For all Vets

[Walter Jones]

I was looking for a thread that Honored all Vets today. My daughter wrote this years ago and just found this poem. I hope it is OK to post it here as time is short.


Happy Veterans Day to all who have served and protected; you have my gratitude and my respect. Thank you.

"Soldier Unsung" by Kellie Jones, c. 1987

Scarlet drops fall
Like rain on the grass
And tears are shed
But the sadness will pass


Close his door
And pull the shades
Years go by
But love never fades

Search for his name
Somewhere on the wall
His spirit next to you
Still standing tall

And remember him always
As you blink back the tears
And remember the wrongness
That cut short his years

Peace could be universal
If everyone would try
Then there'd be no more fighting
And no one must die

It seems the sparks of hope
Are getting very dim
Do it for yourself, the world,
And then do it for him.

This poem was something I've been looking for for a long time ... from freshman year at OU, fall quarter, 1987, one of the many English classes I took, during an optimistic time when I was a bit naïve, optimistic and idealistic (ah, youth!). At the time, I was about 19, the age my dad's second-oldest brother, Harold Story Jones, was when he was killed in action in March of 1944. The reference to "the wall" is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in D.C., which I first visited in 8th grade and my daughter will visit in the spring. It's in honor of Phillip Looney, a friend and classmate of my mom's whose name is on The Wall and who was killed in 1966. I never knew these men, but they were behind this poem when I wrote it. Today seems like a fitting day to share.

[Charlie McDonald]

Very good poem; quite a find, and very appropriate.

[autry andress]

Thank you for the nice poem.
and a special Thank you to each & every one who
fought & served to defend our freedom.
I still love America & the freedom we have.

Autry Andress (Vietnam Vet 65-66)

[Donna Dodd]

Walter, I know you are proud of your daughter! That's a very nice tribute!! Thank you for sharing!

[Ken Lang]

And don't forget, we have Memorial Day for those who perished. Veterans Day is for those of us who made it home.

[Ron Page]

Nice sentiment Walter. I'm a little late getting to it, but enjoyed it and the brief history at the end.

Ken, point well taken. I would add, there are also many who made it home, but with some pieces missing, and perhaps augmented with a Purple Heart. I think this is also for them.

[Doug Clark]

"All gave some. Some gave all."

[Sam White R.I.P.]

Great Poem thank you for Sharing.I was On Stand by from Rhode Island and shipped to Fort Knox Kentucky on Stand by to go to Vietnam for 10 Months and got lucky they sent us all back home to Rhode Island as they did not need us.If I had gone over there I may not be here today then again I might have as I'm an Associate Member of the R.I State police Lodge and I was on the Firing Range a few years back and I fired 20 rounds into the target and of the 20 Rounds two were in the middle of the targets chest and the other 18 were dead into its heart.They told me I should have been a State police officer.I said I'm to old for that now I'm 79 now.If I had gone to Nam.I would have been a tunnel Rat.For those of you that do not know what a tunnel Rat is they throw hand Grenads in the tunnel's and after it calms down you jump in the tunnel and if any one moves you shoot him.I have two friends that were tunnel Rats and one of then has Agent Orange.
Sam White

[Jim Reynolds]

I had two tour in Nam, back to back. Jan 67- the end of 68. Very proud to have done it. So many others done it, and much more, before me, to give me what I was able to have. I am now 75 yrs old, 4 children, 9 Grand children, and 5 Great-Grand Children. The only bad part is, I've got a country that has gone to the end. I feel so sorry for those today. I only wish God could Bless, America Again.

[Sam White R.I.P.]

Jim A MEN I'm a Nam Vet.
Sam White

[Jim Reynolds]

I was with 9th Inf Div. Bear Cat, Mobil Riviera Force in the Mekong Delta, and about a 50-75 mile radius of Saigon. Glad to see you made it home too. Thank you for being there.

[Jim Reynolds]

Sorry about the misspelled words, but you know what I meant. Thanks guy

[Martin Weenick]

To my Brother Marines who I lost in Nam, and I lost many, you have been on my mind all day this Christmas Day, and everyday. Rest in peace my Brothers. Martin.

[Dave Potter]

I had two tour in Nam, back to back. Jan 67- the end of 68. Very proud to have done it. So many others done it, and much more, before me, to give me what I was able to have.

Yes. I served in the Navy 63-66, and cruised North Viet Nam off-shore on a destroyer, trying to control the VietCong arms shipments to the south. General Quarters sounded fairly frequently.

I am now 75 yrs old...The only bad part is, I've got a country that has gone to the end.

Very sad to see what's happening to our country, and what we, and others, tried to protect. Political correctness will destroy it, unless something intervenes.

[Jim Reynolds]

I agree. I was in the Army, but was on the USS Kemper County LST, and the USS Carrol County. We furnished all the supplies and ammunition to the river patrol boats and the River Rats Thank you and glad to see you made it home too. PC has already destroyed her.

[Ray Harrison]

Walter, Thank you for this very touching poem. It brings back memories, some good, some not but none the less memories.
I'm USN Ret., so it is very meaningful to me.....