here are lucky to be alive
An orphanage was on fire when Bills platoon arrived
Thanks to Bills heroic action everyone in it survived.

He rushed towards the entrance kicking down the door
And he kept going back in and bringing out more
Went back in one last time to check all was clear
So full of determination and he showed no fear.

The heat was so intense and the building ablaze
You could just see the outline through smoky haze
He finally came out and collapsed on the ground
With third degree burns that's what the medics found.

An honourable discharge and then he came here
And a medal of honour for the man with no fear
That rescue changed Bill he was never the same
People avoided him they should bow down in shame.

He was born in New York city but didn't go back
And settled down here to get his life back on track
He'd been missing for a week so the police called around
And got in touch with us when his medal they found ".

The general then added" Bill was one of the best"
And asked for volunteers to carry him to his rest
I looked around the church at all the hands in the air
Felt sad that when he needed help it just wasn't there.

Never judge a book by its cover my mother told me
I wish I had listened to her and helped Bill Disney 
At his graveside seven soldiers fired shots in the air
A great shame it took his death for people to care.



Written 12 August 2019.

For bring a character to life poetry contest

Sponsored by Richard Lamoureux.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2019


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12
Date: 4/13/2020 1:51:00 AM
I'm roaming around in my favourites poem list here on soup Tom,,,so glad to have picked up on this amazing story again,,,,Stay Safe, My friend. Harry
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 4/13/2020 12:50:00 PM
Thank you Harry, glad you liked it second time round. Hope you too stay safe. Tom
Date: 1/31/2020 12:14:00 AM
Congrats and kudos Tom. Thank you for sharing this story. It is important! Wonderful write!
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 1/31/2020 1:54:00 AM
Thank you very much Sam, it's a tragic story that sometimes happen to ex service personnel who sometimes find it hard to adjust back into civilian life. Tom
Date: 1/30/2020 6:12:00 PM
Many congrats Tom on your 1st place in Brian's contest you really are a brilliant storyteller Tom and this very moving piece was so well written. With kindest thoughts Ann xx
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 1/30/2020 10:38:00 PM
Thank you very much Ann, I'm happy that you enjoyed it. Tom
Date: 1/30/2020 5:13:00 PM
A touching and very moving story Tom, Thank you!~@wk
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 1/30/2020 5:28:00 PM
Thank you very much William, I'm pleased you enjoyed it. Tom
Date: 9/8/2019 9:09:00 AM
My pleasure Tom.
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Date: 9/8/2019 8:11:00 AM
A really wonderful story Tom...one of the best! Congrats on your top win.
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/8/2019 11:05:00 AM
Thank you very much Jeanne, Tom
Date: 9/8/2019 12:47:00 AM
Such good story telling. Congrats and thanks for entering my contest.
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/8/2019 2:10:00 AM
Thanks very much Richard and also for hosting the contest. Tom
Date: 9/7/2019 8:56:00 PM
Back with congratulations.
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/8/2019 2:09:00 AM
Thanks very much Eve. Tom
Date: 9/7/2019 3:58:00 PM
i am not surprised to see this on the winner's list, i am surprised it wasn't higher up, i thought for sure it was the winning write...marvelous writing, congrats! :)
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Richard Lamoureux
Date: 9/8/2019 12:49:00 AM
Upon reading it again I’m inclined to agree with you Sandra. Sometimes it’s hard to judge so many great poems.
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/7/2019 4:34:00 PM
Thanks very much for your return visit Sandra, much appreciated. Tom
Date: 8/25/2019 3:09:00 AM
Tom, your storytelling is brings the character to life. Good luck in the contest.
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/25/2019 3:18:00 AM
Thank you very much Georgia, happy you liked it. Tom.
Date: 8/17/2019 5:33:00 PM
You really brought the reality of his life alive again for us. Beautiful and best of luck in the contest.
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/18/2019 10:58:00 AM
Thanks very much M.L., sadly I've read of real life stories like this one. Tom
Date: 8/17/2019 8:25:00 AM
wow Tom you really gave dizzy a name and brought him to life... this is the best entry i have seen...powerful, emotional, well written! hugs :)
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/17/2019 4:08:00 PM
Thanks very much Sandra, I'm very happy you liked it. Tom.
Date: 8/16/2019 6:37:00 PM
I think it is a natural reaction of o look round for someone else to pity the unlovely but let us find our feet moving rapidly forward to help someone like we ourselves would want to be treated! Nicely done, Tom! Hugs!
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/17/2019 5:07:00 AM
Thank you Kim, thankfully there are some good souls about that show concern for those who are afflicted in any way. Tom
Date: 8/15/2019 9:39:00 PM
wonderful story, Tom, I felt the pain of this poor man. Good luck in the contest my friend. Are you really live in Oregon
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/16/2019 1:21:00 AM
Thanks very much Eve, it was a fictional write inspired by similar stories Ive heard about. I'm not from Oregon but its a place I'd like to visit. I'm in the UK.. Tom
Date: 8/15/2019 12:21:00 PM
Such a sad story Tom, and although fictional it rings true for so many servicemen. One for my favourites.
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/15/2019 1:25:00 PM
Thank you Elizabeth, you're right, many return suffering in silence with some taking their own lives. Thanks too for the fav. Tom
Date: 8/14/2019 9:10:00 PM
Wonderful Tom
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/15/2019 3:10:00 AM
Thanks Timothy. Glad you liked it. Tom
Date: 8/14/2019 5:34:00 PM
wow, that was a sad story that really conveyed well the message of not judging a book by its cover. Great job, Tom
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/15/2019 3:13:00 AM
Thanks Andrea, its not until we get older and look back at advice our parents gave us and realise the wisdom of their words, of course growing up we knew it all. Tom.
Date: 8/14/2019 4:00:00 PM
ohhh my, steeped in deep lines and historical facts, tom... this is a masterpiece!...huggs
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/14/2019 4:07:00 PM
Thanks very much Nette, I was only going to write a few verses but just kept on going. Tom
Date: 8/14/2019 11:00:00 AM
Wow, Tom i can only join everyone here, with awesome comments as i add my own,,this is going to my favourites, one could make a movie based on the poem you have penned...And how many more Bill Disney's are there in the world,,You have highlighted so much in this a wonderful poetry, another aspect also is the fact he never told of his heroic deed, reminds me so much, of my father's era, in the second world war, where no one spoke of the tragedy of it all. thanks Tom, so much to think about here.
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/14/2019 12:43:00 PM
Thank you very much Harry and for the fave too. Sadly many suffer horrific injuries and when they get back to civvy street suffer ridicule and abuse which makes them shy away from society. Your right about WW2 vets, no counselling or help, what horrors' they must have kept bottled up in their minds and were just expected to 'get on with it' . Tom.
Date: 8/14/2019 10:03:00 AM
This is an amazing poem and tribute to a very brave man and your poem is caring, kind and gives a historical account of a very brave man - it is sad that people often die and then become famous or have done something brave only to be thought of due to their death! I loved this write Tom. Blessings, Jennifer. Blessings, Jennifer.
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/14/2019 10:48:00 AM
Thanks very much Jennifer, it's a shame though when that happens as I'm sure they'd rather have help wen they were alive. Tom
Date: 8/14/2019 8:04:00 AM
Shunning is the method people use when they are uncomfortable. Bill must have been proud of what he did. Looks kike a terrific contest. As far as I am concerned, you already won. Who can out do this work of beauty? It's a great fictional write. You made him real...Panagiota
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/14/2019 10:44:00 AM
Thank you very much Panagiota, You're right I suppose it makes people feel awkward and would rather avoid them than say something. Tom
Date: 8/14/2019 6:25:00 AM
- A great hero who suffered many years of his life ... so sad, Tom - Is this a true story? - Beautifully written - hugs // Anne-Lise :)
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/14/2019 6:37:00 AM
Thank you Anne, no its a fictional write. In reality a horrific event can make people withdraw and others just avoid them instead of helping. Tom
Date: 8/13/2019 11:34:00 PM
Hello Tom … there are so many returned servicemen and women like Bill Disney. They won't speak about the horror they saw; they become reclusive; and have terrible health issues plus are faced by folk who have no understanding of why they feel like outcasts. It goes on and on - thank you Tom - Lindsay
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/14/2019 2:52:00 AM
Thanks Lindsay, your comment is spot on. We've had servicemen here take their own lives because help wasn't given. PTSD is only just being taken seriously, many suffererd in the great war and were shot instead of being helped. Tom
Date: 8/13/2019 8:32:00 PM
i don't know if this is a true story, tom, but you certainly brought bill to life very vividly! best of luck in the contest - i think this poem deserves a place at the top...
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/14/2019 2:45:00 AM
Thank you very much ilene, it is a fictional write but sadly one you hear of happening in real life. Tom
Date: 8/13/2019 7:25:00 PM
This is an excellent story Tom. It is so meaningful. It reaches the soul and teaches a powerful lesson too with the message . I enjoyed this straight through. I hope it does well :)
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/14/2019 2:43:00 AM
Thank you Heidi, shame that everyone doesn't show respect to their fellow human beings. Anyone who's different is shunned and forced into a lonely life. Tom
12
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