Honor Our Fallen Heroes
From the Prom to Nam...As told to me by a fellow soldier29 total reviews
Comment from Mary Kay Bonfante
This poem is very powerful and touched my heart. I've heard the saying "I've got your back" many times, but I don't think I ever thought about where it came from -- from the heat and danger of war. People say it to one another in many situations, not realizing that it obviously originated in a situation of life vs. death. Your poem should go into some kind of anthology about the experiences people have in times of war.
reply by the author on 04-Sep-2021
  |
This poem is very powerful and touched my heart. I've heard the saying "I've got your back" many times, but I don't think I ever thought about where it came from -- from the heat and danger of war. People say it to one another in many situations, not realizing that it obviously originated in a situation of life vs. death. Your poem should go into some kind of anthology about the experiences people have in times of war.
Comment Written 02-Sep-2021
reply by the author on 04-Sep-2021
-
Hello Mary Kay,
It's so nice to meet you and to thank you for your awesome review, I do appreciate it very much.
War is truly "hell on earth." Not only for the soldiers, but for all the family members and friends back home.
Have a great weekend, my new friend, and may God bless you and yours. Stay safe from the virus...Bill
-
Yes, I'm blessed to meet you, too, Bill. Just now, I can't recall how I stumbled across your poem, but I'm glad I did. I've heard the saying, "War is Hell," and I'm not a person to throw around the word "Hell" lightly, but I believe it's one of the closest things there is, to Hell on earth -- one of the other things would have been the Holocaust. Any time and place where human beings are systematically destroying others or are in danger of being destroyed, themselves, it's a type of Hell, only the ideology may differ. It just wasn't part of God?s original plan for us, was it? And yet, under certain circumstances, it has become necessary and even honorable. Yes, it does, in its broadest sense include the ones back home, who suffer along with those in the heat of combat.
This situation in Afghanistan is such a painful dilemma, where our country is torn between staying and leaving, and the terrible consequences of each.
God bless you too, and may you and your loved ones stay safe, as well.
- Mary Kay
Comment from Gert sherwood
Honor Our Fallen Heroes
Cedar I read your free verse poem of how to survive when you and your fellow soldiers were---
Trembling with fear not knowing what to expect,
our weapon's ready, waiting for the next attack.
The chances of returning home seemed hopeless,
so we all prayed together that God had our back.
Gert
reply by the author on 25-Jun-2021
|
Honor Our Fallen Heroes
Cedar I read your free verse poem of how to survive when you and your fellow soldiers were---
Trembling with fear not knowing what to expect,
our weapon's ready, waiting for the next attack.
The chances of returning home seemed hopeless,
so we all prayed together that God had our back.
Gert
Comment Written 24-Jun-2021
reply by the author on 25-Jun-2021
-
Thank you Gert for reading this horrific poem, I appreciate your time and kindness. Have a great weekend...Bill
-
You are so welcome Bill
Comment from Robert Zimmerman
Hello Bill.
This is an excellent poem because of the narrative and the descriptions you give which are very realistic. You expressed the emotions of those times very realistically. Well done.
I endured counterinsurgency training but was not deployed to Vietnam. I was sent to other assignments.
Robert
reply by the author on 31-May-2021
|
Hello Bill.
This is an excellent poem because of the narrative and the descriptions you give which are very realistic. You expressed the emotions of those times very realistically. Well done.
I endured counterinsurgency training but was not deployed to Vietnam. I was sent to other assignments.
Robert
Comment Written 30-May-2021
reply by the author on 31-May-2021
-
Thanks, Robert for your excellent review and kind words, I appreciate that.
Have a great Holiday week, my friend...Bill
-
You're welcome
Comment from robyn corum
Bill,
Oh. My. Stars.
Bless your soul. I cannot even BEGIN to imagine that kind of situation. We see movies that try to portray the emotions and terror and they leave us chilled and petrified for those soldiers, but even then, it's a cold, empty try at what it must have really been like.
One of the most important things is that I say - THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
My uncle was also in Vietnam - in the Tet Offensive. He doesn't talk about things much, as I think most soldiers from that experience (well, maybe from them all). I hope you came back as good as possible. I'm sure you were changed - but I hope you are okay. You gave so much for US. Oh, my - I'm getting teary-eyed. I better quit.
Thank you. Hugs-
reply by the author on 29-May-2021
|
Bill,
Oh. My. Stars.
Bless your soul. I cannot even BEGIN to imagine that kind of situation. We see movies that try to portray the emotions and terror and they leave us chilled and petrified for those soldiers, but even then, it's a cold, empty try at what it must have really been like.
One of the most important things is that I say - THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
My uncle was also in Vietnam - in the Tet Offensive. He doesn't talk about things much, as I think most soldiers from that experience (well, maybe from them all). I hope you came back as good as possible. I'm sure you were changed - but I hope you are okay. You gave so much for US. Oh, my - I'm getting teary-eyed. I better quit.
Thank you. Hugs-
Comment Written 29-May-2021
reply by the author on 29-May-2021
-
Hello Robyn,
Thank you for your emotional review, I appreciate your concern.
I spent two years in South East Asia in the mid-nineteen sixties and came home without any injuries. However, many of my good friends did not.
In my opinion, this was the most senseless and the most useless war that America has ever been involved in, so far.
Thank you again for your interest in my well-being, I do appreciate it. Have a great weekend, my friend...Bill
Comment from pome lover
this is a sad reminder of that terrible war and the worse treatment the poor soldiers received when they returned. I'm glad you got home but to say I hope you can put that awful time behind you, I guess is impossible.
You described it well - realistically - so it's obvious it's still fresh in your mind. From Prom to Nam is a good title and sad commentary.
This is a good reminder for Memorial Day to honor our fallen heroes.
Katharine - pome lover
reply by the author on 29-May-2021
|
this is a sad reminder of that terrible war and the worse treatment the poor soldiers received when they returned. I'm glad you got home but to say I hope you can put that awful time behind you, I guess is impossible.
You described it well - realistically - so it's obvious it's still fresh in your mind. From Prom to Nam is a good title and sad commentary.
This is a good reminder for Memorial Day to honor our fallen heroes.
Katharine - pome lover
Comment Written 29-May-2021
reply by the author on 29-May-2021
-
Hello Katharine,
Thank you for your sympathetic review, I really appreciate it.
It is simply impossible to forget experiences such as these, even if you lived to b over 100 years old.
I do thank you very much for your concern. Please take just a few moments on Memorial day and think about our protectors. Where would we be without them? We have the strongest military force of any country in the world, so please feel safe.
America does have a very serious and seemingly uncontrollable problem, and that's all the mass shootings we are constantly having. It's very sad, but you're more likely to get killed while shopping at Walmart than from a foreign invasion.
It was good talking to you Katharine and may God always have your back...Bill
-
and yours. thank you.
Comment from Elizabeth Emerald
Heartrending and powerful--you skillfully convey the thoughts and emotions of the young soldier. Poignant notes re aftermath--thanks for explaining the origin of got your back!
reply by the author on 29-May-2021
|
Heartrending and powerful--you skillfully convey the thoughts and emotions of the young soldier. Poignant notes re aftermath--thanks for explaining the origin of got your back!
Comment Written 29-May-2021
reply by the author on 29-May-2021
-
Hello Elizabeth,
Thank you for your excellent review, I appreciate it.
Have a nice Holiday weekend...Bill
Comment from Dolly'sPoems
This is a poignant write Bill and it is so sad that men so young have to experience the harsh rules of warm and suddenly have to fight for their lives, there are no winners in this game and the Vietnam war came under great scrutiny by the world watching, lives lost in shame and families grieving forever, I enjoyed your fine rhymes here and your story is honest and melancholy, love Dolly x
reply by the author on 29-May-2021
|
This is a poignant write Bill and it is so sad that men so young have to experience the harsh rules of warm and suddenly have to fight for their lives, there are no winners in this game and the Vietnam war came under great scrutiny by the world watching, lives lost in shame and families grieving forever, I enjoyed your fine rhymes here and your story is honest and melancholy, love Dolly x
Comment Written 29-May-2021
reply by the author on 29-May-2021
-
Hello Dolly,
Thank you for your understanding and caring review, I really do appreciate it.
Yes, in my opinion, this was the most senseless and useless war that America has ever participated in, so far.
Have a great weekend, my friend. Bill
Comment from Susan Larson
This is so touching. When I was a columnist, I wrote about a group called ArtReach that ministered to veterans through art and poetry as a form of therapy. I was able to include one man's poem as part of my column. I was so happy to do that. I hope you have other venues for sharing your words. Thank you for your service. I, too graduated in 1965 and saw classmates go to Vietnam. Fortunately they all returned. Six stars if I still had them.
reply by the author on 28-May-2021
|
This is so touching. When I was a columnist, I wrote about a group called ArtReach that ministered to veterans through art and poetry as a form of therapy. I was able to include one man's poem as part of my column. I was so happy to do that. I hope you have other venues for sharing your words. Thank you for your service. I, too graduated in 1965 and saw classmates go to Vietnam. Fortunately they all returned. Six stars if I still had them.
Comment Written 28-May-2021
reply by the author on 28-May-2021
-
Hello Susan,
From the Prom to Nam...
Thank you for your excellent review, I appreciate it. And, thanks for the interest in my well-being.
I have been an avid woodworker for many years, I own and operate a small farm (with help from my family) and I have been a member of Fanstory since January of 2009. Also, occasionally I am asked to write a piece for the local newspaper and magazines.
However, in 1993 I was diagnosed with a rare form of MS and that has slowed me down considerably.
I lost several good friends in that useless war while serving and after being discharged.
Thanks again Susan for your concern. Have a great Memorial Day weekend, my friend...Bill
Comment from Seshadri_Sreenivasan
I liked the emotional poetry with words flowing from the heart. Your account of your past experience makes the readers' heart sad. Serving the nation is an honour and it is a worthy and noble duty. Thanks for sharing.
reply by the author on 28-May-2021
|
I liked the emotional poetry with words flowing from the heart. Your account of your past experience makes the readers' heart sad. Serving the nation is an honour and it is a worthy and noble duty. Thanks for sharing.
Comment Written 28-May-2021
reply by the author on 28-May-2021
-
Thank you for your excellent review, I appreciate it. Have a great weekend...Bill
Comment from 4theloveoftrees
Thank you for your service, Bill. This is essentially the recounting of an emotional--and frightening moment to say the least, very well done. I appreciated your author's notes and your explanation of "I've got your back". Thanks so much for sharing.
reply by the author on 27-May-2021
|
Thank you for your service, Bill. This is essentially the recounting of an emotional--and frightening moment to say the least, very well done. I appreciated your author's notes and your explanation of "I've got your back". Thanks so much for sharing.
Comment Written 27-May-2021
reply by the author on 27-May-2021
-
Thank you very much for your excellent review, I do appreciate it.
Have a great holiday weekend, my friend...Bill
