Ode to the Vietnam Warrior

In verdant jungles thick with fate, Where shadows danced at war’s cruel gate, They marched, they soared, they held the line, With courage fierce and hearts divine. The call was sounded, duty’s plea, To serve, to fight, to keep us free. From distant homes to foreign lands, They gripped their weapons with steadfast hands. Through searing heat and monsoon’s wrath, They carved a trail, a warrior’s path. Each step, each breath, a sacrifice, For freedom’s cause, they paid the price. They bore the wounds of body and soul, Yet pressed on fiercely toward the goal. In trenches deep, on skies so high, They faced the fear, the endless why. And when the battle’s fire did cease, And silence offered fleeting peace, They came back home to muted cheers, To haunted nights and unseen tears. For some, the war would never end, Its echoes trailing every bend. For others, graves now mark the cost, A tribute to the brave we lost. O warriors, bold, unsung, yet proud, Your deeds resound, a trumpet loud. Though time may dim the battles fought, Your grit, your valor, cannot be forgot. To those who stood, who gave their all, To answer our great nation’s call, We honor you, both here and gone, Your legacy, forever strong. From jungle depths to freedom's shore, Your bravery shines forevermore.