I wept today....

[jimmil]

44. I too was in Vietnam

I was a medic and still can see some of the faces. I was fortunate in that after five months I was wounded and I lived spending 10 months rehabbing. Afterwards, it was a year wandering around drunk and stoned hoping what was in my head would fade with drugs and alcohol. Alone, broke, sitting in jail, something had to change or I was heading for a very bad place. I didn't wake up one day and start the rest of my life. Only in Hollywood that happens. It was one step at a time, sometimes falling, sometimes not wanting to get back up. I slowly began not to replace those memories but to look another way. School and books took me out of that valley. That was my way. But I still can see the faces and tears well up in my eyes at how senseless war is. And I look at these kids today and tears come to my eyes at how senseless war is. We don't want to see what we have done to these beautiful young people. If we do not recognize them what does that say about us discarding the children of our people onto a trash heap because we can't help them one step at a time? Are we that weak?