I've Never Seen the Wall ...

[MUROFSMRA]

... but I can write about my friends whose names are on it ... which I recall:


~NAMES I RECALL~

Names I Recall; many years ago
I saw them fall, saw young souls go :
the Youth who served their God, to heaven;
or atheists' sons sacrificially given.
Or cross, or magen, or crescent show

on Liberty's beaches staked banners glow.
"I will!" each answered, when asked: "Who'll go?"
We hallow and remember those monuments, 'graven:
Names I Recall.

We died but as one single Death;
our Mourning sobs one tear, one breath.
Never-ending Hope reigns in our one heart:
far from battles, Reunion , ne'er to part.
" For Freedom " the list will longer grow :
Names I Recall.

[[I have used Rondeaux here as the poem form,
also used by Col.John McRea, in "Flanders Field" ]]

Forty-five years! It still won't fade away!

~ No Desert Poppies ~

In desert sands no poppies grow.
Unmarked, their crosses, row on row.
Young life cut down, Youth tarries, dead.
Hope hovers high; mem'ries un-fled,
still held despite the fate we'll know.


'Spite death, love lives - unbowed - to show
yon lives the way Justice must flow,
'though ardor and fervor have yet yielded
no desert poppies.

Truth rose, fought darkness, met its foe,
wrestled, won; failed, and rose again. So
guard its journey 'mid blackness wide.
Still burns its torch ! Hold high with pride !
Cowards lack the will, 'though Heroes know
no desert poppies.

[berto64]

Very Nice! and very true.

[Snakedriver]

It took a long time before I was comfortable enough to go to the Wall and the first time I did it was with several hundred of my other brother's-in-arms that shared a common experience. There was a lot of tears and healing that went on that day.

As I served near the end of the war, my lost friends from flight school and my unit are near the apex in the middle. There they all are listed on those black granite walls. Because of the nature of what we did, my unit suffered 25% pilot fatalities. Too many good men!

I go and visit them whenever I can now.

[rooter]

SNAKE, did I ever remember to thank you for your service??? Thank You Sir and I just bet you would be the one who would tell me that it was worth it...I've not mustered up the nerve to go to THE WALL....I must someday for I've gotten old....age certainly lends no enchantment to the courage needed...Chief

[Snakedriver]

Originally Posted by rooter

SNAKE, did I ever remember to thank you for your service??? Thank You Sir and I just bet you would be the one who would tell me that it was worth it...I've not mustered up the nerve to go to THE WALL....I must someday for I've gotten old....age certainly lends no enchantment to the courage needed...Chief

Thanks Rooter! The war memorials in D.C. are very well done. Along with the Vietnam Memorial, the Korean and WWII Memorials are awesome. You should go while you still can.

You know I get mad when I hear people say that the men who died in Vietnam were underprivledged minorities who were drafted into the service because they had little or no education. The men in my unit were all highly educated volunteers who could have chosen other safer professions except for their devotion to duty, honor and Country. That any of them had to die in that awful war is sad indeed. My goal in life is make sure that their sacrifice is never forgotten. We owe them that much.

[rooter]

You're correct for bringing up that bit of 'misinformation', Snake...Somewhere in these many postings I have done on the board, I remember posting some exact facts that dispell those false claims...It was very informative and really put a lot of the 'picking on us' crap away for good. Chief

[whtsmoke]

I have never had a chance to go DC to see The Wall, but year ago the traveling wall was here and my mom wanted to go see it. I took her and my wife there and could only get within a short distance until I broke down and cried, I could not bring myself to actually go all the way but someday I will, this is what I want to do before I die. I love those guys on the wall and all of the others that returned home. E co. 2nd Bn 506th Inf. 101st ABN Currahee my brothers.

[dad2thebone]

To all who served in war and peace . many thanks

[tnhawk]

Originally Posted by Snakedriver

Thanks Rooter! The war memorials in D.C. are very well done. Along with the Vietnam Memorial, the Korean and WWII Memorials are awesome. You should go while you still can.

You know I get mad when I hear people say that the men who died in Vietnam were underprivledged minorities who were drafted into the service because they had little or no education. The men in my unit were all highly educated volunteers who could have chosen other safer professions except for their devotion to duty, honor and Country. That any of them had to die in that awful war is sad indeed. My goal in life is make sure that their sacrifice is never forgotten. We owe them that much.

100% of those I served with were educated volunteers who chose to enlist into the service. Most of those I trained with in Basic Training had atleast a High School education and some had college degrees.

[twobit]

The traveling wall was here in Uvalde TX a few years ago. Our Emergency Management group was incident command while it was here. I got to see it for three days. Although my father was WWII, grandfather was WWI(and they both survived) and I was not military (but am LEO going on 25 years), so I had no family or friends on it, it was still very moving. There is a Peace Officer Memorial Wall in DC now, and unfortunately I have friends and former co-workers on that one.

[rooter]

'Moving Wall' Vietnam War Memorial Visits Phoenix

Updated: Wednesday, 17 Aug 2011, 9:48 AM MST
Published : Wednesday, 17 Aug 2011, 9:48 AM MST



A very moving memorial is in the valley for the next few days. It's a replica of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C.



“Moving Wall” Replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall Free Exhibit
Now through Fri. Aug. 19 from 8am-5pm
Phoenix VA Health Care System
650 E Indian School Rd
Phoenix, AZ

[whymememe]

I saw the wall in 1992. It is a very hallowed place. I managed to keep my composure but it was difficult. I never went to nam. In 1971 the draftees I served with were mostly people with college degrees who had lost their deferrment because they were no longer in school. The one's that didn't, were good as gold. You just knew they would never break ranks. We all hated the system and we all counted the days to ETS. It's not pretty, but thats our bond.

[whymememe]

Right on! Snake.

[carver]

We spent a week on our first trip to DC. It wasn't enough time to see everything, but we tried! We have been back twice! It is an experience you will never forget! While I was never "in country", I am a Nam era vet, and proud to have served. My dad fought in WWII, North Africa, and I have family at Arlington Cemetery. This trip would make a great vacation for anyone! A big Thank You, to all who served!