Member Poems, Songs, Stories and Musings
Members, please submit your own poetry and musings HERE to be included on this page.
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A Wife's Perspective He still sleeps with his gun Right next to his head. That is, when he sleeps, Usually not in our bed. He rests in a chair But he's up at midnight, To again take his watch And be ready for a fight. No rest for him There's no time to sleep. It's vital to be vigilant. Ah, the memories run deep. In 67 - 68 It was during Tet So many years ago But he relives it yet. Yelling out in his sleep, Or angry in an instant, Startling at a touch Keeps relationships distant. There's a gun in every room You can never be too ready. Aim for mass he instructs, Shoot straight and shoot steady. Our children were well versed In the use of a weapon, Could field strip and clean a gun By the time they were seven. They don't understand him Never could, never will. They fear him, they love him, He's a mystery to them still. Agent Orange, our lingering war, Along with PTSD. Daily battles, daily struggles, Waiting and watching to see. Hoping for good days Dealing when it's not Taking what life hands us, Together, we're all we've got. I didn't know him before, Met him when he had returned. His friends said he's different. His outlook overturned. But I still see a spark And a little sheepish grin Every now and again From my Viet Nam veteran. With the help of our Lord We get through all the strife. We stand side by side Holding hands through this life. And when deaths at the door And I'm ready to die I'll still love and respect him To the end, Semper Fi. 🇺🇸 Frances Mirgan Hahnel, RN, BSN The Florida Veterans’ Hall Of Fame never expected the Hall of Fame always related it to a game my veteran work was done with love with great help from The Man above when I study about each member such a group I can’t remember this gathering of veterans is quite elite the likes of which will nill repeat doctors, nurses, colonels and privates Air Force and Navy combat pilots senators, congressmen, governors and mayors educators and healers thru many layers one of our members was launched to space we even have a Tuskegee ace admirals, shirts and combat medics this is a group with high level genetics we have hero’s with lots of medals we have warriors on all different levels but it’s not about our military service giving to others is our purpose sharing of our time for others support to our sisters and brothers this is what we share the same in the Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame David Rose Secretary FVHOF Society "And I Sit" by David Rose (a PTSD song)
Protest The War Not The Warrior Served a year in that damn war Doing what Uncle Sam called me for Didn't know the violence stateside Busy trying to save my own hyde Riots on the campus lawn Students struck with the baton In the streets were riots a plenty Not just some there were many I was sheltered from it all Working long and taking call Coming home was another war Protesters met me at the shore Protest the war I'll join you there Respect the medic I was unaware I was just doing my job Outside the wire of my FOB Now I go welcome them back Cheer them as they step the tarmac I want to try to make it right Our history I seek to rewrite David Rose No Man Comes Home From War Death and dying all around Immoral acts the most profound You could be the worst of all Or you could be the Chaps on call Any heart can plainly see There is some moral injury You may survive the war that day But intrusive thoughts are here to stay It doesn't matter who you are All from battle will endure a scar David Rose "I Started a New VA PTSD Med Today" was written, performed and recorded by David Rose. This video won first place in the VA National Festival of Creative Arts in 2015 for the humorous poetic video production category.
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1 Marine and a Navy Corpsman I'm lying in this ricefield About a million miles from home I'm lying in this ricefield I'm cold and all alone. I'm lying in this ricefield I've got a bullet in my head An NVA just shot me And I think I'll soon be dead. I didn't see it coming It caught me by surprise I was helping out this Corporal He had shrapnel in his eyes. I guess we'll both be going home But not the way we came There'll be no late night partying There'll be no poker games. Now one young Navy Corpsman And a Leatherneck Marine Are both lying in this ricefield Dreaming a more Peaceful Dream. You might think that this happened only once In a WAR that went on for years. It happened way too many times In all of the sixteen years. So they built a great big monument In Washington D. C. Commemorating forever in Black, All the Men that will never come back, And at last count, it was fifty eight thousand, one hundred, eighty three. Frank Hahnel 
Blood On My DD214 served as medic in that damn war still not sure what we fought for did a lot to save my brothers even saved some of the others stopping the bleeding was my main job a lot to lose with each heart throb grew up fast and learned a lot had to make the bleeding clot still have nightmares to this day seems I can not get away the cries and screams I heard so loud hang around as a big dark cloud destined to live my life with stress my fate was sealed when I ETS a nasty curse I should have foreseen when blood was spilled on my 214 bloody papers I carry through life a reminder of my wartime strife like giving me the boot as I walk out the door painful memories to my very core David Rose Radio interview of David Rose
Cleanup On Aisle Three Visited my local hardware store Had to pickup something for a home chore A song came over the PA that hit my trigger I stood there and cried with vigor Then I heard, "Cleanup on aisle three" Didn't take them long to get a fix on me David Rose I don't sit and think about my PTSD my PTSD thinks about me and I sit. David Rose David Rose awarding Vietnam War 50th Commemoration lapel pins in Washington DC to Vietnam War Veterans.
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SIX 6 this is Romeo 6 - Come In… I’m on patrol deep in the bush trying my best…I’m Lost Just turned 20, commissioned to lead Men, just boys really-like me, in a desperate and dangerous land… I’m Lost What training prepares boys to lead other boys to do the unthinkable; Surely not 180 days of spit-n-polish, inspections, drills, parades, and ceremony… Can’t vote or buy a drink…yet I can lead others into unforgiving fury… I’m Lost, Rank, Color or Religion don’t matter here, it’s just about; you watch my back, I’ll watch yours, I lean on older sergeants to teach me, and rely on seasoned comrades to show me the dangers, mines and traps, Hoping, no praying, not to let my comrades down or worse… I’m Lost 6 this is Romeo 6, Come In? Don Lanman 
Cartoons are created by David Rose
One More Orbit decades of stress from that damn war couldn’t escape from all that gore decided to make this orbit my last asked my God to please think fast He opened some ops to help my brothers offering me hope by mentoring others David Rose My Only Goal Survived the war without a gun Now back home I carry one It's sad I have to live this way My homeland in the U.S.A. Today the threat is from within This type of war is hard to win We don't know friend from foe I'd rather be a GI Joe Panama looks good to me Like many countries oversea Well, with the exception of Seoul A long way from home is my only goal David Rose Welcome Home I arrive from my second deployment to an indifferent, often hostel home devoid of a warm welcome, acknowledgement, reassurance or even some appreciation, Proudly, I stroll down the crowded city streets, a kaleidoscope of neon lights, signs, noises and people, In my Class-A Greens, sharp peeked hat, gold braid, ribbons, black stripes and shined shoes, certain the ladies will be impressed, I stroll along confident in myself, Baby Killer, Fascist, and other vile jeers greeted me instead of garlands or accolades, What had happened to the America I knew, where was the patriotism I grew up with, where was any acknowledgement of the service of so Few for so Many, Disenchanted, dejected, angry, I strolled on lost in my thoughts contemplating the meaning of the abuse, vile remarks and desolation, An old man, in a worn wheel chair, dressed in a faded Army field jacket, adorned with unit patches, badges and a Silver Star reflecting in the city lights rolled up to me… I returned his smart salute, as he said, Welcome Home Son, Well Done! No longer dejected, this Veteran, this Brother in arms, this Comrade of another time, was my Welcome Home. Don Lanman |