I STILL HEAR THE THUNDER OF THE GUNS
AND SEE FIRE FALL FROM THE SKY
I WALK WITH CAREFUL MEASURED STEPS
AND CONSTANT ROVING EYES

THE DEMONS VISIT IN MY DREAMS
THOUGH NOT AS OFTEN AS BEFORE
THEY'LL BE WITH ME WHEN I SLEEP
UNTIL I DREAM NO MORE

I HEAR THE LAUGHTER AND SEE THE TEARS
OF FRIENDS FROM LONG AGO
SOME WHO MADE IT SAFELY HOME
AND SOME I'LL NEVER KNOW

I DID MY DUTY 'TILL THE END
UNTIL THE FINAL STAND
A SOLDIER LOYAL TO THE FLAG
I FOLLOWED EACH COMMAND

FEW CAN UNDERSTAND THE REASON
SOLDIERS FIGHT, NO MATTER WHERE
WE FIGHT NOT FOR FAME AND FORTUNE
BUT, BECAUSE OUR FLAG FLIES THERE

GARY FREEMAN
SGT, U.S. ARMY
VIETNAM 1971-72
© 2008