Memorial Day - Lets us not forget

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A yr ago at this time a wrote a poem about my experiences in Vietnam.  I hope you don't mind me sharing it with all of you.  I had 2 goals in writing this.  1st To give people some sence of what War does to someone.  2nd a message of hope to anyone that is having struggles in life.   

The Warrior’s Life

Despair and Hope

(By Brian J. Benoit)

I was a young man when I received that letter,

It said to report to the Army Draft Center.

 Vietnam was in the news and on the TV,

The War was ongoing and calling to me.

As a Medic I saved lives and bagged the dead,

Working for Special Ops I had a price on my head.

I lived for the day as tomorrow never came, 

As each day went by they became the same.

War does something; it changes the soul,

Most don’t understand; it takes a great toll.

A year I was there then I returned home,

I was but a shell and thought all alone.

I live with nightmares but not every day,

For 40 plus years I’ve lived this way.

Some might think my suffering isn’t fair,

But I have God; he is always there.

So when times get tough and you need a friend,

Trust in God he will be there to the End.

As a combat vet it is really hard for us to talk about our experiences.  I can't tell you just how hard it was to write this poem let alone to share it.  If your a vet and would just like to talk to someone who understands I can be reached at: [email protected]

Let us not just remember those that served this weekend.  But, each day we should all give thanks to the Men and Women who put on that uniform to protect  all of us back home.  

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Asangard Members Profile Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List DS Veteran Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2209	Quote Reply Topic: Memorial Day - Lets us not forget Posted: 24 May 2012 at 10:15am
	A yr ago at this time a wrote a poem about my experiences in Vietnam. I hope you don't mind me sharing it with all of you. I had 2 goals in writing this. 1st To give people some sence of what War does to someone. 2nd a message of hope to anyone that is having struggles in life. The Warrior’s Life Despair and Hope (By Brian J. Benoit) I was a young man when I received that letter, It said to report to the Army Draft Center. Vietnam was in the news and on the TV, The War was ongoing and calling to me. As a Medic I saved lives and bagged the dead, Working for Special Ops I had a price on my head. I lived for the day as tomorrow never came, As each day went by they became the same. War does something; it changes the soul, Most don’t understand; it takes a great toll. A year I was there then I returned home, I was but a shell and thought all alone. I live with nightmares but not every day, For 40 plus years I’ve lived this way. Some might think my suffering isn’t fair, But I have God; he is always there. So when times get tough and you need a friend, Trust in God he will be there to the End. As a combat vet it is really hard for us to talk about our experiences. I can't tell you just how hard it was to write this poem let alone to share it. If your a vet and would just like to talk to someone who understands I can be reached at: [email protected] Let us not just remember those that served this weekend. But, each day we should all give thanks to the Men and Women who put on that uniform to protect all of us back home.
	All evil comes from within, Not from Without, Therefore, the 1st step on the Holy Warrior path, Is to recognize thyself as thy 1st enemy.

Jawa Members Profile Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 19 Jun 2011 Online Status: Offline Posts: 254	Quote Reply Posted: 24 May 2012 at 10:36am
	Awesome, man. Thank you for sharing this and thank you for your service.
	Proud owner of an ODE-3 (version 1).

Alex Members Profile Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Digital Storm Supervisor Joined: 04 Jun 2012 Online Status: Offline Posts: 16314	Quote Reply Posted: 24 May 2012 at 10:57am
	Thank you for sharing this.


CArnold40 Members Profile Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Online Status: Offline Posts: 116	Quote Reply Posted: 24 May 2012 at 11:07am
	Thanks for sharing, and thank you for your service.

xii Members Profile Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 25 Feb 2012 Online Status: Offline Posts: 975	Quote Reply Posted: 24 May 2012 at 12:53pm
	Absolutely fantastic. Combat changes the way we move, the way we breath, think, sleep and feel. The Infantry Creed says it well: "I am what my country expects me to be - the best trained Soldier in the world." A lot of people look on Memorial Day with a ting of sadness but I encourage all of you to look to it for strength. Strength in your personal and professional endeavors as we all as one people have been given a unique gift, one that allows us to be with family, friends or other loved ones. This gift does not judge, it has no price tag, it can't be upgraded or revised. This is the gift of life. Thank you fellow Vets. I remember.

surf71zx Members Profile Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 07 Jan 2011 Online Status: Offline Posts: 485	Quote Reply Posted: 24 May 2012 at 12:55pm
	Been their done that. Thats it it a tee. Still fighting the demons of that conflict.I cant get it out of my mind to this day. THANK YOU Asangard for that poem!!!!

Asangard Members Profile Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List DS Veteran Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2209	Quote Reply Posted: 26 May 2012 at 6:45am
	Thanks all for the kind words. @surf71zx I hear ya. I have been out of work and seeing a Therapist twice a month since 2005. Took me 5 yrs to get my social security disability.
	All evil comes from within, Not from Without, Therefore, the 1st step on the Holy Warrior path, Is to recognize thyself as thy 1st enemy.

Revmed Members Profile Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 01 May 2012 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2	Quote Reply Posted: 27 May 2012 at 7:57pm
	Powerful poem. Thank you for sharing and also for your dedicated service.

Memorial Day - Lets us not forget

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