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This Is A Place Of Remembrance
The Journey
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(Part 1)
I have lived too many years
in that same year.
...and in the year , just after,
as I found love
wiping tears from her eyes.
....giving her heart
to a lost soldier
who was a flag ,looking for a breeze,
and was lost in the nightmares that belong
with the whore called
war.
It is hard
growing old and
cold,
knowing
that there are so many
who need to die,
...and yet so many that deserve
love.
Nothing has really changed
at all.
I did nothing that made a difference.
If I am honest (and I try to be)
I have found only these two things
to be true.
The total horror of war!
...and the absolute beauty
of love.
All the years
between, and surrounding them,
are filled with empty lies.
(Ihave to go now)
The hills and valleys and firetorn ridges
are burning again,
and so many are dying
over
and over.
Love will come again tonight
beneath midnights window,
and the pale shroud
of a broken
moon.
I wll ask her
if the world is still there.
She will answer,
"Hold Me!"
CALIBER/
RedCowboy
(ljk ©aug10 2003)
draft pt1
| Part 2 The journey
Part 2
In 67 the bars closed too soon
and the fights were boring...nuthin mattered!
Nuthin to lose! (just get yer licks in and be sore as hell.)
Smile, and kiss the waitress, and then just stagger on home boy!
The world moved slowly in America.
1967
Soldiers died on TV (People told me so, but I
was listenin' to the radio, and TV was just another lie.)
Thank God, the cars were fast,
jobs plentiful,and the pay was damn good.
In December, I married the prettiest gal I ever seen.
She said
"Yes!"
She packed my lunch at 3AM
(Took a bite from my sandwich)
and I went to work at 4,
in a dark and lonely factory filled with noise and grease,
and rolling chains that told stories of being alone in a boring
world of factories.
Didn't bother me.. (I was hearing the thunder far away.)
The 'Jumper' came home in 68 (crazy ,,lean, and all 101).
We sat in the lunchroom quietlike and listening
til the Foreman put his shit in my chest and I had to tell'm to make
a choice...
'Life, or Death!' ...and the Jumper just laughed.......and
said....YESSSSS!
...then we hit the highway in his Big Block 440 Dodge Charger
and burned off a pair of rear drive Goodyears, and limped on home.
Late that nite
I eased on the door and told my girl
"Hey Gal!....I'm sorry!
She said
" Hold Me!"
Caliber/
RedCowboy
Part2
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Part 3
A whole lot of time passed, while I got old and grey.
Then, a new war came our way.
I was building an engine and the shop TV was showing
a tower burning in New York.
I put down the tools and sat smokin' cigarettes
as my Boss came running in.
"What the hell is going on in New York?" , he shouted.
Then, the second plane hit,
and we watched
til' both the towers fell.
He left,
and I headed home.
It seemed to me that the journey was just starting
again.
My wife ran to me when I got home.
I said,
'Hold Me!'
(The End)
(will clean it up and put together later..Thanks all )
CAL/
RedCowboy
©aug102003
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10th Armored Division
During World War II
A special Division of men learned to stick together like glue.
That Division was the Tiger Division, the 10th Armored Division
They maneuvered those tanks with precision.
Called upon to fight in Germany, and France.
At the Battle of The Bulge they made a stance.
At Bastogne they were with the 101st
As Hitler did his worst.
The Tigers motto was meaningful.
"If we are to be successful,
We must work like hell,
Play like hell, and fight like hell."
The 10th did just that, as history can tell.
On December 17, 1944 the Germans launched its Ardennes Offensive
They were to soon find out that it was very expensive.
General Patton called on the 10th to make that 75-mile in one-day march
In snow, ice and horrible conditions uniforms frozen as if by starch.
The 10th held Bastogne against eight German Divisions
Until the battle weary 101st could return with provisions.
Between the two Divisions they held and fought off these German Divisions
This was the first time that the Airborne and Armor had fought in such combinations.
The Germans thought they would kick the 10th Divisions butts
But were told when ask to give up NUTS
My father was one of many that was there
Now he is gone and only those left behind have memories to share.
So lift a tankard of ale to the 10th Division
To each man there and also their act of derision
Remember those that have gone on to wait
For they wait for their brothers at heavens gate.
©David R. Alexander
August 16, 2003
All Rights Reserved
In memory of my father Elbert O. Alexander and his brothers from the 10th Armored Division, especially, Tom Bubin, Dick Coffee and Kelton Rogers
God Bless them all.
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Gone On Ahead
Two more weeks was all
...just two more weeks...
and then it would be home... for me and Paul
Good-bye Vietnam...it was not nice to know you
You have treated us badly...you know it is true
Jungles and sweat...death daily creeping
Unbearable heat...Hell`s own keeping
Two more weeks... that is all...
then it is good-bye to me and Paul
Answer my letters...tell me where we will meet
Let me tell you... home is gonna be sweet
Two more weeks ...that is all
Bad news...a land mine...they say...No...Not...Paul
For now it is over...now your life is done
Longer than two weeks now...Paul...
The meeting place is changed... that is all
It is to be beyond here...after this life has run
We will meet in Heaven`s Great Brotherhood Hall
Wait for me...I will be there... I will not forget ... Paul
Faye Sizemore @8/13/03
For Mitch Chiles and his Grandfather,Dean
In Honor of Smokey and Paul
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 Every Panel...And Every Day
What is written
in pain,
and blood,
remains.
Time
waves
as a flag.
Something we love
within our hearts,
yet far away.
Thousands of stories are
yet
to be told.
...as we grow old.
I shall remember them.
Those places, within a long
hard
war,
marching in my old grey head.
I honor the living.
I salute the dead.
CALIBER
©Aug03 LJKlaiber
JIM
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A war veteran once an old friend
on a cold Christmas morning met his end
Shunned by a family whose patience he had worn thin
he lived alone keeping his memories only to him
A sad telephone call during the Christmas meal
a halting voice portraying how the caller did feel
Its all over with Jim
This morning I found him
On the closed in porch he did bide
A half empty bottle of Black Velvet
sittin by his side
Sightless eyes staring at the door
Seeing no more memories of war
In his right hand between his fingers
A Marlboro cigarette
burned to the filter lies
Burned out
like the pain in his eyes
There will be no more strife for him
Merry Christmas ...and peace, Jim
©Faye Sizemore
August 13, 2003 |
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