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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.
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