Comment from jaded831

Exceptional

Touching, not in a good way, I felt like crying. Powerful and true and a great tribute to these soldiers. It burns me to think the government allowed this to happen, but your ending was positive and brought comfort to the reader.

 Comment Written 29-May-2023

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reply by the author on 29-May-2023

Hello jaded, I'm very moved
by your empathy for our
soldiers. Thank you for taking the time to read my
sad poem and for giving it
6 stars. This is very appreciated. The U.S. gov't
has much to answer for.
Have a restful and safe
Memorial Day. Blessings ~

Comment from Janel Mock

Exceptional

This needs to be shared with the world. I did not want to stop reading once I started, and I get distracted very easily. God bless. Thank you for sharing this and I look forward to reading more of your work. ~Janel

 Comment Written 29-May-2023

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reply by the author on 29-May-2023

Thank you Janel, for your
empathy for our troops.
The U.S. gov't has a lot to
answer for. Thank you for
taking the time to read and
review my poem with 6 stars.
I greatly appreciate it. This
poem reached some other
poets who weren't aware of
this. I hope you have a
restful and safe Memorial
Day. Blessings to you. ~

Comment from Megan Sue Bates

Excellent

What a perfect poem for this Memorial Day weekend. This is so vivid and beautifully written and so hauntingly portrays all of the good people we have lost and huge sacrifices made. I hope it helps to inspire change in better care for those who so selflessly gave for us.

 Comment Written 28-May-2023

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reply by the author on 29-May-2023

Hello Megan, thank you so
much for caring about our
troops. We've lost so many
soldiers from the neglect
and the stalling of the
U.S. gov't. Thank you for the
5 star review. May you have
a safe and restful holiday.
Many blessings to you. ~

Comment from BermyBye50

Excellent

Regina,

This is an excellent entry in the free verse contest. Your poem accurately once again describes the futility and deadly consequences of War and the unnecessary sacrifices humans face when we fail to live up to the ultimate LAW from GOD above to love one another. This tragedy has persisted throughout history and is the blight of every war we ourselves inflict upon fellow human beings - so called enemies and will continue forever until we change and learn to love one another.

All the best in the contest,

Eugene

 Comment Written 28-May-2023

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reply by the author on 28-May-2023

Thank you so much, Bermy.
No country really ever wins
a war, it is more fallen young
soldiers who didn't get to live
out their lives. More families
left behind. I hope your
Sunday has been restful.
Many blessings to you. ~

Comment from Monica Chaddick

Excellent

So sad that so many of our service folks are affected by so much negative stuff once they come home. You would think that they would be treated a lot better by government and civilians, for that matter. I am grateful for their service!

 Comment Written 27-May-2023

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reply by the author on 28-May-2023

Thank you, Monica, for taking
the time to read and review
my poem. It's such a shame
that it took twenty years for
the PACT Act to be passed.
I hope and pray this will mean our returning soldiers
will be treated better.
Thank you for caring. May
you have a blessed weekend.

Comment from GregoryCody

Excellent

Whoa this is INTENSE. Love the use of cinders.

Close is powerful.

I really like your cadence and tempo. Word choices too!

We were exposed to the
burn pits on the U.S. bases

BURN pits us BASES. Good Alliteration in B.

Great job!

 Comment Written 27-May-2023

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reply by the author on 28-May-2023

Thank you, Gregory. Have you had your overall health
checked since you've returned home? Thank you
for having the bravery to
sign up and go to war.
Many blessings to you. ~

Comment from Sanku

Exceptional

Its time people started asking ,'why go for war/" Was it necessary or just greed for power and money? are the soldiers really 'serving' the nation or serving a few vested interests
War is my pet hate .I used to dream of a day when soldiers would refuse to fight unless they were told the reason to fight...

 Comment Written 27-May-2023

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reply by the author on 27-May-2023

Hello Sanku, thank you for
taking the time to read and
review my important poem.
I call it important because
other poets told me they
didn't know this was going on. I wish wars won't happen
again. Your review is truthful.
Thank you for the 6 stars.
Many blessings to you.

Comment from jenintorre

Exceptional

This is an amazing free verse poem and a wonderful entry for the competition.
You describe so well an unthinkable situation. Thank you so much for sharing. Jen.

 Comment Written 27-May-2023

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reply by the author on 27-May-2023

Hello Jen, thank you so much
for taking the time to read
and review my poem. I really
appreciate the 6 stars. Some
of the other poets didn't know this had been going on.
It's so very sad the U.S. gov't
poisoned it's own soldiers.
Many blessings to you. ~

Comment from Yardier

Exceptional

Exceptional insight beyond reason for those who were not there.
I did three tours in the Mekong Delta. Our shower was a fifty-five gallon diesel drum painted black with a brass spigot. When the sun was out the water was warm. During the monsoons we bathed in the rain. We shit over fifty-five gallon drums cut into thirds. All day and all night the shit was stacked up along with anything else Top wanted burned. The smell is still in the back of my throat.
After a career in law enforcement, I signed on as a security contractor and spent two and a half years in the sand box. Some of the FOB's had legit showers and toilets. However, I spent the last fifty two straight weeks at COP Shocker on the Iran border imbedded with the 3rd ACR. At that time, aside from the 38th Parallel, we were the closest combat unit to a sworn enemy of the US. The very burn you speak of so accurately, is how the 3rd ACR got rid of stuff. It wasn't shit, it was stuff. It smelled like burning plastic.
On June 29, 1911 we were hit hard and Shocker was destroyed.
Iranian-backed Kata'ib Hezbollah, also known as the Hezbollah Brigades fired IRAM rockets that struck COP Shocker. The attack resulted in the deaths of three Army soldiers, Captain Matthew G. Nielson, Captain David E. Van Camp and Sergeant Robert G. Tenney Jr.

Video: https://archive.org/details/BranNewHezbollahBrigades-IramAttackVsAnAmericanBaseInWasit

Thank you again for your voice for the fallen. All the best, Yard.

 Comment Written 26-May-2023

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reply by the author on 27-May-2023

Hello Yard, thank you for
your bravery. Thank you for
the video. There has been
a book out titled:
"The Burn Pits, the poisoning
of America's soldiers"
written by Joseph Hickman
There is an organization in
Robstown, Texas run by a
burn pits victim. It's website
address is : burnpits360.org
The U.S. gov't dragged its
feet for a long time. As far as
I know Vietnam veterans
are finally included in the
PACT Act also for their
exposure to Agent Orange
and burn pits. I'm waiting to
see if the U.S. gov't will
deliver with the PACT Act.
Thank you for the 6 stars.
Many blessings to you and
your family. ~

Comment from judith layne jerdé

Exceptional

Beautiful, heart rendering words. I worked for VA healthcare system for many years and I am ashamed of their failure to help so many who gave so much. I know from having a loved one relying on Veterans Affairs Medical Center for his life saving care I have to make alot noise on his behalf. Thank you for this poem. M

 Comment Written 26-May-2023

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reply by the author on 27-May-2023

Hello Judith, thank you for
your words of truth. It's an
injustice that the U.S. gov't
dragged its feet for so long
in it's neglect of our soldiers.
It's heartbreaking and causes
me bereavement. I'm glad
you were an advocate for
your loved one. Thank you
for caring so much. Many
blessings to you and your
family. Thank you for the
6 stars. ~

reply by judith layne jerdé on 27-May-2023

Regina, you are very welcome.
Congratulations on the recognition of your very heart felt work.