Purple Heart: In Honor of My Father
I was a young man at the age of nineteen
When I was sent to a country on the other side of the world that I had never seen.
I was trained as an infantry soldier
With an M-16 rifle on my back;
And given an M-79 grenade launcher
In case of enemy ambush or attack.
Along with my Brothers In Arms, I fought in Cambodia and in the Highlands of the Vietnam jungles;
As soldiers, we were always faced with threats and struggles.
One unfortunate day, I was ambushed and shot with an enemy soldier’s rifle
His bullet struck and went through my arm;
At first, I didn’t know I was hit; perhaps my body was in denial.
Eventually, intense pain set in, the blood began to pour;
My lieutenant made the call for a medavac helicopter
To take me to a hospital so that I could be treated and cared for.
For my wounds sustained as a result of enemy action
I was awarded the solemn distinction of The Purple Heart;
My life has been forever changed
Because of this war in which I had to take part.
Flashbacks still haunt me in my head
Wounded, yes, but I thank God that I’m not dead.
As soldiers, we fight for our country and sometimes we make a great sacrifice;
As Purple Heart recipients, it’s our bodies that have to pay that ultimate price.
Copyright © Coral Urbina | Year Posted 2023
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