The Lonely Vet
A tribute to vets in 202428 total reviews
Comment from lyenochka
Thank you for this thoughtful reflection of veterans. Those who have experienced combat are never the same. Not all exhibit the outwards signs of PTSD but they are all affected.
reply by the author on 18-Nov-2024
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Thank you for this thoughtful reflection of veterans. Those who have experienced combat are never the same. Not all exhibit the outwards signs of PTSD but they are all affected.
Comment Written 18-Nov-2024
reply by the author on 18-Nov-2024
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Thank you for your thoughtful words. I have friends now being treated for Agent Orange problems to this day. I shall not forget seeing the signs of "baby killers" and "war criminals" being present in airports as I was discharged in the very early 70's.
Robert
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That was so awful - what was done to those poor Vietnam vets is shameful. But I can't at this point in time understand the war either. I guess Russia/Soviet Union really was trying to take over the world as it is still trying to do. I wish Trump would stop being so friendly with Putin. He's a dangerous man.
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The French left VN at Dien Bien Phu. They gave up. Kennedy and Kissinger believed the "domino theory" of communist influence. Kennedy started sending "advisors" in '61-'62.
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It's good you know the history. For me, the safety of South Korea is at stake. If there is no American military presence in South Korea, Russia and North Korea will take over South Korea. Trump already befriended both Putin and Kim Jong-Un.
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We have a Naval base and ~ 30,000 troops in S. Korea.
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No, it's more like 24,000.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Forces_Korea
Trump greatly overestimated the number and he gave Kim Jong-Un his wish to not have military exercises to please the horrible communist dictator.
Comment from gansach
I really enjoy your Cube 16 poems~they have such a crisp rhythm and flow. Great rhyming and image for a poem with a great message. Better care needs to be taken of the men and women who fight our wars and protect our rights and freedoms. They sacrifice so much for their country and deserve so much more when they come home. Thanks for sharing this poem!
reply by the author on 13-Nov-2024
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I really enjoy your Cube 16 poems~they have such a crisp rhythm and flow. Great rhyming and image for a poem with a great message. Better care needs to be taken of the men and women who fight our wars and protect our rights and freedoms. They sacrifice so much for their country and deserve so much more when they come home. Thanks for sharing this poem!
Comment Written 13-Nov-2024
reply by the author on 13-Nov-2024
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Thank you for your complimentary words about the content and style of this poem. We certainly need to care for those soldiers who come back and do not cope well in civilian life. Much of what they experienced put them in that position. Thank you again for your kind words and thoughtful comments.
Robert
Comment from Y. M. Roger
OH, I remember this form - love it!! Will have to give a try sometime soon...
However, your employment of it here says SO MUCH, Z, about our young (and not so young) folks returning from combat zones... some of them even decades later cannot find true peace for weeks at a time. A wonderful offering for Veterans Day and for all our vets always! ;) Thanx for sharing! ;) Yvette
reply by the author on 13-Nov-2024
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OH, I remember this form - love it!! Will have to give a try sometime soon...
However, your employment of it here says SO MUCH, Z, about our young (and not so young) folks returning from combat zones... some of them even decades later cannot find true peace for weeks at a time. A wonderful offering for Veterans Day and for all our vets always! ;) Thanx for sharing! ;) Yvette
Comment Written 13-Nov-2024
reply by the author on 13-Nov-2024
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Hey Yvette.
This is the same ole CUBE16 but I have refined it slightly. I call for each line to be written as iambic dimeter. Veterans who have not coped well need extra help. Many were put into life threatening situations and one does not just forget that. When I left the service in 1971, I remember seeing signs in airports and bus terminals calling GI's baby killers and war criminals. That will never leave me.
Thank you for your kind words regarding the content and the style. I appreciate you.
Z
Comment from EeanBlack
Thank you for bringing up two separate, but very much intertwined issues facing the returning vet, homelessness and acceptance. We preach love and kindness, but when we go to war it is almost all kill or be killed. During my upbringing, my father introduced me to death and it desensitized me. I hate when I'm thanked for my service because it brings up bad memories, but, worse, it feels so empty, like some political rhetoric. Please don't be offended, but just bringing up the need for helping vets isn't enough, and is easily dismissed. I hope for better, someday. Please don't take what I said as an insult. You're doing your part.
reply by the author on 13-Nov-2024
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Thank you for bringing up two separate, but very much intertwined issues facing the returning vet, homelessness and acceptance. We preach love and kindness, but when we go to war it is almost all kill or be killed. During my upbringing, my father introduced me to death and it desensitized me. I hate when I'm thanked for my service because it brings up bad memories, but, worse, it feels so empty, like some political rhetoric. Please don't be offended, but just bringing up the need for helping vets isn't enough, and is easily dismissed. I hope for better, someday. Please don't take what I said as an insult. You're doing your part.
Comment Written 13-Nov-2024
reply by the author on 13-Nov-2024
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Thank you very much for reading and commenting on this poem. I appreciate your personal comments. I believe private organizations are doing more to help veterans in trouble than the government is. There are several organizations that reach out to troubled veterans and attempt to help them.
Robert
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My buddies and I are vets. There is less help out there than you think, but thanks. You are definitely a good guy.
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I spent 4 years in the Army and the only benefit I got after I left was a GI Bill 1st house mortgage in 1972. I have never visited a VA medical facility.
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I didn't use the GI bill, don't go to the VA because they caused my brother to die of an infection by just sending him home. I had a standard mortgage. I was in the Army, then did an interservice transfer to the Navy. To this day, I feel I still owe them for my service not the other way around. I was blessed to serve. I can't hold my tongue when people cut it down. Have a great life. You deserve one. Thanks for making my week, sir.
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You're very welcome. I enjoyed our exchanges. Take good care of yourself.
Robert
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Thanks.
Comment from Cecilia A Heiskary
Robert,
This is a nicely composed poem. I love how it rhymes to completion. You have nailed the life of a vet who has come home from war. At least the VA recognizes how war affects your mental health. The Vietnam vets were treated so bad when they came home no wonder many of them turned to drugs and alcohol to try and cope with their demons.
Cecilia
reply by the author on 13-Nov-2024
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Robert,
This is a nicely composed poem. I love how it rhymes to completion. You have nailed the life of a vet who has come home from war. At least the VA recognizes how war affects your mental health. The Vietnam vets were treated so bad when they came home no wonder many of them turned to drugs and alcohol to try and cope with their demons.
Cecilia
Comment Written 13-Nov-2024
reply by the author on 13-Nov-2024
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Hello Cecilia.
Thank you for your positive comments about the context and style of the poem. You are so right, Vietnam Veterans were treated as though they were enemies of the state in many cases. I left the army in 1971 and I recall seeing signs in airports and bus terminals calling GI's baby killers and war criminals.
Robert
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Robert,
First of thank you for your service. When I worked at the VA I got to know a lot of the Vietnam Vets and the horror stories when they got home. At least ya'll didn't run away from your duties. What civilians don't understand is that the military basically owns you and you'll do what you're told and go where you're ordered to go. It's a concept they can't comprehend.
Cecilia
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That is certainly an accurate observation. Your life belongs to the Army when you in service. Since 1971, the only benefit I have used from the VA is the GI Bill to buy my first house in 1972. I have never been to a VA medical facility.
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I'm a veteran also and let me tell you the Dallas Va sucks. I went there once and it wasn't a good visit. Never went back. I have private insurance and I'll pay out of pocket to get better care. I see my shrink at the local CBOC and primary care. Sherman CBOC they care.
Cecilia
Comment from patcelaw
This is a very profound and well written cube poem that you have written, and I enjoyed listening to it very much. It has a very good message about the veterans who are homeless. To think that we have that many veterans who are homeless when there are so many illegal aliens coming across our land and taking up the money that could be used to help veterans get out of their situation and provide for them. Patricia
reply by the author on 13-Nov-2024
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This is a very profound and well written cube poem that you have written, and I enjoyed listening to it very much. It has a very good message about the veterans who are homeless. To think that we have that many veterans who are homeless when there are so many illegal aliens coming across our land and taking up the money that could be used to help veterans get out of their situation and provide for them. Patricia
Comment Written 13-Nov-2024
reply by the author on 13-Nov-2024
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Hello Patricia.
Thank you for your positive and complimentary comments regarding the poem and its context. I agree with you that many veterans have struggled after being deployed. Most of their help now appears to be coming from private organizations.
Robert
Comment from Carol Clark2
Coming home from war must be a terribly difficult experience. Time has changed things at home, while he or she has been away. Yes, we do need to care for our homeless veterans. I like the Cube16 form you created. Good rhymes and meter. An emotional write. Blessings. Carol
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2024
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Coming home from war must be a terribly difficult experience. Time has changed things at home, while he or she has been away. Yes, we do need to care for our homeless veterans. I like the Cube16 form you created. Good rhymes and meter. An emotional write. Blessings. Carol
Comment Written 12-Nov-2024
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2024
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Thank you Carol for reading this poem.
Thank you for your uplifting and positive comments about the poem. As a country, we have an obligation to care for those soldiers who have not adapted to civilian life again. Private organizations are doing a better job caring for our veterans that our government is.
Robert
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You're welcome. Thanks for sharing your heart. Carol
Comment from karenina
I spent much of my day yesterday seeking out veterans of all ages and sincerely thanking them for their service. It's a shame that they are not taken care of as they should be by the country they put their lives on the line for. Far too many are homeless, hungry, disparaged, or invisible...
Poignantly written in your inimitable Cube 16 form, which I love.
God Bless all of our veterans!
Karenina
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2024
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I spent much of my day yesterday seeking out veterans of all ages and sincerely thanking them for their service. It's a shame that they are not taken care of as they should be by the country they put their lives on the line for. Far too many are homeless, hungry, disparaged, or invisible...
Poignantly written in your inimitable Cube 16 form, which I love.
God Bless all of our veterans!
Karenina
Comment Written 12-Nov-2024
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2024
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Hello K.
Most veterans adapt to civilian life when they come back from the military; Some don't. As a country, we have an obligation to those who don't. It is saddening to watch them wrapped in a blanket laying on the ground knowing about their prior service. Our priorities in America are all fouled up. Thank you for your positive words about the content as well as your comments regarding the cube16 style. God bless all of our veterans is right.
Z
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Amen to that! We owe them more than gratitude!
Comment from T B Botts
Hello Robert,
thanks so much for speaking out for the plight of so many of our veterans. One has to wonder what is wrong with a country that will use and discard the very people they count on to protect them when they have served their purpose. There are several veteran organizations that are worthy of our support as they reach out to vets in their need. I think that we are more aware now than we used to be of the difficulties many vets face, but more needs to be done by the government. We owe these men and women and their families. People are not disposable, they just aren't. Have a blessed day.
Tom
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2024
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Hello Robert,
thanks so much for speaking out for the plight of so many of our veterans. One has to wonder what is wrong with a country that will use and discard the very people they count on to protect them when they have served their purpose. There are several veteran organizations that are worthy of our support as they reach out to vets in their need. I think that we are more aware now than we used to be of the difficulties many vets face, but more needs to be done by the government. We owe these men and women and their families. People are not disposable, they just aren't. Have a blessed day.
Tom
Comment Written 12-Nov-2024
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2024
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Thank you Tom.
It is really disheartening to watch the plight of some homeless vets when 15,000,000 people come across our border illegally and we spend billions of dollars to make sure they're comfortable. I will try not to be too political but that's awful, especially when it is in denial. Private entities are doing much more for our veterans than the government is. Thank you for reading the poem and for responding the way you did.
Thank you Tom for your gracious gift of six stars for this poem. I am honored by your decision.
Robert
Comment from Ric Myworld
Yes, sir, most veterans don't return from duty as the same person they were when they left. And many can certainly never learn to cope again. Thanks for sharing.
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2024
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Yes, sir, most veterans don't return from duty as the same person they were when they left. And many can certainly never learn to cope again. Thanks for sharing.
Comment Written 12-Nov-2024
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2024
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Hey Ric.
Thanks for the good words. I have buddies that are still being treated by the VA for Agent Orange problems. (55 years ago exposure) Two of my friends died of cancer brought on by agent orange exposure. The VA can tell if the sickness is from the exposure to the chem.
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Many veterans are abused, used, and thrown away like toilet paper. I knew a man who was badly wounded twice and spent considerable time hospitalized in World War II. He fought for combat related disability for forty years, what he rightfully deserved. The government claimed all the records had burnt up in the St. Louis fire. He did finally get full benefits, and died a year later. A fine gentleman, who never said an unkind word about the country who deserted him after his debilitating service.
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You are right.
When I left the Army in 1971, the commander told me to pack my "gear" and ship it home. I was told not to wear insignia, any mil clothing, or identifying items home. I was even given 30 days to grow my hair because we all had military buzz cuts. I saw signs that had "baby killers" and "war criminals" on them when travelling through airports and bus terminals. Most of those people and their spawn are in academia because they are unable to compete in the open market. (informed opinion) HAHAHA
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In our county, A Superior Court Judge set up a veteran's court process. Their goal is to help distressed vets regain good standing in the area. They are doing a great job. The judge calls me "Zim" when he sees me. HAHAHA
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It's always good to know that fine people who care are recognized. It means there is always the rare chance someone might listen to there views some day. :-)