FOR THE LAST TIME
In Memory
of
Hector M.
Miranda
Vietnam
Veteran
5/20/1947 -
11/15/2007
By Yolanda (Landi)
Miranda
Welcome Back, Soldier! You’ll hear
for the last time.
Your war is finally over,
you fought a brave fight.
Only
eighteen, drafted, trained in combat
To fight
against a small country far across the
sea.
You went as your country asked you to
do.
Unknowing what to expect and what
you’d see.
It didn’t take
long losing close friends right before your
eyes.
Hurting deeply for those who fell by
your side.
The jungle was a prison although
it held no bars.
You were used to sidewalk
lights to guide you in the
night.
Carrying a loaded M-16 rifle,
buddies in back or front of you prepared to shoot if you heard rustling through
the tall trees or movement among the tropical dense bushes resembling a carpet
covering the ground. No wind or breeze could be the reason as you kept wiping
the sweat of your eyes, fear you’d cough or sneeze for a clear target
you’d be.
The only light to
guide was your instinct to survive.
The
camaraderie with your buddies gave you courageous during those long scary
nights. You looked out for each other as you went on patrol not once so you
stopped counting for it never seemed to
stop.
An oath was taken among you
during rests in camp. I’ll take a bullet for you on me you can be sure for
we’re all in this together we need to stay alive.Your friend Joe, stepped
in a land mine as you walked single file and heard the deafening sound. He is
here waiting all these years to tell you he knows you tried to save him but
there was nothing you could do.
I took
you home to finally be at peace. To end your pain, flashbacks and nightmares
disabling you for more than forty years. No longer will you fill the pangs of
guilt for walking out alive. For all your buddies that died fighting in the
country, across the sea known to you all as Nam. They are waiting to salute you
and open up their arms.
Welcome Back
Soldier! For the last time. You’re home to heal your wounded soul,
heartache, tears erasing all the bad memories you carried all these
years.
The war is finally over, you
conquered all your fears. I brought you home to have peace and happiness back to
being eighteen the innocence in you heart the Vietnam War robbed is now
restored.
Your parents, your four
brothers rejoice, they’ve been waiting for you, your Army companions
too.
You, Joe, and buddies are now
united hearing the 60s songs you played in base camp when you were off patrol. I
smile upon you as you joke, laugh dancing to the tunes you did then and now.
You’re all bounded for timeless,
endless life, forever young.
Gone are
the dark days for the illuminating light will will always shine to guide you all
as you dance into eternity side by side.
Posted: Sat
- December
1, 2007 at 07:15 PM