POETRY

Undocumented Casualty

By LLOYD BARNHART
Posted 2/20/24

He made it back...

Came home on his feet,

Not in a body bag.

Family saw him as a war hero,

Despite his excessive drinking

And his screaming nightmares.

To the …

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POETRY

Undocumented Casualty

Posted

He made it back...

Came home on his feet,

Not in a body bag.

Family saw him as a war hero,

Despite his excessive drinking

And his screaming nightmares.

To the government,

He was a hero, of sorts;

He fought their ill-advised war.

He is not alone...

Others who fought with him

Came back the same way.

Are they heroes…or victims

Of misguided government activities

In far off lands against questionable foes ??

I wasn’t there;

I did not fight, so

Who am I to question his behavior?

The enemy didn’t get him,

But the war did....

Even if the government doesn’t recognize it.

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