THE AMERICAN VET
Written by: Chaplain Russ
'Nam / Beirut Vet
1971 - 1992

I wear black for the oppressed
And homeless vet,
The pride is still within him
He hasn't given up yet.

One who was once a very Proud Warrior
Who bravely went and served when called
Because of what he was taught and believed
Since his innocent youth,
He just wanted to prove himself
By giving them his all.
But now when he needs his countries help
No one answers his call.

Everyone is so afraid of him
By the way he looks and smells
His drunken stupor or drug induced high
But they don't understand, or know him
As they pass him by
All the promises made to him
By the country he once so proudly served
That now when he needs their help
He finds they were nothing but lies.

They don't understand or know of
The battles he still fights
Waging in his memories, dreams and mind.
Now takes the drugs and alcohol
To help him survive and forget
Of leaving his Brothers behind
But he will always be with them
In his memories, dreams and mind

Still in the firefights and the horrors of war
But when he needs his country
His country doesn't need him anymore

And now their names are upon a wall
They watch him come to search for them
Searching for them all
And when his country needed him
He didn't fail the call

And now when he needs them
His country doesn't give a damn
But for all that he believes in
He will still make his stand.

And it's just another day
Knowing he has given his best
But only when GOD takes him home
Will he get his eternal rest.