My father served as a Marine in W.W.II,
He was wounded on Saipan.
I was always proud of his service,
At least when I was old enough to understand.

My brother Al served honorably,
In the Marine Air Wing.
He never served in a combat zone,
And for many years I held that against him.

My brother Dave, also a Marine,
Served honorably in supply.
He remained free of combat,
Which I held against him.

My feelings were not made public,
They were not meant as a debate.
I just could not understand,
How Marine sons avoided combat.

I wrestled with this for years,
Through anger and many tears.
How can it possibly be,
That they escaped combat, unlike me.

Now I see things much clearer,
Because of the Lord above.
And because of the time I spend,
In a VA PTSD ward.

Now I understand better,
I see where my pain came from.
How grateful I am to God each day,
That I was the only one to go.
 

©Ben Drake (1999)