Soldiers

Long ago and far away
a friend read a book
that inspired him so much
he wanted to join the army,
and,
being the Son of a Preacher,
he naturally had to talk
his friends,
including ME,
into enlisting. . . .

"Up in the morning,
'fore day!
I don't like it,
no way!
Eat my breakfast too soon;
hungry as hell
'fore noon!"

Basic Training Marching Song. . .
still echoes in my soul
forty-something years later. . . .

Training outside
in scorching heat,
freezing cold,
rain and shine,
snow and sleet.

It wasn't EASY
being a Soldier
Back In The Day,
nor was it popular,
but we three-percenters
stuck out enlistments out
somehow.

It meant
a Born Rebel
tried to squeeze themselves
into a Highly Conformist Organization;
not an easy task
for a young person,
but I did my best,
though I hated every minute of it,
and one glorious day,
my time ended.

It's funny,
looking back on those four years,
how much I took for granted,
how little I valued
the great gifts given
this Young Soldier;
Honor,
Duty,
Sacrifice. . .

You can take a Soldier
out of the Army,
make them a civilian once again
when their enlistments ends,
but sometimes
in the wee hours of the morning,
I realize
you can NEVER.
EVER.
take the Army
out of their souls.

Veterans
of The Holllow Army,
unsung heroes,
during a time
best forgotten,
and
we will NOT go silently
into the NIGHT!

Raus!