The Old Vietnam Vet
He sat on the bench at Wal-Mart up front by the door
In a pair of overalls and the old cap he always wore
Most just see an old man, an old guy can’t be cool
But he could tell you stories, you’d never learn in school
He landed on the tarmac, 8 thousand miles from home
Thinking of his family and feeling so alone
Fighting in the jungle, dodging bullets, grenades and bombs
A young man went to hell and back in a place called Vietnam
He spent 2 years fighting but it seemed like a whole lot more
Time has a way of standing still in the middle of a war
The purple heart was for the shrapnel that he caught in the thigh
But there’s no medal for the pain he felt as he watched his buddies die
He was proud of his service and to get back to the States
But he was met with anger, epithets and hate
Next time if you see him, don’t hurry quickly by
Shake his hand and thank him as you look him in the eye
He salutes Old Glory and for the Anthem proudly stands
There are thousands of these heroes all across our land
Their numbers are now dwindling, we’re losing more each day
So thank God for their service, it’s a debt we can’t repay
Sue Ikerd
July 27, 2018 ©