Young Soldier
I was a boy not quit seventeen,
I enlisted when I was sixteen…
Wanting to serve my country…
I had no family it was just
my sister and me…
My mother had died, when
I was very young, new family
adopted me…
My sister was also adopted,
by another family…
As you can see, it was just
my sister and me…
It wasn’t long before my adopted
family, first my new father died
then my new mother, followed him…
She missed him so much, for
she had a broken heart,
that wouldn’t mend …
I went to war as a little boy,
came home a man…
As you see I was just sixteen…
The time was at “Chaute Thierry”,
doing world war one…
As a young man I thought we won…
Standing behind a cannon as
it was fired, shell casing discharging
from the breach, sent hot shrapnel
and pain into my foot…
Sent me to hospital where I
laid in pain, until they treated me,
sent me home, with crippled foot,
shrapnel of imbedded in my foot,
as well as the pain in my foot…
I’ve never been able NOT to work,
even though I have shrapnel
in my foot, walk with a limp, and
have pain in my foot everyday…
Now you can see, that it didn’t
keep me from work…
Though I was wounded during
war, no purple heart was given
this boy a young soldier…
Wasn’t until my son wrote our
Congressman, explaining what had
happen, and what hadn’t been done…
Took over fifty years, but I got my
purple heart, thanks to my son for
what he done…
I would have gone to my grave,
for I wouldn’t have said anything,
as I hadn’t for years, for I thought it
was their job, to recognize what I
had done…
My family was proud, of what I’d
done, but I feel, that they were more
proud of me now…
Only told my story a few times,
mostly to a few close friends, and my
children, for it was part of history…
Now you know my story, the young
soldier, just boy…
By Sandra L. Hoban
©2006
This poem was written and dedicated to my father who served as an infantry soldier during World War I. This is also dedicated to all those who have served our country and was wounded or lost there life while serving, not just World War I but all wars, conflicts and military police actions.
Copyright © Sandra Hoban | Year Posted 2012
Post Comments
Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.
Please
Login
to post a comment