"THE DRAGON FIRE "


NEWS


Much has been written about the brave 
fighting man in Vietnam.
About the many hardshiips and uncertanies,
each face from dusk to dawn.
True, we have it rought 
and true many of us will die.
But should all the credit be given 
to the fighting man?
I think not and here is why.

Many servicemen are married 
and have a family they hold dear. 
We have wives who love and miss us
while we are serving over here. 
The children get unruly 
when their fathers are away. 
The wife must quickly adjust and fill the void,
she must face a terrible test.
She must be the man of the house 
and this requires her Very best. 

Our wives must still be mothers,
to the ones of tender years. 
She must help and keep them
and wipe away their tears.
She must now become an authority of baseball,
 She must learn how to fish.
 She must become a mechanic. 
There is always a toy to fix.

When her day's work is over 
and the kids are tucked in bed, 
she must find a pen and paper 
to write a husband she prays isn't dead.
She tells him she loves him 
and that everything at home is all right.
Then she must sit around the house 
and face another lonely night.

The hours go by so slowly,
the days seem without end.
365 days she must wait,
before seeing her husband again.
She must remain faithful
and reassure him in every way.
Golly, gents, what a terrible price
we exspect our wives to pay!

Many a wife had a husband 
who gave the cause of freedom his all.
Their lives have been shattered 
by that casualty assistance officer's call.
For them the war will continue
There will never be an end.
For them there is only heartache 
and a life to start all over again.

A man receives all the credit 
and his praises are sung by all,
but before this war is over, 
I wonder how many women will fall.
Their numbers will never appear 
as casualties in our history books,
But it is for them that we fight,
and for some of them that we must die. 
So I believe that to our wives and families.
Equal credit for our victories must be given.

You have my reasons why. 
                        Anonymous
This poem was published in the Dragon Fire News. It was saved and submitted by Jim Dukes.