What have we done?

Just words

                               What have we done?






I was raised with the Vietnam war alive and well. I joined at 17 years old in 1975.  I wanted to be like my father who fought in two wars.
--
                          My father
Dear father drank a bottle a rum for 40 years.
He was trying to erase the Korean and Vietnam war from his memory.
He could not.
I remember him at the midnight hours talking to dead friends left in the Korean dirt.
His war became my war.
I wanted to be like my father.
I found war and I learn too late.
War is s**t and no-one can win.
---
I volunteered for five active war area. Most times I was serving food and water to homeless and desperate people. The medics and the Doctors were the heroes. Sleepless days and nights saving and preserving life. I learn from Africa and Asia. My worst day here in Michigan. Would be a wonderful day for a person with no shelter or food.

---
                  Soldier
Just men.
Kids transferred to men by the field of fire.
Young men learning to protect and kill when they should be in college and enjoying their life.
No racism in war.
Soldiers stand tall together. Will fight together and they will protect their brother soldier.
Old soldiers know.
Wars are never won. Just testing ground for rich men in business.
Just men.
Learning the blood song too soon.
---
I'm old now. Active wars are alive and well.  The wars are quiet now. Soldiers are in 40 dangerous places. Media keep the Government silence. I stood at the bus stop yesterday. Little girl asked me about my Saint Christopher medal. I told her. Saint Christopher is the Soldier protector. She smiled proudly and she told me. "I will buy one for my brother. He is serving in Afghanistan. He would like the medal. I held silence and I prayed. Please god of life and death. Bring this boy home safely.

                                John Castellenas/Coyote


 

                           

Author's Note

Just words.

Reviews

[Nicole Laszlo]

Just words? You know, I served briefly. Didn't get the honor/terror of going over seas, I know a lot of young soldiers who complain about not being able to see combat. I know a few who have and truly wish that they hadn't. The optimism of so many young men and women who go off to fight. A dear friend of mine served in Kuwait. This hit home from a bystander's perspective. You definitely gave me chills. Amazing job.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Nicole. Most anti-war people were people who knew war or saw war. WW2 veterans, I never heard one call this war. "The good war".

[Kathy Van Kurin]

Dear Coyote,
This was needed and so well spoken to us all. My father in law served in the Korean war and it was quite an experience for him. Brave man now in his eighties. Served as a marine in Chosen resevoir. Blessings Kathy

[Coyote Poetry]

New soldiers are learning the old wars. Fighting where you don't know enemy or foe. War make men appreciate life. The Chosen resevoir was a hell of a battle. My father fought for three years in Korea. Left him with bad dreams and struggle. Thank you Kathy for reading and the comment.
Coyote

[Kathy Van Kurin]

You are so welcome and thank-you for serving and being a warrior on behalf of our country.
Blessings to you Kathy

[M.A.]

This piece is so emotional, it opens our eyes and lets us see who you are as a person and a writer. Such raw words describing your father. Then there is the novice soldier playing the blood song, that was very moving. Everyone who reads this can take something away from it and grow wiser. Thank you for sharing.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you my friend. Only good part of war, is we learn. Every day is a good day to be alive.

[.]

A very timely and poignant piece.......

As they say, "War is hell". We unknowing all understand the words of that phrase but not the real intent and feeling behind it. Only those who have fought or died on the battlefield of blood can truly understand those words.

Your words are solemn and tinged with a hope amongst the sadness of the theme. We can only hope that someday people in positions of power will realise that it is the way of the heart and not the way of the gun that should be adhered to in order to best solve disputes.

As always, a very well written piece of work. Heartfelt, hopeful and crying for sanity to prevail in this uncertain day and age. Great work!

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Dooley. I appreciate the comment.

[ROBIN-RAMBLES-ON]

Love your poem and words specifically got me with your Dad,

[Coyote Poetry]

Real life teaches us lessons and thank you Robin for reading and the comment.

[ROBIN-RAMBLES-ON]

Your welcome.

[Ted Kniffen]

My granddad served in WW1 (Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele, Ypres) and my father in WW2 (Sicily, Italy, Holland, France & Germany) My father drank to stop the demons and died young. I suppose it would be called PTSD now. As a teenager in the 60's Vietnam was on everyone's T.V. Being Canadian I was lucky to have a choice.
Thanks for your service, John.

[Coyote Poetry]

Old wars were hard. Drink was the old cure and thank you Ted for reading and the comment.

[barleygirl]

You have written about the woes of war many times, but this one is indeed the most intensely written, reaching down to the depths of your heart to show us how it feels from firsthand experience. This message is enuf to make a person cry. The details are so fresh & pertinent to our world situation. Yes, there are no "wars" that we are "in" but as you say, our soldiers are all over the world constantly. Altho I'm happy the USA can help provide some stability in some areas, I sure wish WAR wasn't the only answer that people seem to rely on . . . *sigh!* Thanks for sharing your keen observations on this topic, which I always enjoy reading (((HUGS)))

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you dear friend. War teaches us nothing. War create lifetime friendships.

[...]

John, such touching truths you speak. I hate war. Specially when the blood was shed for oil and not the freedom of woman and men, sons and daughters.

[Coyote Poetry]

The truth is known by all. We don't for freedom. We fought for oil and land.

[Valentine]

My older brothers were in the Korean war, one a sailor for 20 years, who really wins a war? Destruction and dead bodies are all that they leave. Remember our vets please. Valentine

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree my friend. We teach our children war and we forget. War isn't a needed lesson.

[Papaya]

So many pray for those safe returns. Too many don't make it back.
It's heartbreaking. I felt this one in my heart.

[Coyote Poetry]

Too many wars and so many hate and separation. Time for us to stop this dead-end journey and find the road to peace before it is too late. Thank you dear friend for reading and the comment.

[Papaya]

You're welcome. xx