As my little pre-Veteran's Day contribution . . . . I give you

[ET Awful]

the words of Major Michael Davis O'Donnel, written 1 JAN 1970 at Dak To, Vietnam, he was killed in action 24 MAR 1970.


If you are able,
save them a place
inside of you
and save one backward glance
when you are leaving
for the places they can
no longer go.

Be not ashamed to say
you loved them,
though you may
or may not have always.
Take what they have left
and what they have taught you
with their dying
and keep it with your own.

And in that time
when men decide and feel safe
to call the war insane,
take one moment to embrace
those gentle heroes
you left behind.