"Innocence" A poem by Jessie Land to the memory of his Brother "Ves."

The Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, DC; Source: Department of Defense

________________

The inexperience of youth spirit soar
With the teenage love of country dream
Innocence the first casualty of war
For God and country a winning team

Put into position to be killed or kill
While war makers are safe and unsound
Giving praise and medals to them with skill

The overall meaning can be profound
Youngsters watching their friends die
Rewarded with a post traumatic stress
Nightmares giving a vivid picture why
Only to fellow travelers can they confess

Stuck at the pearly gate to heaven
Saying I done served my time in hell
Being number ten trying to roll seven
Still beautiful souls sad tales to tell

It takes the wise to honor a hurt brother
Who served time on the frontline
Hearing things you can’t tell mother
Putting pressure on the gasket of the mind

Some appreciate what you been through
In a political conflict told not to win
Revealing flaw in red, white and blue
A state of being that’s hard to comprehend

Folks back in the states having some fun
While some step forward doing their duty
Patrolling the jungle with a big old gun
Hoping not to get shot in the booty

All in the name of the domino theory
Cause super powers can’t afford to fight
So it is left to the innocent and weary
With time gone by look back at it right

In war that was life and death for real
When youthful pride had a renaissance
There is no apology in how people feel

It was another time in a different day
Ho Chi Minh was just doing his job
In his shoes you would do it his way

Outside powers came to loot and robGreat people came in all shades
Many of them wearing military green
The story of our times seldom fades
History changes by what we say and mean

I bring it up again so we may never forget
The meaning behind the names on the Wall
To accept the facts without any regret
For the sacred brave who answered the call

Town where I grew up was Jarhead city
With an unusual amount of Gung Ho
Where folks got down to the nitty-gritty
Saying Semper Fi will help me grow

Young men who went down to Parris Island
Jo Jo, Ackey, Pat and Ves on the buddy plan
Mickey, Mikey, and Juice said make me a man
Pelly, Brown, Gene and Buggy took a stand

Dirt, Collie, Butch and Egg all enlisted
Another Butch, Page and Pee Wee close-fisted
Sherman, Freddie and George D said yes I can
They all looked up to my brother Ves Land

We all do what’s needed worrying later
Among many of you who paid your dues
In many minds eye there are few greater
America right or wrong we must choose

If you served your time, you deserve praise
A message from the head and the heart
Every life has some good and bad days
Where strong willed loyalty played a part

For God and country, we lose innocence

It Still Hurts

 

Published in the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial