PATRIOTIC OFFERINGS

Gramps use’ta say
©R.L.King201 #M-14

About: Military Service
(Basic Training)

“He who suffers the most rain…

has more opportunities to enjoy a rainbow.”

********

MY SOLDIER       
© Copyright 2013 Richard Lee King

We were fighting in Iraq; it was nineteen ninety-one.
The war was on his mind and I was proud he was my son.

Then the reality struck, Uncle had gotten his man,
thanks to a strong recruiter who sold a patriotic plan.

It’s not that he was wronged, military was in his DNA,
but ending up in infantry? Surely there’s a better way.

Can’t say that there’s much future, in learning to drive a tank,
but somehow, they convinced him it’s a quicker way to gain rank.

He was a brave patriot, off doing Uncle Sam’s bidding,
but the first time he brought it up, I assumed he was only kidding.

He felt it was his calling, his duty, he believed.
When he finally got back home, I’ve never felt more relieved.

He discharged as a Sergeant after a 4-year infantry hitch,
though at that time, to me, it had seemed like “bait and switch.”

But once he’d done his duty, it made a great-looking resume’
We considered that important, and still do to this very day.

He got a military education, then signed up to go to school.
Uncle Sam was footing the bill, no one said we’d raised a fool.

He’s come to be the man; his mom and I had hoped to see.
and I know she’d be as proud of him, as his Pops will always be.