We've always honored servicemen
who served our country well;
but those who served in Viet Nam
returned to, "Give 'Em Hell!"
And give 'em hell, too many did,
egged on by that war's Neros,
who fought their war against the war
by tarring war torn heroes.

They vilified them in the press,
in movies and TV;
and they were pilloried as well
in Washington D.C.
Crowds marched with them
 like mindless sheep;
and helped them flog away,
and demonize the soldiers*
who served the U.S.A.

Hang your head in anguish!
Hang your head in shame!
Hang your head for Veterans
we let that crowd defame.

When nothing else was working
and they couldn't get their way,
the anti-crats decided
to make the soldiers pay.
Many died, but those who lived
drank their cup of scorn
served to vets returning,
scarred and battle worn.

What was their sin
that earned such hate?
They served in Viet Nam,
a war despised by those who fought
with pens like sabers drawn.
The war was not the making
of those they vilified.
They simply served
when called upon;
and many of them died.

Hang your head in anguish!
Hang your head in shame!
Hang your head for veterans
too numerous to name!

They weren't asked, "Who", "When" or "Why".
Few cared what soldiers thought.
They simply served their country;
and when called upon, they fought.
No one asked the soldiers
what they thought about this war.
Their views weren't deemed as relevant
as teats upon a boar.

The soldiers didn't agitate
or lobby for the war.
They simply served as soldiers had
in many wars before.
But soldiers in those prior wars
weren't tarred with hateful shame.
Hang your head for Vets that were
and ponder who's to blame:
the strident bunch of anti-crats-
 agendas hidden deep-
and don't forget the anti-cats
that followed them like sheep.

Hang your head for Veterans
who drank their cup of scorn!
And hang your head for soldiers
whose deaths they failed to morn!

Bette Wolf Duncan ©2010

* The term "soldiers" was used  in the generic sense, and was intended to include all branches of the military.