When I was a child,
My father came home,
And said, “I am going to Vietnam,
Yes, I do give a damn.
I will wear my battle fatigues
And do my best like all the rest.”
Before he left, I promised
That I would work hard in school.
Like all the rest,
Our family did give a damn.
We were honored that he
Was asked to fight in Vietnam.
Every letter he sent,
We followed him by map.
Into underground traps,
Into the tangled jungles,
Never at rest.
Upon the mined hills they fought
By hand.
Artillery shells blasted
From Hamburger Hill
As a bloodied radio called
For a last request.
He signed his letters,
“I do give a damn,
I am doing my best like all the rest.”
You see, my grandfather, a three star general,
He went to war years before,
And sat in trees upon the French terrain
Using himself as a decoy to save
His men because he said,
“I do give a damn,
I am doing my best like all the rest.”
I am proud and honored that you,
Took the same oath
As my father and grandfather.
Duty, honor, and country
Always came first.
Yes, I do give a damn
About you and all the rest
For, I know you are doing your very best!
Betsy Evans Holzner
A contest entry
- Encouragement for a Soldier ~ quote inspired by Xianaria.
900 points, ended February 10, 17 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 6 of 6
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My best friend just finished a tour in Iraq. I would have joined her but my medical ailments kept me from enlisting. I told her every chance that I got how proud of her I was, and I told her parents...and I prayed for her. Being a soldier is the best decision someone could do. Thank you for your service.
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Great work on this Betsy! You deserved the honorable winner trophy. THANKS!
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Very moving & well thought out. Great work
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strong
the honor to serve is unparalled by any other thing. your tribute to him is moving and sad, as you were left to fend for yourself. i was just a paramedic. i worked it an indigent neiborhood and so i got shot at alot but it pales in respect to what your father went through. i hope he returned safely and i do give a damn.
you are a strong writer. i wish you many golds, i think you should continue to pen the military theme and all its' positive and more importantly negative trappings.
think your father a brave man.
truly
kevin o'connor/ui'connabhair -
Deeply moving & thought out, thank you for entering!
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Very moving. It is so unusual to see those three important words in a poem, Duty, Honor, Country.
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